CAE Technology acquires education VAR Novus Group

Acquisition of Cheshire-based firm will bring ‘outstanding technical skills’, claims CAE’s chief exec

CAE Technology has acquired Cheshire-based VAR Novus Group, in a move which will expand its Microsoft practice and bring "outstanding technical skills" to the business.

CAE says that Novus group has a strong position in the education market and will add new capabilities to the combined business.

Based in Macclesfield, Novus Group caters for education, public sector and corporate organisations, according to its website, and lists Bury Grammar School, Pleckgate High School and Middlewich High School as key customers.

The acquisition will open up new capabilities that will enable customers to integrate Microsoft cloud, workplace and security solutions with CAE's existing infrastructure services portfolio, CAE claims.

The Microsoft, HPE and VMware partner will retain its branding and MD Donald Allison will stay on post-acquisition.

CAE's chief exec Justin Harling said: "This deal is fundamentally about the people and their opportunity to grow with their customers, on both a business and personal level. Everyone across the two organisations will be retained and will have the opportunity to apply their expertise in new and exciting ways."

Harling added that CAE will continue to look for M&A opportunities that accelerate the business' organic growth.

"Where opportunity exists to augment our capabilities, we will look at acquisitions as a way of accelerating our organic growth. This acquisition will ensure we continue to build outstanding long-term partnerships with all our customers, and that we can help drive transformation agendas, which need multi skilled and trusted advisors."

Allison added: "The alignment between our organisations exists at a technical, but also cultural level. We share the belief that by developing people we can go out and offer the best possible customer experience. By being part of CAE, we can provide an environment that is focussed on long term growth and building on the amazing efforts of our employees so far."

CAE only recently cut the ribbon on a brand-new multi-million-pound HQ and logistics centre in Hemel Hempstead, having previously been based in Watford.