"We will reveal a big strategic partner by Ipex," said chief executive Marian Stefani. "We've always refused to private label our software even though people told us that without going the OEM route we'd be dead within six months. In fact, I think the converse – it has saved us."

Stefani was tight-lipped on further details of the deal, except to say that RedTie would retain direct responsibility for support and service.

The company's RedTie Template (RTT) and RedTie Quote (RTQ) software is being rewritten to move from a functions-based approach to services. It said the move would speed up the introduction of new features, enhance the customisation of the tools and make it possible to offer tighter integration with other products, such as MIS.

In 2010, the group plans to extend its global reach and to move beyond the print and marketing sectors that it operates in today.

Although 60% of its business is still in the UK, in the past year it has expanded to cover the US, Australia and India. In the coming year, it has set its sights on South America and China, and is currently translating the software for those markets.

However, Stefani said: "[For overseas markets] it's about understanding the local business rules as much as the language. For example when we went to the US we had to adapt the software to its very different tax and delivery requirements."