Catalyst Computer Systems Ltd, the supplier of business management software to specialist dealers, has announced that it has been acquired by Constellation Software Inc. 

Constellation Software is part of the Perseus operating group who are based in Toronto, Canada. The acquisition of Catalyst further expands Perseus’s presence in the UK’s dealership software market, having bought Ibcos in 2012. Overall, Catalyst marks Perseus’s ninth acquisition in the dealership software market, and is now part of the Constellation Dealer Group.

In a statement Perseus said the acquisition will allow two of the three founding directors of Catalyst - Charles Allison and Les Ward - to retire, while Catalyst’s sales & marketing director, Jeff Kingsbury-Smith, will remain in charge as the managing director. Catalyst will retain its headquarters in Mountsorrel, Loughborough.

“We are delighted to have Catalyst’s employees and customers join the Perseus family,” said Daniel Zinman, the vice president of the Perseus Group. “Catalyst’s addition to our portfolio will expand our insight into the industries we already serve in the UK, which will help us pioneer new technologies in ways we haven’t thought of.”

Jeff Kingsbury-Smith said, "Our acquisition by Constellation Software Inc is a major step forward for Catalyst. We will benefit from a depth of resources previously unimaginable, backed by the financial strength and experience that such a large group can offer. Our plan is to continue to develop and combine forward-thinking software services with the friendly personal service we have always offered."

Catalyst say they will remain an independent trading company and will continue developing software. In a statement they say their infrastructure and office are unchanged to ensure minimal disruption. Software development, support, training and upgrades will continue as normal. From a customers' perspective, they say, there will be no major changes.

The company say if dealers have any questions to feel free to contact them in the usual ways. All contact details are unchanged.