OPTILAN GROUP LIMITED ESTABLISHES A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH BLUE WATER ENERGY TO ACCELERATE ITS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PLANS
London, 7th April 2017 – Optilan Group Limited, a telecommunications and security systems integrator providing ‘turnkey’ communication systems from design to site commissioning and support, has entered into a strategic partnership with Blue Water Energy to significantly increase the company’s international presence and enhance its service offerings. Optilan is headquartered in Coventry, UK with established presence in the Middle East, Russia, Caspian, Turkey and India and employs over 200 people globally.
Since its formation in 1990, Optilan’s journey has taken it from a niche fibre optic telecommunications project provider to an international specialist communications and security systems integrator focused across the energy, transportation and infrastructure sectors with revenues of above £40m. The journey has been driven by the current management team’s ability to apply Optilan’s technical expertise to market niches in which it can offer a specialist service to Tier 1 customers including BP, Shell and National Grid, amongst others. “The Times – ‘Profit Track 100’” has named Optilan among the 100 fastest growing private companies in the UK.
Under the new partnership with BWE, and substantial growth equity funding, the Company will embark upon a series of organic and strategic growth initiatives to further enhance its state of the art services and expand into new geographies and new end markets.
The partnership with Blue Water Energy comes as NVM Private Equity LLP exits the business following its investment in 2008 to support the business’ expansion in to new markets.
Richard Buckland, founder and CEO of Optilan, commented, “The underlying market opportunity in security and communications is vast and attractive. Over the years Optilan have built valuable relationships with many clients who operate in the energy, transport and infrastructure sectors. Our expansion plans have been very much driven by listening to our customers and the continued expansion of the market where, specialists such as ourselves, can provide world class global solutions. We are looking forward to be partnering with experienced investors at Blue Water Energy who will support Optilan’s ambitions and propel the company into the next phase of growth.”
Graeme Sword, Partner at BWE said “We look forward to the opportunity to work with a founder / entrepreneur like Richard to drive further growth at Optilan. Over the past 25 years Optilan has established itself as a differentiated provider of systems integration services to the market – a market we see as increasingly important amid today’s economic and geopolitical climate. We are delighted to be partnering with the company to deliver an ambitious growth plan.”
Contacts – for all enquiries please contact the below:
Blue Water Energy contact:
Frazer Blyth
T: +44 (0) 207 2905090
M: +44 (0) 7793 041618
About Optilan Group Limited
Formed in 1990, Optilan has achieved significant growth and is now a well-established specialist provider of communications and security systems integration services including design, installation, commissioning, support and maintenance services to a broad range of blue chip customers. It has primarily focused on greenfield and brownfield projects in the energy sector, however it has an additional proven delivery capability and growing order book within the transport and infrastructure sectors. Optilan’s historic investment in its international reach has resulted in the business having established a presence in key areas of opportunity in the Middle East, Russia, Caspian, India and Turkey.
For more information about Optilan Group Limited, please visit www.optilan.com
About Blue Water Energy
Founded in 2011, Blue Water Energy is a leading global middle market energy specialist private equity firm based in London. The firm primarily targets investments in the reserves, upstream and midstream / downstream energy supply chain, while partnering with best-in-class management teams and utilising a network of seasoned investment and operating professionals. Since raising Blue Water Energy Fund I, $861m, a global portfolio of 11 companies from the E&P, Oil Field Services and Midstream / Downstream sectors is now managed by the team at BWE. Its Partners have on average 28 years of relevant experience, and they are complemented by a seasoned and very talented investment team of 13 people.
To know more about Blue Water Energy, please visit www.bluewaterpe.com
