Headquartered on Curaheen Road in Cork, 8 West Consulting employs more than 100 staff members, according to its latest financial statement filed to the Company Registration Office. 

The firm - formerly known as DeCare systems before rebranding as part of a management buyout in 2017 - also reported an annual turnover of €24.6m in 2021, with operating profit for the year exceeding €3.66m. Average salaries at the firm totalled more than €74,400 per employee. 

Its acquirer, US-based WDS, specialises in offering dental care plans, with its subsidiaries including Delta Dental of Washington and the Institute for Oral Health. 

Purchasing a 50% stake hold in the 8 West - which celebrated 25 years in business this year - the Washington firm said the acquisition marked a "significant milestone" for the company, and would accelerate its approach to leveraging technology to further innovate oral healthcare. 

As part of the transaction, WDS is expected to expand its digital programs with aims to improve benefits, provide self-service access to benefits information and claims payment. 

Advised by DLA Piper's Dublin office, Micheál Mulvey - who led the the legal team on behalf of WDS -said the collaboration "will enable WDS and 8 West Consulting to transform the oral healthcare industry through innovative technological collaboration and development of new products.”

“We are proud to have worked on this important strategic transaction which will have far-reaching implications."