How we helped

XLN is a leading provider of phone, broadband, payments and mobile services, tailored especially for small businesses, with a particular focus on micro-SMEs.

Strategic acquisitions:

  • During ECI’s investment XLN made two acquisitions: Card Processing Solutions, which provided a credit and debit card processing service to its customer base; and Shine Telecom, a smaller provider of fixed line telecoms to small businesses.

People & culture:

  • We worked with the Founder, Christian Nellemann, to strengthen the senior management team, with a new CFO, Sales Director, Account Management Director, Product Director and Business Transformation Director joining the business.

During our investment XLN grew profits by 40% between September 2010 and June 2014. Headcount increased by 67% during our investment, to over 250 employees as at June 2014.

In 2014 we exited XLN in a tertiary buyout to GSP Capital Partners, delivering a return of 3x and a 35% IRR.