26. SoftwareONE

Key points

Revenue: £137.9m (+10%)

Net profit: 1.7%

Staff: 141

This Switzerland-based software licensing firm has endured an eventful year, with the untimely and tragic death of its founder Patrick Winter in June preceding its blockbuster acquisition of rival Comparex. KKR-backed SoftwareONE finds itself one place behind Comparex in this report, despite its UK revenues for the year to 31 December 2017 rising by 10 per cent to £137.9m. The Comparex deal will swell its global headcount to 5,500 members of staff.