Launched in Liverpool late last year, Arete Capital Partners is private capital investor that has announced its latest investment into Warrington-based Tactus Group. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool private capital investor Arete Capital Partners is investing £10m in consumer technology product development specialists Tactus Group.

Based in Warrington, Tactus is a technology and branding specialist. Describing itself as a “disruptive, innovative technology expert”, the business provides multi-branded IT hardware to global retailers and the public sector.

The investment from Arete has enabled Tactus to complete a landmark acquisition of PC gaming specialist, CCL computers, which sees the group become a £125m turnover business.

Arete, which was one formed by five experienced North West investment professionals late in 2020, says this latest deal further accelerate its growth ambitions. It has already made a number of senior hires and its investments include Manchester-based tech pioneer, Peak AI and Toronto-based Shore Underwriting.

Mike Fletcher, joint managing partner at Arete, said: “This is a fantastic strategic acquisition for Tactus Group and further strengthens its position as a disruptive consumer tech expert.

“CCL is ideally placed to bolster Tactus’ credentials in the gaming space, which has emerged as one of the world’s fastest growing sectors in recent months. Our investment will support Tactus in its organic and future acquisitions, and help it deliver its ambitious growth plan.”

The transaction extends the Arete partners’ long-standing relationship with Tactus chief executive, Scott Brenchley and the wider management team. Mr Brenchley added: “A core part of our acquisition strategy over the next 12 months is to identify and bring together fantastic businesses that complement one another and can really drive our growth. 

“Arete understands what makes entrepreneurs tick. Their unique combination of forward-thinking investment capital, real world business know-how and M&A expertise, has allowed us to live out our ambition through the acquisition of CCL.”

The transaction was led by Mike Fletcher and Andy Critchley at Arete and Gav Jones at Tactus (M&A). Matt Noon and Elan Iorwerth, Hill Dickinson (legal advisers), Neil Robinson and Rob Dawes, Grant Thornton (financial due diligence) and Dan Harris, PwC (tax) also advised Arete and Tactus.