Rockpool has invested in Communicate, a leading provider of cyber security and network infrastructure solutions. Communicate is partnering with Rockpool to pursue an ambitious buy-and-build strategy in the IT services sector, following three successful acquisitions to date.
Communicate is based in Teesside and was founded in 2011 by Tony Snaith. Tony and the executive management team are re-investing alongside Rockpool and will be joined by Roger Flynn, who was appointed to the board as Non-Executive Chairman at the completion of Rockpool’s investment.
Communicate is an ISP and has an established footprint in the UK, with its own fibre network infrastructure, together with a dedicated Network Operations Centre (NOC) in Teesside and an in-house 24/7/365 Security Operations Centre (SOC) in Leeds, helping to protect clients against the most sophisticated cyber security threats.
Communicate acquired Touchdown Technologies (2016), Landscape Networks (2017) and Zencom (2022), broadening its reach into cyber security and telecoms services. Communicate will continue to pursue further acquisitions with Rockpool’s support. The company’s M&A strategy is centred around building a full service offering across network connectivity, IT managed services and cyber security solutions for its growing customer base.
The deal represents Rockpool’s second investment in the technology sector in 2024, having also supported the management buy-out of software testing and quality assurance specialist, 2i, in April 2024.
Tom Coey (Investment Director) and Toby Hurdle (Investment Manager) led the deal for Rockpool.
“This investment marks the first step on an exciting buy-and-build journey that we plan to undertake in partnership with Communicate’s highly experienced management team. It is very rare that we get the opportunity to back a business that has already sourced, completed and integrated three successful acquisitions to date. From the moment we met Tony, Konrad, David and Chris, we immediately bought into their passion and long-term vision for Communicate. Communicate has a well-earned reputation for service quality amongst its loyal customer base, and we look forward to working with the management team to further enhance the Company’s service offering, both organically and via M&A, in the years ahead.”
Tom Coey, Investment Director at Rockpool
“As soon as we met Rockpool we knew that we’d found the right partner to fulfil our ambitions for Communicate. We have built an enviable network infrastructure platform that allows us to deliver our Cyber, Telecoms and IT services directly to clients along with talented technical support staff that minimise downtime and service issues. Along with our strong pipeline of organic growth we now have the opportunity to acquire and integrate similar, technically focused companies to expand our footprint even further. Tom and Toby from Rockpool have been a pleasure to work with and Dan and Marcus from Acuity met our brief exactly.”
Tony Snaith, CEO of Communicate
“Tony and the team at Communicate have built a fantastic platform with a compelling proposition for its customers which I believe shows true insight and empathy around their communications and IT needs. We have thoroughly enjoyed supporting Communicate to secure the right partner with whom to deliver the next stage of its growth and are thrilled to see the team receive backing from Rockpool. As the company delivers on its exciting growth plans I am quite certain that the market will see a lot more M&A activity from Communicate over the coming years, and look forward to supporting them with that journey”
Marcus Allchurch, Managing Partner at Acuity Advisors
Rockpool was advised by Taylor Wessing (legal), PKF Corporate Finance (financial and tax), Knight Corporate Finance (M&A), Wiispa (insurance) and Claritas (tax).
Communicate was advised by Acuity Advisors (M&A), Maddox (legal) and Evelyn Partners (tax).
ABOUT ROCKPOOL
Rockpool Investments is a private equity firm dedicated to creating opportunities for high-net-worth individuals and family offices to invest in private companies. Rockpool provides equity and loan capital of between £5m to £15m to profitable UK-based companies and has invested over £675m since inception.
