DGS has acquired the management consulting division of Soft Strategy through We.Do Advisory, completing its sixth add-on since the company was acquired by H.I.G. Capital. The transaction, announced in Milan on November 10, 2022, strengthens the DGS group’s IT consulting offer in the Management Consulting IT segment and is part of the 2021-2025 strategic plan.

What did DGS announce on November 10, 2022?

DGS S.p.A., a portfolio company of H.I.G. Capital, announced the completion of the acquisition of the business unit related to the IT consulting division of Soft Strategy S.p.a., referred to as “Soft Strategy Consulting”. The transaction was carried out through We.Do Advisory S.r.l., a company of the DGS group specialized exclusively in strategic and organizational consulting in the IT field.

DGS is one of the leading operators in the Italian Information Technology market, specialized in the digital transformation of business processes and cybersecurity services. According to the press release, the acquisition of Soft Strategy Consulting represents the sixth add-on completed by DGS since it was acquired by H.I.G.

Who is Soft Strategy Consulting?

Soft Strategy Consulting, based in Rome, provides IT consulting services and supports clients in defining IT strategy, planning governance for IT transformation projects, organizational design, and process optimization. The company mainly serves mid-sized and large organizations across several industrial and service sectors.

The sectors mentioned in the press release are transportation, energy & utilities, telco & media, manufacturing, retail, financial, and public sector. The transaction therefore allows DGS to integrate capabilities already present in the We.Do Advisory offer and strengthen its presence in strategic and organizational IT consulting.

What comments did the protagonists of the transaction make?

The press release includes statements from Vincenzo Fiengo, Co-CEO of DGS, Fabio Storri, CEO of We.Do Advisory, and Raffaele Legnani, Managing Director of H.I.G. Capital in Italy. Their words connect the acquisition to the group’s growth strategy and the strengthening of its consulting offer.

“The acquisition of Soft Strategy Consulting marks another step forward in implementing our 2021-2025 strategic plan, enabling us to enhance our expertise in a strategically important segment of the ICT world and support our clients in Management Consulting IT.”

With these words, Vincenzo Fiengo emphasizes the link between the transaction and the 2021-2025 strategic plan. Fabio Storri adds that the acquisition of Soft Strategy’s Management Consulting division is “a fundamental piece” in We.Do Advisory’s growth and positioning strategy in the Italian IT landscape.

“The acquisition of Soft Strategy’s Management Consulting division represents a fundamental piece in We.Do Advisory’s growth and positioning strategy in the strategic and executive consulting segment of the Italian IT landscape. The transaction will allow us to strengthen the entire range of services currently offered, particularly in ICT Strategy & Governance, Process Excellence, and Change Management.”

“The acquisition of Soft Strategy’s IT consulting division is in line with the DGS group’s strategy to strengthen its consulting offer by adding key competencies and services for its clients. We are very pleased with DGS’s growth, now a reference player in the IT sector in Italy.”

Raffaele Legnani, Managing Director of H.I.G. Capital in Italy, described the transaction as consistent with the DGS group’s strategy to expand its consulting offer.

How does DGS fit into the ICT market?

DGS is based in Rome and has been operating for over 25 years in the ICT services market for public and private companies. The company specializes in digital solutions for business process transformation, including application system integration projects and proprietary applications, as well as cybersecurity and management advisory services.

The press release states that DGS has historically supported large clients that are leaders in their respective sectors, ensuring high technical standards thanks to a workforce of over 1,500 employees and 1,500 IT certifications. This is complemented by long-standing partnerships with the major global vendors of software and applications.

Who assisted the parties in the transaction?

In the transaction, H.I.G. and DGS were assisted by King & Wood Mallesons, Orrick Herrington Sutcliffe, Fineurop Soditic, and Spada Partners. Soft Strategy was assisted by the law firm Ughi e Nunziante, TCFCT – Studio Associato Consulenza Societaria e Tributaria – and Mama Advisory.

The financing banks were assisted by Simmons & Simmons. The press release also states that for further information, reference can be made to the website www.dgsspa.com and that the press release PDF was available for download via the link indicated on the page.