Washington, D.C. (May 16, 2024) — Ascend Capital Group is proud to announce its role as the exclusive financial advisor to RecDesk in its strategic acquisition by Clubessential Holdings, a leader in membership management and embedded payment solutions and a portfolio company of Battery Ventures and Silver Lake. This significant acquisition broadens Clubessential Holdings’ presence in the parks and recreation management space and enhances its comprehensive software portfolio.
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Middletown, CT, RecDesk offers a robust cloud-based SaaS recreation management software that simplifies operations for parks & recreation departments, aquatic centers, schools, and community centers, among others. The platform’s extensive features include membership management, program registration, facility scheduling, and integrated payment processing, all designed to improve efficiency and the user experience for community organizations.
“This acquisition by Clubessential Holdings marks a significant milestone for RecDesk as we look to accelerate the delivery of solutions that provide fundamental value to our clients and expand market share,” said Mike Morris, Founder of RecDesk. “Ascend’s strategic guidance at every step in the process was instrumental in achieving an outcome that allows us to better serve our clients by leveraging the extended network of expertise and resources that Clubessential Holdings provides. We maintain the brand, culture, and team that have made us so successful.”
He continued, “Ascend’s dedication to excellence and deep understanding of our business and market dynamics provided for a smooth process with exceptional results. They were a trusted partner who I always felt had the best interest of RecDesk and myself in mind. This led us to ultimately select Clubessential Holdings and I couldn’t be more excited for myself and the team to join this amazing group of brands and people as we continue to build, grow, and thrive in service to our clients.”
The combination of Clubessential Holdings and RecDesk further fortifies Clubessential Holdings’ position as a leader in the recreation market while extending its capabilities across local governments and municipalities, recreation centers, academic institutions, and homeowner associations. RecDesk will be able to maintain its brand and rich history while gaining access to Clubessential Holdings’ proven go-to-market flywheel and additional technology offerings to help accelerate market share capture and enhance the value provided to customers.
Douglas Palmer, Managing Director at Ascend Capital Group, reflected on the acquisition’s success, “This acquisition represents a landmark achievement for the recreation management space. RecDesk provides a best-in-class software solution that is truly unmatched; we couldn’t have found a better partner than Clubessential Holdings to amplify the company’s impact and extend its legacy. It has been a joy and privilege to guide RecDesk through this process and we’re thrilled for Mike, the team, and the customers.”
For more information about this transformative acquisition and its impact on the future of recreation management, please visit Clubessential Holdings and RecDesk.
