Concise sold to PSAV
PSAV, a leading global provider of audiovisual and event technology services, headquartered in Illinois, United States, has acquired UK-based Concise Ltd (Concise), a specialist provider of interactive live event software applications. BCMS advised the shareholders of Concise on the transaction, which completed in 2017.
Concise has served the live event industry for more than 20 years and has developed a proprietary advanced software platform that enables event planners to deliver more engaging experiences and capture actionable event intelligence.
Its primary product, Chime™, is an industry leading second-screen event application with broad functionality to stage interactive, engaging events. Additional capabilities include note-taking, polling, surveying, Q&A, dynamic personalized agendas, collaboration tools, and a document library. Concise’s Chime Check-In™ solution provides event planners with a powerful onsite check-in app, complete with an easy-to-use seating planner tool.
“BCMS supported us throughout the process and were right by our side whenever we needed” – Phil O’Brien, Concise
“We’re thrilled to partner with industry veterans who have developed incredible event application products with strong customer loyalty,” said Mike McIlwain, President and CEO for PSAV. “Concise will help us address our customers’ continued desire to leverage technology to improve audience engagement and event execution with a clear return on investment.”
Phil O’Brien, CEO for Concise, said, “We are incredibly excited to be joining PSAV, where our products can be introduced to tens of thousands of potential new customers and supported by talented professionals working in PSAV’s 1500 venues. I am so proud of what our team has done thus far and look forward to combining forces with an industry leader who recognises the importance of offering a strong digital solution.”
Concise is headquartered in London, UK and serves clients globally from six offices on four continents. Phil O’Brien, Simon Mannes and James Shepheard-Walwyn will continue to lead Concise’s talented team of more than 60 project managers, software engineers, designers, sales managers and technicians. The Company’s dedicated in-house team of software engineers configures the application with custom branding, messaging and content for the unique needs of every event. The Chime software is available in a full-service format with on-site execution teams or via a cloud-based solution.
Perspectives on BCMS
Phil O’Brien is now an active member of the BCMS Fellows Group. Commenting on BCMS’ role in the transaction, Phil said: “Like most owner managers, I was a little apprehensive about the whole idea of selling my business; perhaps not surprising after 20 years of building it into a profitable organisation. Choosing an advisor we could trust and who would support us through the entire process was critical.
“Honestly, I don’t think we could have made a better decision – BCMS not only supported us throughout the entire process but they advised on a lawyer partner and both were right by our side whenever we needed. If I had to go through the whole process again, I’d choose BCMS in a heartbeat.”
