CAE Technology Services snaps up Novus Group

Infrastructure solutions specialist CAE Technology Services has decided the time is right for it to be added to the list of channel firms driving consolidation in the market, with the acquisition of Novus Group.

The addition of Novus will add more depth to the firm’s Microsoft practice and give its new owner access to a wealth of technical skills. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

As well as holding Microsoft knowledge, the Cheshire-based firm also supports HPE, VMware, Veeam and Citrix.

The plan is to retain the Novus brand to take advantage of the strong reputation that the business has built up in the education market, and the firm’s managing director Donald Allison will also remain on board.

CAE chief executive Justin Harling said that the firm recognised that it was acquiring talent and expertise, which would make a positive difference to the overall business.

“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," he said.

He added that the acquisition means customers would get access to more skills to support the integration of Microsoft cloud, workspace, and security solutions into a wider portfolio of infrastructure services already delivered by CAE.

“Where opportunity exists to augment our capabilities, we will look at acquisitions as a way of accelerating our organic growth. This acquisition will ensure that 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 advissrs,” he said.

Allison added that the tie-up would benefit staff, customers and the prospects for the business: “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 focused on long-term growth and build on the amazing efforts of our employees so far.”

The acquisition comes just a few weeks after CAE cut the ribbon on a new multimillion-pound HQ and logistics centre in Hemel Hempstead.

Harling has been driving the CAE business from the front since the firm went through an MBO in 2018, and made it clear that it was looking for further domestic and international growth.