A Cork-based software company that employs 300 people has been acquired by the US investment firm whose founders are linked with buying Everton football club.
CoreHR, which develops and sells payroll and attendance software that is used extensively in Irish government and private multinational companies, has sold a majority interest in the company to the Baltimore-based equity firm JMI Equity. The US company has almost €1bn invested in 34 technology companies.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. However, recent accounts for the Cork company show turnover of €24.5m and a net profit of €3m for 2014.
"JMI will take a majority interest in the company," John Goulding, chief executive of CoreHR, told the Irish Independent. "The founders will retain a significant shareholding in the company but JMI will now be the major shareholders."
The move could set up new sporting connections between Cork and Liverpool. JMI founders John Moores and Charles Noell are currently linked to a €265m bid for Everton football club. Mr Moores is a former owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team, which he purchased from current Liverpool FC chairman Tom Werner in 1994.