For the third year in a row, FE International was named to Inc. Magazine’s annual Inc. 5000 list, one of the most prestigious rankings of the United States’ fastest-growing private companies. Thanks to our clients’ continued support, FE reached No. 1,534 on the list this year. Earlier in the year, FE was also named as the No. 12 fastest growing Financial Services company in America by The Financial Times.
“FE International’s close relationships with our clients have paved the way for our continued growth and have led to our most recent recognition on the Inc. 5000 list once again,” said FE International CEO Thomas Smale. “Our continued appearance on the list reflects our clients’ appreciation of our commitment to excellence, data-driven processes and our client-centric approach.”
FE’s continued rapid growth and sustained success in 2020 is a result of our dedication to our core values: find a way; keep growing; help each other and commit to excellence.
Find a Way:
One reason FE was able to grow was due to the ingenuity of our clients and the resilience of their businesses during a period of economic uncertainty. FE worked with many clients to adopt data-led changes to their business models and maximize the opportunities in front of them in 2020, providing a platform for future growth (often under new ownership) in 2021 and beyond.
At the same time, we also made sure to keep our employees’ health and safety a top priority. With four offices in the US and Europe that already leveraged cloud technology solutions fully ahead of the pandemic, our teams were able to operate at 100% capacity throughout lockdowns. Simultaneously our team provided best-in-class advisory and M&A services. In 2020, FE added 20 team members to its global base.
Keep Growing:
There is a strong correlation between our award-winning client experience and investing in our employees’ growth. With every new hire, we aim for a smooth onboarding experience and offer training to set new employees up for success from the start.
Additionally, our company culture fosters an environment where more seasoned staff members mentor junior employees and help them create a roadmap for professional development that evolves as their career progresses.
This focus on individual growth is reflected in FE’s own growth. In 2021, we have grown to 120+ employees. FE continues to hire well into 2021 and our goal is to continue to grow a dynamic team by hiring diverse and intelligent talent.
Help Each Other:
Every member of our team comes together to support a deal. From onboarding to valuation, M&A to post-acquisition obligations, we work together to ensure that we cultivate long-term relationships and consistently deliver safe, secure and successful deal-making for technology entrepreneurs and investors alike.
Our team works together around the clock to provide a truly unique service for each client. In return, our clients inspire us year after year with their ability to adapt, grow and drive their businesses forward.
This is a testament to why c.23% of the acquisitions completed in 2020 were between past owners and acquirers in our network.
Over the last year, team members continued to partner together to exceed targets and achieve success. FE’s global team kept client satisfaction at the forefront of their minds, even during challenging times. As a result, we saw the total value of closed deals increase by 25.5% in the first half of 2021, compared to the second half of 2020.
Commit to Excellence:
On the sell side, we are committed to providing our clients with advice tailored to their specific objectives and ensuring they receive the maximum value at exit. At the same time, acquirers have confidence that the businesses being presented are of the highest-quality and have gone through our extensive vetting process with our in-house CFAs, ACAs and seasoned deal teams.
FE’s commitment to excellence keeps new business coming back, and we saw a 47.1% increase in the number of SaaS businesses available for sale in the first half of 2021, and a 100% increase in number of e-commerce businesses offered for sale in the same period (versus 2H’20). To date, our investor network represents c.$26 billion in capital.
FE’s commitment to excellence wouldn’t be possible without the determination and expertise of our clients. This is reflected in the service we provide our sellers and the due diligence we conduct before taking a business to market. We are grateful to every client we have worked with over the past ten years, and we know that FE International would not be the award-winning company that it is today without all of you. As we continue to press on into the closing months of 2021, we are determined more than ever to provide unmatched service in the technology business industry. We will continue to partner with entrepreneurs looking to divest of diverse businesses as well as reach new heights and cover new ground like never before.
