RWS Holdings plc has agreed in principle a potential 拢40 million swoop for an IP protection tech company which was launched in 2024.
RWS, a global AI solutions company headquartered in Maidenhead, will pay 拢16.5m up front for London-based Obviously.
The 拢23.5m earnout is payable upon satisfaction of stretching EBITDA-related performance hurdles in the financial years ending 30th September 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Obviously鈥檚 platform enables legal, marketing and finance teams to track their brand assets and IP rights, ensure their brand integrity is protected by identifying threats like counterfeits or copycats, and quantify the impact of these infringements.
Its largely enterprise client base includes well-known media & entertainment, technology, financial, pharmaceutical and sports companies.
Obviously employs approximately 30 people, 50% of whom are engineers and developers.
In the year to 28th February 2026, Obviously generated revenues of approximately 拢2.5m and a loss of approximately 拢1.5m. If the acquisition completes, the business, which will continue to be managed by its current CEO Lewis Whiting (pictured), will become part of RWS’s Protect segment.
“The acquisition of Obviously will be a significant step forward in accelerating our growth by pivoting to be a technology-first business with holistic solutions for enterprise clients,鈥� said Benjamin Faes, CEO of RWS.
“Obviously’s innovative integrated platform, which safeguards brands through IP & brand management, protection and enforcement intelligence, will be a strong fit with both our existing patent-focused IP business and our localisation capabilities.
“Bringing Obviously into the Group will mean RWS can offer an integrated, global brand guardianship solution to our existing client base and will position us well for potential clients in our existing and expanded addressable market. I look forward to welcoming the technology and talent that Obviously will bring into the group.”
Whiting added: “This will mark an important milestone in Obviously’s journey and a testament to the unique market position that we have created by working closely with some of the world’s most recognised brands.
鈥淥ur platform will fast-track RWS’s journey in the IP digital marketplace and bring exposure to a complementary market – brand protection. I look forward to the opportunity to bring our AI-driven platforms and expertise in relation to legal brand guardianship to RWS’s extensive customer base in the Protect and Transform segments.”
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