Charles Russell Speechlys has advised global enterprise software company IFS on its acquisition of Axios Systems PLC, a global provider of cloud-based Enterprise Service Management (ESM) software.

For over 30 years, Axios Systems has been committed to helping customers achieve business success through the effective and efficient management of their IT services and systems. Recognized as a leader in IT Service Management (ITSM) and IT Operations Management (ITOM), Axios Systems has built a reputation for the quality of its omnichannel service management solution, which many of the world’s most respected brands rely on, including: Aviva, KPMG, FedEx and many more.

Over the years, IFS has significantly invested in its Service Management business, which grew over 100 percent year on year in 2020. The acquisition of Axios Systems adds further depth to IFS’s capabilities with new ITSM and ITOM functionality that will help companies improve the design and automation of workflows, drive efficiency internally, and connect data across teams and systems to ultimately create opportunities to better serve its customers. The combination of IFS and Axios Systems is instrumental in extending IFS’s ambition to cement itself as the market leader in the Service space.

Fredrik vom Hofe, Group Senior Vice President at IFS said: "this acquisition is very significant for IFS. We are extending our Service Management proposition to help businesses address inefficiencies that can impact their ability to deliver delightful ‘Moments of Service’. On behalf of the IFS team I’d like to thank Mark Howard and his team at Charles Russell Speechlys for their support in navigating through the multijurisdictional legal complexities of the transaction with sound industry expertise, which proved mission critical to getting the deal done.”

Mark Howard, Corporate Partner and joint head of TMT at Charles Russell Speechlys, said: “this has been a great collaboration for us in working with IFS. Both IFS and Axios are internationally recognised and respected as enterprise service management solutions, and are ideal strategic partners. We were able to field a team of cross-practice sector experts, as well as project manage 14 other local firms across our Global Network across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, USA and South America. We look forward to seeing IFS further strengthen its global market position.”

The Charles Russell Speechlys team was led by Corporate Partner Mark Howard and Senior Associate Mo Wang, and included Alex Stevens, Jamie McMurray and Amy Shuttleworth (Corporate), Mark Bailey and Chris Ingram (Commercial), Andy Williams and Kelly Evans (Employment), Helen Coward and Anna Reynolds (Tax) and Mark White (Real Estate).