Altia acquires digital evidence software business to broaden proposition

PRESS RELEASE

For release 24th October 2023

Altia acquires digital evidence software business to broaden proposition

Altia has acquired Aquila Intelligence Solutions Ltd, an internet-based digital intelligence and investigation solution that supports and simplifies every stage of an investigation.

Altia, backed by NorthEdge, is a leading global provider of specialist intelligence and investigation software for government departments and law enforcement agencies across 18 countries, including the UK, US, Canada and Australia, which saw the business awarded a Queen’s Award in Enterprise for International Trade in 2021. The business, which is based in Nottingham and Glasgow, supports police forces and investigation teams to automate processes using technology – reducing time and money spent on investigations and improving prosecution rates.

Aquila develops software designed for any organisation that conducts investigations, from volume crime and serious crime to fraud or regulatory breaches. Their solutions include Aquila Community and Aquila Open Source Internet. Community is a product that allows members of the public or partners to send evidence or intelligence overtly or anonymously for investigators to review and start building a case, whilst Open Source Internet allows you to locate, capture and ingest data from the internet, for example, images, videos, files, web pages or documents. Aquila offers a rich platform for seamless digital investigations, supporting and simplifying every stage of an investigation.

The deal broadens Altia’s product offering, and Altia are excited to welcome the Aquila team on board.

Rob Sinclair, CEO of Altia, said: “We want to continue to create the latest cutting-edge software that will transform the way the public and private sector tackle investigations. The addition of Aquila software complements our proposition perfectly and supports us toward these ambitious plans, helping us expand into the digital evidence market space.”

Tom McGhee, co-founder of Aquila added: “This acquisition marks a significant milestone in our journey, and we are thrilled to join forces with a company that shares our vision and values. Together, we believe we can achieve even greater success and make a bigger impact in our industry.”

Allan Dunn, Director at NorthEdge, added: “We’re thrilled to support the continuous growth and success of Altia. Aquila represents Altia’s fourth strategic acquisition since we invested in the business and it’s fantastic to have played our part in helping the business to expand. This acquisition, along with the recent appointments of Lauren as CFO and James as CRO, means Altia is well positioned for further growth and I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Altia team as we a better business, together.”

Browne Jacobson (Gareth Davies) advised on the deal.

ENDS

Editor’s notes:

About Altia

Altia develops specialist investigation software for government departments, law enforcement agencies and private sector businesses in the UK, US, Canada, Australia and several other countries. Altia’s investigation solutions include digital casefile and business workflow management software, toolkits to analyse data in financial investigations as well as enterprise application software for covert operations.

Altia is led by CEO Rob Sinclair, who led a management buyout (MBO) in November 2020, alongside NorthEdge.

altiaintel.com

About NorthEdge

NorthEdge is a lower mid-market private equity firm headquartered in the North, owned, and built by its senior team, supported by a global blue chip investor base. They have £900m AUM across four regionally focused funds.

Headquartered in Manchester, with offices in Leeds and Birmingham, the NorthEdge team has a 25-year track record of investing in businesses with ambitious management teams and significant growth potential.

NorthEdge looks to invest in like-minded businesses and management teams who have real ambition and the potential to shape global markets. They back management teams, in the Technology, Healthcare, Business Services and Specialised Industrials sectors, who recognise the value of having an experienced business partner alongside them, supporting them to build a better business.

northedge.com