VAR Arrow makes first acquisition from £50m war chest

Acquisitive VAR snaps up cybersecurity specialist Altinet

Arrow Business Communications has dipped into its new £50m war chest to acquire cybersecurity VAR Altinet.

Based in Leeds, Altinet is a Barracuda and Microsoft partner, and offers services around email and public cloud security.

The acquisition is Arrow's ninth of recent years and the first since it took on new private equity investment in January.

Arrow CEO Richard Burke said: "With its strong cultural alignment to Arrow, expertise in cyber security and impressive sales oriented approach, Altinet represents the perfect first acquisition following the investment in Arrow by MML.

"I am excited by the possibility of offering the broader product portfolio into the combined customer base and extending Arrow's IT capability."

Altinet founders Dan Bailey and Henry Doyle will stay with the business following the acquisition and will continue to "lead day-to-day activities", Arrow said.

In a joint statement the pair said: "We have been considering the best way to maximise the potential of our business and in Arrow we have found a great home for Altinet.

"As a cybersecurity specialist, we are excited to be joining the Arrow family and see this as the natural next step for the continued growth of the business.

"We are looking forward to working with Richard and the Arrow team in continuing to support our existing customers and working with Arrow customers through their security challenges."