The founding shareholders led by Daniel von Stockar have taken control of IT giant Software One in a successful revolt. The board of directors of the Stans-based group has been replaced, paving the way for a potential takeover by financial investor Bain Capital. Software One, the world’s largest reseller of Microsoft products, could soon be delisted from the stock exchange. The group, which generates over a billion francs in sales and employs more than 9,000 people worldwide, has faced criticism from its founding shareholders for its sluggish performance.
The group of founding shareholders, including Stockar, René Gilli, and Beat Curti’s holding company, decided to team up with Bain Capital after the old board of directors rejected the investor’s takeover proposal. Stockar will now lead the new management body with individuals he has recommended. The decision to revamp the company’s leadership came after Software One’s disappointing performance following its 2019 IPO.
The big question now is whether Bain Capital will make a new official takeover offer for Software One. The previous offer of 18.80 francs per share was considered too low by the old board of directors, leading to the revolt by the founding shareholders. Operationsally, Software One is showing signs of improvement with a 3 percent increase in sales and a 2 percent rise in adjusted operating profit last year. The company’s strategy to expand its services beyond pure software resale is also expected to drive growth.
Despite the potential takeover by Bain Capital, the founding shareholders are optimistic about Software One’s future under new leadership. The company’s focus on advising corporate customers and cloud services is expected to bring in more revenue and improve profitability. Overall, Software One is on track to achieve strong sales growth and enhanced profitability in the coming years.