Quantum Partners advises Cho-Time Group and its shareholder on the majority sale to KKA Partners

In many industries, the extensive digitization of business processes is inevitably leading to personal contact with the end customer becoming rarer or, in some cases, being lost. A typical customer can conclude, change or cancel a contract online. A consultation and sales meeting no longer takes place online. However, the closing rate of a personal sales meeting is many times higher than the undirected self-service approach on a sales-oriented website. Good advice can also create real value for customers.

Cho-Time specializes in providing sales-oriented customer contact services, especially for clients in the telecommunications and energy industries. Their customers are contacted by specially trained employees or classic customer service events are enhanced by sales-oriented activities. This sales-after-service approach turns a former cost center into a profit center and becomes an important sales channel for clients. Cho-Time works exclusively with existing customers of these clients.

The starting point for the joint M&A project was the desire of the company’s founder to withdraw from the operational business and to enable the active management to participate as part of a succession plan. The project objective was therefore to involve a specialized private equity firm to accompany the transition and, together with the team, to tap into the enormous growth opportunities of the business model.

In discussions with various potential investors, KKA had emerged as the best potential partner to accompany Cho-Time Management in its ambitious growth plans as well as in the technologization and professionalization of the company. As a result, the management team and KKA Partners jointly acquired the management of SSF Sales & Service Factory GmbH and the majority of the Cho-Time group companies through a management buy-out. The former founder will still have an advisory role for the company.