December 20, 2023 – Main has acquired a majority stake in Epona, a leading provider of DMS and CRM software for the LegalTech market. Epona’s solutions enable law firms and corporate legal departments to increase the efficiency of their document related processes and to ensure compliance. The company is headquartered the Netherlands with additional offices in the US and Portugal. Kenyon Group, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Epona and arranged this transaction.
Main Capital’s strategic investment in Epona, a leading LegalTech software company specializing in Document Management System (DMS) solutions, reflects the growing significance of technology in the legal industry. Epona’s impressive portfolio, serving approximately 300 law firms and 120 corporate legal departments globally, underscores its market leadership and widespread adoption. The company’s comprehensive suite of features, encompassing document management, email management, team collaboration, matter intake, contract management, workflow automation and CRM, positions it as an end-to-end solution for the complex document management needs of law firms and corporate legal departments.
Notable clients, such as Kromann Reumert, HSA Lawyers and other prominent law firms, benefit from Epona’s solutions, streamlining their document-centric processes and enhancing collaboration. Similarly, corporate legal departments at major enterprises find value in Epona’s integrated approach, especially given its integration with Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, and Teams. Main Capital’s investment underscores Epona’s ability to meet the evolving demands of the legal sector, providing efficient, integrated solutions that resonate with both law firms and CLDs, fostering increased productivity and streamlined operations across the legal landscape. This strategic partnership is poised to drive Epona’s continued success and evolution in the international LegalTech landscape.
The experienced management team of Epona will retain a significant minority stake and stay closely involved post-closing. Together with the expertise of Main Capital in the B2B software segment, an envisaged growth strategy will be executed, in which product innovation, a client-centric approach and international expansion are key pillars. Furthermore, there is strong potential for a selective buy-and-build strategy, in which the focus will be on adding complementary product functionalities and further expanding Epona’s international footprint. The strategic partnership between Epona and Main Capital is further strengthened by their shared focus on key geographies, including the Benelux, DACH, Nordics and US, enabling Main Capital to bolster this collaboration with their local presence and dedicated teams.
Marco Dissel, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Epona, states: “Main Capital’s expertise will help Epona take the next step, including the expansion of business in even more countries following the envisaged international expansion plans. With our 20+ years of experience in the LegalTech market and the help of Main Capital, we will expand further and leverage our position as leading LegalTech software company to continue helping our clients in making them work quicker, easier and more secure within the Microsoft 365 platform.”
Sjoerd Aarts, Partner and Head of Benelux at Main Capital Partners, concludes: “Investing in Epona aligns with Main Capital’s commitment to fostering innovation and addressing the unique challenges within the LegalTech sector. The fast-moving dynamics of this market present exciting opportunities, and our investment in Epona underscores our confidence in their ability to capitalize on these trends. With Main Capital’s local office in the US, we are poised to actively support Epona’s rapid growth in this crucial market, working together with their ambitious management team to provide legal professionals with innovative solutions to tackle their ever-evolving needs. We look forward to a successful partnership that leverages our collective strengths to make a significant impact on the LegalTech landscape.”