Share registry Automic Group acquires investor relations firm Market Eye

Share registry Automic Group has acquired Australia’s leading investor relations advisory firm, Market Eye.

The acquisition will allow Automic Group to deliver an integrated technology solution for ASX listed companies, combining the share registry, board management, shareholder ownership and investor relations on a single cloud-based platform.

Paul Williams, managing director and CEO of Automic Group said the acquisition marks a key milestone for the company.

“Market Eye’s integration with Automic Group will further enhance our existing technology and services with the addition of Australia’s leading investor relations advisory practice, media and communications, shareholder meeting analytics and support, beneficial holder analytics and investor relations technologies,” said Williams.

“We are revolutionising the industry with our unmatched end-to-end technology and services offering that delivers considerable value to the management teams and boards of ASX-listed companies.”

The rationale behind the acquisition is to create a “full-service solution” for listed companies to leverage as they manage their shareholder relations.

Market Eye founder and executive chairman Ronn Bechler has been appointed to Automic Group’s board as an executive director and the senior leadership team will join Automic Group’s executive committee.

According to Bechler, “Automic’s commitment to client service and technology innovation, together with the quality of their people stood out for us. Automic and Market Eye are completely aligned in terms of the importance we place on business values, team engagement, and client engagement.

"With Automic Group’s backing, we will be able to rapidly accelerate Market Eye’s multiple growth initiatives that will further grow value for the companies we support, many in the ASX300, as well as enhance career development opportunities for our team.”

Private equity fund manager Five V Capital invested into Automic Group last year and Justin England who sits on the investment team said the Market Eye acquisition aligns with the company’s growth strategy.

“The acquisition of Market Eye significantly enhances Automic Group’s end-to-end offering across technology and shareholder services, and I look forward to working closely with Ronn on Automic’s board to create the most compelling shareholder services solution for ASX-listed companies," said England.