A Quercus International team, led by Neil Giles and Nick Standen, has advised the shareholders of Serbus Limited (“Serbus” or the “Company”) on the sale of the business to Aliter Capital LLP (“Aliter”), a UK private equity firm. Serbus will join the Aliter-backed group alongside ITM Communications Limited (“ITM”) and Bates IT Limited (“Bates IT”).
Established in 2010 by two UK Special Forces veterans, Sebastian Wiles and Russell Ticehurst, Serbus specialises in the provision of advanced secure mobile communications offering top level security, threat protection and compliance to ensure day-to-day operations remain productive and uninterrupted, wherever its customers’ employees are working in the world. This includes high-profile government and military environments, as well as within multinational corporations, where protection of employees and intellectual property is key.
Serbus currently supports customers across the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (“CNI”), working closely with the Ministry of Defence and a range of UK Government departments.
Serbus represents the third acquisition for the Aliter-backed group which currently includes ITM, a UK provider of critical network and ICT infrastructure services, and Bates IT, the specialist healthcare ICT provider. The combined group portfolio delivers a comprehensive range of managed critical network and ICT infrastructure capabilities, including network management, on-site and off-site technical services, IoT and digital infrastructure services.
Serbus’s founders and directors, Sebastian and Russell, have built a strong, diverse, security vetted team. Both are remaining with the business and will now work closely with the enlarged group to drive further growth organically, whilst continuing to pursue a buy-and-build strategy.
Sebastian Wiles, Director of Serbus, said: “We remain dedicated to delivering the highest levels of service to our customers and we will continue to deliver the highest levels of secure mobile communications, offering top level security, threat protection and compliance. Furthermore, as part of the wider group, we can now provide the added benefit of complementary critical network and ICT infrastructure managed services, capabilities and resources. We very much look forward to a bright future as we grow.”
Simon Fieldhouse, Group CEO of the ITM Group, added: "This deal broadens the group’s existing credentials in supporting CNI and the defence sector and enables us to advance the launch of a stand-alone dedicated defence practice. Extending our services to include secure NCSC approved communications solutions provides a tremendous opportunity to extend our security pedigree and broaden our managed services footprint across existing customers, whilst expanding into adjacent CNI verticals, such as emergency services, utilities, energy and datacentres."
Russell Ticehurst, Director of Serbus, said: “I would like to extend my personal thanks to Quercus International for their unwavering support throughout this M&A process. A special mention should go to Neil Giles, without whom this deal would not have happened. You have shown levels of professionalism, determination, and diligence reminiscent of my Special Forces days. An incredible job, Neil. Thank you. If any prospective seller wishes to discuss the journey, and what you and Quercus International offer, I will happily explain why they should choose you every time. Incredible support from start to finish.”
Neil Giles, Quercus International, commented: “This sale is the culmination of a 15-year journey for Sebastian and Russell, having developed Serbus from a small consultancy business to one of the leading providers of secure mobile communication solutions to the UK Government, the UK military and increasingly, the private sector. We have thoroughly enjoyed working with Russell and Sebastian over the course of this transaction and we are thrilled to have delivered a successful outcome for them both. We look forward to seeing the company flourish under Aliter’s ownership.”
