Intec Microsystems On Growth Offensive Following Private Equity Acquisition

Chiltern Capital and its management team are buying UK IT hardware, software and services distributor Intec Microsystems, with growth plans to exceed £100 million (US $129 million) in the next year.

Previous majority shareholder Dean Leather will step down from his role. The business will continue to be run by existing directors Andy Russell, Ian Whatton, John Lester and Stuart Hall.

Industry veteran Alan Cantwell will join the board as executive chairman to oversee Intec Microsystems’ next phase of growth.

Intec Microsystems’ Alan Cantwell

“Having founded Intec 20 years ago and seen it deliver fantastic growth over that period, now is the time to pass on the baton. I’m leaving Intec in great hands and with people who will take the company to the next level,” said Leather.

Intec Microsystems a ‘Best-Kept Secret’?

With the private equity investment, Intec Microsystems is embarking on a growth offensive.

“We don’t want to be the best-kept secret anymore,” said Cantwell. “We work with some amazing challenger vendors and we’re moving up the value chain. Our goal is to deliver growth by working in close collaboration with our vendors and expanding our product and services offering to best serve our customers.”

Intec Microsystems is already bolstering its vendor portfolio with five new manufacturers that it will reveal over the coming months. With the addition of these vendors, the firm said it has a “revitalised” its sales and marketing strategy. As such, Intec intends to boost its current 2,500 customer base by targeting the 8,000 VARs operating in the UK.

The distributor said it will focus on recruitment as well as training and developing its existing team members.

“Our management team and staff have the knowledge and expertise for growth. We’ll fill any gaps in the business by recruiting more expertise, and with the investment we now have, we can afford to be more competitive in the market,” said Cantwell.

Chiltern Capital’s Joe Bennett

Joe Bennett, investment director at private equity firm Chiltern Capital, said he has admired Intec Microsystems for a long time.

“At Chiltern, we back businesses that are well established in their market and highly regarded by customers and suppliers, and Intec ticks those boxes.”