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AARO, Aico, and Mercur Unite for a New SaaS Era

In a transformative step for the financial management industry, Accel-KKR has successfully united AARO, Aico, and Mercur into a single cohesive SaaS platform. This merger aims to redefine corporate performance management for companies across the EMEA region, enhancing the role of CFOs and financial executives.

Michael Teixeira has been appointed as the Group CEO, bringing his extensive experience in steering high-growth tech companies towards strategic vision and development. The new entity combines AARO's robust enterprise-level financial consolidation and reporting solutions with Aico's expertise in automating financial close processes and Mercur's comprehensive cloud-based budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis capabilities.

The Formation of a Unified Powerhouse

This merger is more than just a combination of companies; it represents a strategic alliance designed to deliver a fully integrated solution that encompasses all financial functions from recording to reporting. Combining these three industry leaders enables a more streamlined approach to financial management that spans the entire cycle of corporate performance.

Key Features of the New SaaS Platform

The unification of these platforms provides multiple benefits for clients:
1. All-In-One Financial Management: Clients will now have access to a seamless cloud solution that consolidates all financial functions—ranging from general ledger entries to comprehensive group reporting, achieving greater efficiency and accuracy.
2. Enhanced Automation: With AI-driven automation at its core, the platform significantly reduces manual tasks, minimizes risks, and ensures high data integrity across financial operations.
3. User Experience Improvements: This integrated system simplifies complexity, making it much easier for financial teams to navigate and utilize effectively.
4. Continuous Innovation: The combined product teams from AARO, Aico, and Mercur are committed to ongoing innovations, addressing the evolving challenges facing CFOs in today’s dynamic landscape.
5. Future-Proof Scalability: The solution is designed to adapt to the changing needs of businesses, whether expanding entities, accessing new geographic markets, or complying with diverse regulations.

Significant Impact on the Market

The reach and scale of this new powerhouse will empower thousands of SMEs and enterprises across Nordic countries, the UK, Ireland, Benelux, DACH region, and beyond, giving them regional expertise and operational support aimed at optimizing their financial performance.

A Strategic Commitment to Growth

Accel-KKR's acquisition of AARO builds upon prior investments in Aico and Mercur, reinforcing their commitment to expanding the best-of-breed financial SaaS platform. As Maurice Hernandez, CEO of Accel-KKR, emphasizes, the goal is to create a comprehensive financial platform that drives value and growth in a rapidly evolving market.

Understanding Each Component

• - AARO: Established in 1989, AARO specializes in corporate performance management software for group accounting, consolidation, and financial reporting, ensuring compliance with IFRS and local GAAP standards.
• - Aico: Founded in 2019, Aico focuses on automating the financial close process for medium to large enterprises, enabling faster and more accurate month-end reporting.
• - Mercur Solutions: With 50 years of expertise, Mercur provides CPM solutions for budgeting, planning, and reporting, helping organizations harness the power of automation for strategic decision-making.

Looking Forward

With the combined forces of AARO, Aico, and Mercur, this new SaaS platform promises not only to streamline financial processes but also to empower CFOs with critical insights and tools necessary for informed decision-making. This strategic merger is poised to set new standards in the realm of financial management software, ultimately aligning with the innovative goals of businesses operating in a challenging yet opportunistic market landscape.