EQS Group enters into exclusive negotiations to acquire Data Legal Drive

EQS-News: EQS Group AG / Key word(s): Takeover
EQS Group enters into exclusive negotiations to acquire Data Legal Drive

04.07.2024 / 08:30 CET/CEST
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Munich - 4 July 2024

EQS Group, a leading international cloud software provider for corporate
compliance, investor relations and sustainability reporting, today announces
that it has entered into exclusive negotiations for the acquisition of
French company Data Legal Drive, a key player in the GDPR and
anti-corruption compliance software market. The strategic move will confirm
EQS Group's leading position in the European compliance SaaS market, and
strengthen the company's offering specifically in the area of data
protection and GDPR compliance.

"The acquisition of Data Legal Drive will be a significant milestone for EQS
Group and will bolster our expertise, particularly for GDPR compliance,"
said Achim Weick, founder and CEO of EQS Group. "Since the regulation came
into force in 2018, the cumulative fines exceeded EUR4 billion, highlighting
the ongoing demand for GDPR support. With our collective track record in
compliance and technology innovation, we will be in an ideal position to
expand our services and address our customers' compliance needs even more
comprehensively. We look forward to welcoming Data Legal Drive's employees
and customers to the EQS family as we work together to reinforce our leading
position in the compliance SaaS market."

Sylvain Staub, founder and CEO of Data Legal Drive, said: "With the
experience of EQS Group in building a comprehensive compliance platform, we
believe they are the ideal partner for our next stage of growth. Our
strategy is to become the leader in compliance in Europe. Given the
potential of our respective targets, we were convinced that EQS Group was
what we were looking for to achieve significant growth in this business. The
power of our combined expertise and services, both in compliance and digital
innovation, will bring immense additional value to our customers."

Founded in in 2018, when GDPR became European law, Data Legal Drive has
swiftly emerged as a leading independent compliance software provider in
France. Data Legal Drive's solutions for GDPR and anti-corruption compliance
are designed to empower organizations to navigate the complex landscape of
data protection and regulatory requirements. Through the acquisition, EQS
Group stands to gain valuable insight and experience from Data Legal Drive's
legal and technology experts, offering significant synergies with EQS
Group's product portfolio and customer base. In addition, Data Legal Drive
will be able to leverage EQS Group's extensive industry experience and
market-leading position in the RegTech and compliance space, as well as
consolidate its offering around AI and regulation stemming from the new EU
AI Act. There are currently no changes planned for the services used by
existing Data Legal Drive customers.

EQS Group expects to finalize the transaction in the coming weeks.

Press contacts

EQS Group:
Christina Jahn
Tel.: +49 89 444430133
E-Mail: christina.jahn@eqs.com

Data Legal Drive:
Floriane Bergonzi
Tel.: +33 611 77 62 57
E-Mail: floriane.bergonzi@datalegaldrive.com

About Data Legal Drive

Data Legal Drive is a leading French provider of GDPR and anti-corruption
software, with over 10,000 customer organizations and 50,000 users -
compliance officers and data protection officers - in 50 countries. The
company is revolutionizing the sector by integrating AI into its solution,
guaranteeing efficiency for businesses and public bodies.

Labelled "Best Workplace Experience", included in the TECH500 ranking and
with a parity index of 92/100. Founded in 2018, the company has 50
employees.

www.datalegaldrive.com

About EQS Group

EQS Group is a leading international cloud provider in the areas of
corporate compliance, investor relations and sustainability reporting.
Thousands of companies across the world use EQS Group's products to build
trust by reliably and securely meeting complex regulatory requirements,
minimizing risks and transparently reporting on business performance and its
impact on society and the environment.

EQS Group's products are bundled in the cloud-based software EQS COCKPIT.
This allows compliance processes in the areas of whistleblower protection
and case handling, policy management and approval processes to be managed
just as professionally as business partners, insider lists and reporting
obligations. Listed companies also benefit from a global newswire, investor
targeting and contact management, as well as IR websites, digital reports
and webcasts for efficient and secure investor communication. In addition,
EQS Group provides software for the fulfillment of human rights due
diligence obligations along corporate supply chains, as well as for
compliant sustainability reporting.

EQS Group was founded in Munich in 2000. Today, the group employs around 500
professionals and is represented in the world's most important financial
centers.

https://www.eqs.com/


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04.07.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS
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The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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