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Entag, backed by a major investment by private equity group Anchorage Capital Partners, has acquired Rubicon 8 representing the union of two major Australian technical services groups and a potential new wave of merger and acquisition activity for the managed services sector.
The move is seen as a precursor to more acquisitions by Entag which earlier this year scooped up Proactive Technology Solutions, growing its capabilities in cloud-based security systems and physical security technology.
The Sunshine Coast-based Entag says the latest deal combines the complementary strengths of its own enterprise-grade delivery and cloud-focused solutions with Rubicon 8’s expertise in network, security and end-point services.
Entag CEO Kris Carver describes the venture as a "defining step" in the company’s evolution, with the collaboration set to accelerate the pace of digital transformation across industries and enhanced managed service offerings to deliver “scalable, future-ready solutions”.
“Customers will gain access to deeper technology expertise, faster innovation cycles, and integrated platforms designed to grow with their business,” says Carver.
“The acquisition of Rubicon 8 enables us to bring together best-of-breed technology services and platforms that are agile, scalable, and aligned with the changing needs of our customers.”
The merger of the business is being driven by Anchorage Partners which The Australian Financial Review reports acquired a majority stake in Entag last week.
“This is more than a strategic move, it’s a clear signal to the market that we’re anticipating industry change and focused on delivering intelligent solutions that evolve with our clients’ ambitions,” says Carver.
“For our partners and vendors, this presents a compelling opportunity to collaborate with a high-performance, high-integrity team whose reach now spans right across the country.
“By combining resources and the expertise of our now 145-strong team, we are unlocking new levels of scale and market access thanks to creating deep domain expertise across areas of end-point device management, network, security, unified communications, Cloud, ICT managed services and physical security solutions.”
Entag says the merger reflects a broader shift in the industry, towards “values-driven collaboration, strategic growth and innovation” and sets the stage for further expansion across the managed service provider (MSP) and digital services space.
Edward Bostock, managing partner of Anchorage Capital Partners, describes the acquisition as a unique opportunity to drive innovation and strengthen leadership in the technology services sector.
“Entag and Rubicon 8 have built outstanding businesses with strong customer relationships,” says Bostock.
“We’re excited to partner with both teams to accelerate growth and build a market-leading IT services platform in Australia.
“By leveraging the combined strengths of both businesses, scaling systems and processes, and deploying the Anchorage value-creation playbook, we aim to create significant long-term value for our customers.”
Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
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