Accel-KKR Makes Growth Equity Investment in Zinc Ahead, Leading Provider of Marketing Compliance Solutions for the Life Sciences Industry

MENLO PARK, Calif. and OXFORD, England, June 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Accel-KKR, a technology-focused private equity investment firm, today announced it has made a growth equity investment in Zinc Ahead, the world's leading provider of marketing compliance solutions for the life sciences industry.  Terms of the investment were not disclosed. 

Zinc Ahead's flagship product, Zinc MAPS, is now used by more than 100 life sciences companies in over 160 countries worldwide, and is widely regarded as the gold standard in marketing compliance solutions in the life sciences industry.  The company was founded by James Brown and Zoe Cottrell in 2001.

Accel-KKR Managing Director Greg Williams commented about the investment: "We are excited to partner with James Brown and Zoe Cottrell and the Zinc Ahead team as they continue to execute the growth plan that has established the company as a market leader in life sciences marketing compliance solutions.  This investment fits very well with our focus on investing in and supporting market leading software and technology-enabled service businesses."

James Brown, CEO and co-founder of Zinc Ahead, said: "Over the past dozen years, our company has generated strong growth as we have established Zinc MAPS as the gold standard marketing compliance solution designed specifically for the life sciences industry.  The investment from Accel-KKR will enable Zinc to continue its growth on a global scale, especially in North America.  Accel-KKR team has deep knowledge of software and extensive experience investing alongside founder-led management teams, and they will be a tremendous partner as we grow."

Accel-KKR Managing Director Tom Barnds said: "Accel-KKR's investment in Zinc Ahead represents our tenth investment in European software and IT-enabled businesses and underscores our increased commitment to this market.  In Europe, we are focused on partnering with growing, often founder-led, technology companies, an investment strategy that has distinguished Accel-KKR over the past decade in the U.S."   

About Zinc Ahead

Committed to innovation and product excellence, Zinc Ahead is the world's leading provider of marketing compliance solutions designed specifically for the life sciences industry.

The company's flagship product, Zinc MAPS has already transformed compliance processes in more than 100 life sciences companies worldwide (http://www.zinc-ahead.com/Clients/Clients), demonstrating rapid efficiency and cost savings.

Founded in 2001, Zinc Ahead is a privately-held company with headquarters in Oxford, UK, and offices in New York and Sydney, Australia.  The company's 85 employees are dedicated to providing excellent customer service and support to the 30,000 daily Zinc MAPS users in over 160 countries worldwide.  For more information please visit www.zinc-ahead.com

About Accel-KKR

Accel-KKR is a technology-focused private equity firm with over $2.3 billion in assets under management.  The firm invests primarily in software and IT-enabled businesses well positioned for top-line and bottom-line growth.  At the core of Accel-KKR's investment strategy is a commitment to developing strong partnerships with the management teams of its portfolio companies and a focus on building value through significant resources available through the Accel-KKR network.  Accel-KKR focuses on middle market companies and provides a broad range of capital solutions from minority growth investments to buyouts, recapitalizations, divisional carveouts and going-private transactions.  For more information, please visit www.accel-kkr.com.

SOURCE Accel-KKR