Liverpool digital consultancy Bluprintx reveals pre-tax losses of almost £3m due to one-off costs but is upbeat about continued global expansion with more acquisitions likely. Tony McDonough reports

A Liverpool digital company founded by former Wigan Athletic footballer Lee Hackett is to continue its global expansion despite reporting almost £3m in pre-tax losses.

Formed in 2016 in partnership with the University of Liverpool, Bluprintx describes itself as a “digital transformation consultancy”. It utilises tech and AI to transform clients’ marketing, sales, and service strategies.

From its headquarters in the Ropewalks district of Liverpool city centre, Bluprintx runs a global operation employing 200 people with offices in Dallas in the US, Hungary, Australia, and Singapore.

In September 2024 private equity outfit Palatine acquired a stake in the venture. The exact value of the deal was undisclosed but, according to information filed at Companies House, a new holding structure for the business was established.

This entity, Project Twenty Topco, acquired 100% of the share capital of the business, valuing it at just under £27m. Around 75% of the share capital is owned by Bluprintx founder and chief executive Lee Hackett, with Palatine holding the remainder.

In the last few days Bluprintx has posted its accounts for the 12 months to December 31, 2024, on Companies House. They reveal revenues of £13.7m, slightly down on the £14.3m reported for 2023. Shareholders received dividends of £67,500.

Pre-tax losses come in at £2.96m against a pre-tax profit of £593,547 in the previous year. Writing in the annual report Lee Hackett says the business incurred exceptional costs of £2.7m during the year.

He explained: “The costs related to M&A (merger and acquisition) activity, employee share option schemes and costs associated with the acquisition of the business.”

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At the end of May this year LBN reported the latest in a string of acquisitions for Bluprintx.  It bought Skie, a Salesforce consultancy, for £6.2m. Skie operates globally from locations in Australia and Singapore.

This deal was funded by a £5m from alternative lender Thincats through which Bluprintx now has access to £17m borrowing to fund working capital and further acquisitions over the next five years.

Lee added in the report: “The group continues to scale its position as a high-performance integration-focused digital transformation partner for enterprise clients across life sciences financial services and complex B2B sectors.

“…These clients are supported by proprietary methodologies and tooling, cross-regional operating leverage and a repeatable playbook for acquiring and integrating businesses across marketing, commercial and business support infrastructure.”

He concluded: “The group remains well capitalised and focused on strategic growth. Management continues to evaluate additional acquisition opportunities aligned with our platform criteria and enterprise value logic.”