IT service provider Interstellar sells its stake in DataExpert to the British Bridgepoint Development Capital IV (BDC IV), a fund focused on investing in mid-market growth businesses. DataExpert was, as a leading provider of products and services to combat cybercrime and fraud, and deliver forensic and incident response services, part of the Interstellar collection.
Founded in 1990, DataExpert joins forces with its customers to reduce and solve cybercrime and fraud by providing a tailored package of software, hardware, training, consultancy, and support. Headquartered near Utrecht in the Netherlands, DataExpert operates in more than 20 countries across Europe. The leader in cybersecurity services has achieved strong growth in recent years across its three key divisions: forensics, analytics and cybersecurity. From its core Benelux market, the trusted cyber-crime adviser has successfully expanded into the Nordic countries. DataExpert will continue to unlock the growth potential of the attractive cybersecurity market, taking advantage of the sector’s structural growth drivers including continuously evolving cyber threats, greater IT infrastructure complexity and an increasing need to investigate the origin of cyber events.
The latest partnership builds on Bridgepoint’s growing track record and expertise in the cyber security space including its strategic investment in Infinigate, a leading distributor of enterprise cybersecurity solutions to SMEs in Europe.
Robbert Bakker, CEO of DataExpert, said: “With the backdrop of quickly evolving cyber threats and IT challenges, we continue to see strong demand for our cyber security solutions and services. The mission of DataExpert is to provide maximum support to our customers in combating cybercrime and promoting cyber security, nationally and internationally. Bridgepoint has significant experience of investing in and growing first class businesses in our sector, and we look forward to continuing this mission whilst further developing our offering, expanding our geographic presence, and unlocking our next phase of growth.”
Maarten van Montfoort, CEO at Interstellar, said: “DataExpert has performed exceptionally well in recent years, as we have worked closely to support the business in reaching its growth ambitions and developing its offering. After careful strategic reconsideration, we have agreed with management that now is the right time for new ownership. We are very pleased that DataExpert will continue its successful international journey with Bridgepoint, a team with strong expertise and capabilities in supporting leading businesses within the sector. We wish them and the management team all the best in the future. Of course, Interstellar and DataExpert will continue their partnership for Incident Response Services for joint customers.”
David MacKenzie, Partner at Bridgepoint Development Capital, said: “We look forward to partnering with DataExpert during its next stage of growth. DataExpert is a unique cybercrime platform, with a market leading position and clear domain expertise. Their focus on complex, post-event cyber solutions mean they are uniquely positioned in the rapidly evolving cybercrime market. We share the leadership teams’ ambition to grow through expanding their product offering, broadening their customer base and targeting new territories globally, all while continuing to partner with vendors and customers to fight against cybercrime and fraud.”
The transaction closed today on 4 April 2023. It marks the tenth platform investment by BDC IV, and its first in the Netherlands. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Bridgepoint: Nicole Gregory, Nicole.Gregory@Bridgepoint.eu, +44 (0) 7867 069 198
DataExpert: Maartje van der Loo, maartje.vanderloo@dataexpert.nl, +31 (0) 318 543173
Interstellar: Maartje van Oeveren, Maartje@kindronin.com, +31 (0)6 43 44 00 42
DataExpert is a managed service provider of cybersecurity technology solutions focused on helping customers to fight cyber-crime and fraud. It specialises in supplying and supporting complex post-incident forensics and analytic tools. DataExpert works together closely with supra-national intelligence and law enforcement bodies, central and local public sector organisations including police forces and corporate customers to improve safety and security, and support them with expertise, innovative software, training and services.
Bridgepoint Development Capital (BDC) is a dedicated team and fund focusing on buyouts and growth capital investments in businesses in the lower middle-market across Europe. Its focus is on market-leading businesses, benefitting from structural growth and operating in one of the following sectors: Advanced Industrials, Business and Financial Services, Consumer and Healthcare, all underpinned by Technology which drives so much of their growth and value creation. BDC has a strong track record of adding value to its portfolio companies by leveraging Bridgepoint’s local resource and expertise across Europe, the US and China. Bridgepoint’s scale, access and insight gives us the resources and network to be materially incremental to our portfolio companies value creation plans. This insight, financial strength, speed and flexibility of decision-making have allowed us to partner with more than 40 businesses in our investment size range over the last ten years.
About Interstellar
The Interstellar collection includes IT service providers Solimas, Exite ICT, DataByte, Datamex and CSN. Specialist companies – Ask Roger, Q-Conferencing, Fundaments, SCCT and Pinewood add in depth knowledge of collaboration, hybrid cloud and cyber security to the platform. Founded in January of 2021, Interstellar grew to more than 650 employees, €170 million in turnover, ten offices and serving over 10,000 customers. Interstellar is backed by Dutch Private Equity firm Quadrum Capital. For more information, please visit www.thisisinterstellar.com/en.
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