Charterhouse Voice and Data (“CVD”) is pleased to announce that it has acquired cyber security managed service provider, Pentesec Limited (“Pentesec”), for an undisclosed consideration. Pentesec’s Check Point partner accreditation will underpin the planned strategic investment in CVD’s Security Operations Centre (“SOC”). Furthermore, Pentesec brings to the group a portfolio of blue-chip customers across the UK and Europe.
The CVD buy-and-build is well underway following August Equity’s initial investment in November 2018. Pentesec is CVD’s fifth acquisition, with each bringing significant strategic advantage to the group. CVD’s buy-and-build began in December 2019 with the acquisition of NetConnection Systems Limited, which brought a strong public sector customer base, significant scale and positive product cross-over. Lloyds in February 2020 provided geographical expansion into the north of England and Symity and Digital Exchange Products (“DXP”) earlier this month together improve the group’s Microsoft Teams presence and increase presence in the North.
With the acquisition of Pentesec, CVD expands its cyber capabilities provided via managed security services, consultancy and training. Peterborough-based, Pentesec, is the leading UK partner for Check Point, being 1 of only 13 top tier Check Point partners globally. Check Point is accretive to CVD’s current cyber partnerships; Paolo Alto and Rapid7, amongst others.
CVD’s cyber capabilities represent the third element to the business strategy alongside connectivity and collaboration.
CVD management, alongside August Equity, will continue targeting strategic acquisitions in line with investment in its new SOC, a strategy August Equity have strong experience of through the successful SecureData buy and build, which sold to Orange S.A., in 2019 resulting in a 7.2x money multiple.
Thanks to the Management and August team involved in this deal Peter Manning, Mark Brooks Wadham, Matt Tyne, Mehul Patel, Kate Cook, Sam Hardy.