Investment Director (/Portfolio Manager)- M&A (Software Companies)

Investment Director (/Portfolio Manager)- M&A (Software Companies)

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Company:

About the company

Our client is an operating group of a listed international company that acquires vertical market software companies and acts as perpetual owner for these businesses.

They currently have over 190 independently managed Business Units in over 20 countries in Europe and are now expanding globally with first acquisitions in Asia and Americas. The company offers them financial security, strategic guidance and best practices so that they can be leaders in their respective industry domain.

Context on the Role

Our client is constantly seeking acquisition opportunities to add value to existing vertical markets and is equally excited to explore new verticals when great opportunities present themselves. With a strong global track record, the group is now expanding its presence in the Indian market.

Investment Director – India

Role Overview

The primary objective of this role is to lead the company’s entry and expansion in the Indian market by identifying high-potential, software companies, executing strategic acquisitions, and ensuring seamless integration into the group’s global portfolio. This position offers a clear growth path toward becoming a Portfolio Manager, with full ownership of capital deployment and accountability for long-term value creation and return on investment.

The person will report to the General Manager responsible for the region (initially) and eventually to the Group Head of M&A or Group CEO.

Key Responsibilities

Some of the primary responsibilities include, to:

• Identify and engage potential high-profile targets in order to (re)deploy capital
• Nurture relationships with key decision makers in the Indian market
• Oversee, negotiate and execute M&A transactions
• Build and lead India BD/M&A team

Progression towards Portfolio manager could require:

• Coaching & mentoring local managing directors in best practices and help them achieve excellence within their respective domain
• Manage cross functional, collaborative, work streams in an international setting
• Gradually build up infrastructure for an Indian company cluster.

The Investment Director will have the ongoing support of:

• A large European M&A and business development team, consisting of several experienced professionals with international transaction experience, to accelerate building the local team
• A strong corporate parent with considerable cash flows and funds available and willingness to execute on attractive opportunities
• Collective knowledge base of over 25 years of vertical market software operations and close 1200 comparable companies owned around the world (CSI ecosystem)

Qualifications

• MBA (premier or leading Business Schools) and/or
• Recognized degree from leading international universities, with a post-graduate
• degree or Professional Certifications

Required Experience and Skills

• At least 10-15 years’ experience relevant to the Investment Director position (or at least 15 years’ experience relevant to the Portfolio Manager position), ideally with experience with on transactions (M&A, integrations, etc.) and in management positions.
• Experience in technology-driven M&A activities, including due diligence, integration, and technology strategy development is a must
• Experience of working in PE firms, M&A teams of large conglomerates will be an added advantage.
• Analytical skills combined with a well-structured, collaborative and bold approach.
• First-hand experience related to M&A, e.g. around negotiation, DD, financials etc.
• Experience in dealing with multinational corporates and foreign entrants
• Progressive track record, including leadership and management skills, dealing individually with operational improvement, change and turn-arounds
• Performance-driven, strategic thinker with numerical focus and healthy risk appetite.
• Self-starting individual with high focus on autonomy. Perseverance and discipline are qualities required to be successful
• Concise and structured rhetoric combined with excellent communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills.

About the company’s culture

The company has a unique and extremely decentralized structure with short reporting lines and fast decision-making procedures. Executives are light touch, high in impact when it comes to implementing practices within their respective holdings. Ownership is characterized by a perpetual horizon (they never sell), combined with a healthy focus on underlying profitability. They have a track record of being one of the world’s most successful investors in the software space.

About Us

T&A Consulting is a global advisory firm, with extensive experience of working with government, economic development agencies, businesses and academic institutions across Europe, Asia, and the Americas towards their expansion in the international markets. We work with overseas universities towards student recruitment support and representation in the Indian market.

Headquartered in Gurgaon, with pan-India offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru, T&A Consulting has a global footprint with offices in UK, UAE, and a subsidiary in Toronto, Canada.