IRIS Acquires KashFlow to Extend its Position as the UK's Premier Cloud and Desktop Software Provider for Accountants and SMEs

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17 Oct, 2013, 10:32 GMT

DATCHET, England, October 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

IRIS Software Group, an industry champion in accountancy and payroll solutions, is delighted to announce that it has agreed to acquire KashFlow, the cloud-based bookkeeping software developer, in a move that will extend its position as a leading cloud software and services provider for the UK's 4.8 million small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), and 30,000 accountancy firms.

With a joint subscriber base of more than 60,000 accountancy firms and SMEs across the UK, the combined business leads the market in supplying cloud-based accountancy, payroll and bookkeeping solutions to SMEs and accountants. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

KashFlow is one of the UK's most exciting and fastest-growing technology companies. Founded in 2006 by Duane Jackson, the award-winning company has pioneered the development and delivery of cloud-based bookkeeping software-as-a-service (SaaS) and is widely seen as a UK sector leader.

The combination of IRIS and KashFlow is compelling, with a uniquely integrated offering: KashFlow will provide IRIS with significantly enhanced domain knowledge in the fast-growing cloud-based bookkeeping sector, whilst KashFlow will receive the benefit of IRIS's powerful nationwide sales, marketing and support teams. This will enable it to bring its products to a far wider audience, including 30,000 SMEs that already use IRIS payroll solutions, and half of all UK accountancy practices that rely on IRIS every day to run their businesses.

Phill Robinson, Chief Executive Officer of IRIS Software Group, said:

"I am thrilled to announce that the KashFlow team will become part of the wider IRIS Software Group, since there is so much we can achieve together for the millions of SMEs who wrestle every day with their payroll, bookkeeping and accountancy needs. KashFlow's superb cloud services are the perfect fit with our existing suite of products and I am confident that this will enable IRIS to strengthen its leading position in cloud software for UK SMEs and accountancy firms."

Duane Jackson, Founder and CEO of KashFlow added:

"IRIS clearly understand the importance of the cloud and the benefits it can bring to small business owners. Being part of the wider IRIS Software Group not only gives us direct access to a significant section of the UK accountancy and SME sector but it also makes us part of a wider suite of cloud offerings. This will help us deliver on our vision of further automating and simplifying the process of running a small business, enabling entrepreneurs to cut through the red tape and get on with doing what they do best: winning clients and growing their businesses. Around half of all UK accountancy firms already use IRIS to run their business, now they will be able to collaborate with their clients through tight integration with the KashFlow cloud bookkeeping system."

Lord Young of Graffham, KashFlow's Chairman and a founder investor in the business, added:

"I am really pleased for Duane and his team. When I backed the business seven years ago I could see they were offering something truly revolutionary to small businesses. By combining with IRIS they can now take their products to the wider world, with all the marketing and technical support the larger business can bring."

IRIS will continue to provide its current IRIS OpenBooks product, which is supplied through a partnership with FreeAgent, to its existing customers but expects to provide even deeper levels of functionality for accountants and SMEs in the future through the close tie-in between the IRIS Accountancy Suite and KashFlow bookkeeping in the cloud.

For more details visit http://www.iris.co.uk/kashflow

Notes to Editors:

About IRIS Software Group

With 30 years' experience, the IRIS Software Group provides business critical software and services to the UK accountancy and SME sectors. More than 15,000 UK accountants and 30,000 small and medium sized companies rely on IRIS every day to run their business.

IRIS offers customers the greatest choice of specialist accountancy software and services managed under three leading brands - IRIS, PTP and Drummohr. With over 98% customer retention for its core products, 2.8 million tax returns successfully filed with HMRC and 60% of the top 50 practices as customers, IRIS is the most trusted accountancy software provider in the UK today.

Through its SME division, IRIS also provides payroll technology to over 30,000 SMEs and payroll bureaus. As a leading provider of payroll software, IRIS serves a number of sectors, including 50% of UK GP practices and a growing number of UK retailers. More than 10% of UK businesses pay their employees via IRIS payroll solutions.

About KashFlow Software Limited

Founded in 2006, KashFlow provides intuitive online accounting software for small business owners. The award-winning company has pioneered the development and delivery of cloud-based accounting software-as-a-service (SaaS) and is today widely acknowledged as the UK market leader.

KashFlow's solutions enable the easy creation, customisation and editing of invoices; raising of quotes, estimates and pro-forma invoices; automation of reoccurring purchases; management of customers and suppliers; and a wide range of reporting, banking, credit control and accounting capabilities.

Enquiries

IRIS +44(0)1753-212471
Phill Robinson

KashFlow   +44(0)20-7403 0101
Duane Jackson

Maitland   +44(0)20-7379 5151
Neil Bennett
Peter Ogden

The Whiteoaks Consultancy   +44(0)1252-727313
James Kelliher