Blaze Strengthens Communicate with Strategic Acquisition
Deal News | Mar 18, 2025 | Business Cloud
The Teesside-based firm Communicate has acquired Blaze Networks, marking its fifth acquisition to enhance its cybersecurity and IT networking service offerings. This move is made possible by a private equity investment from Rockpool, secured in June 2024. The acquisition aims to broaden Communicate's existing capabilities with Blaze's expertise in security solutions such as SD-WAN and SASE, thus providing customers with innovative and secure IT network architectures. Tony Snaith, CEO of Communicate, emphasizes this acquisition as a strategic enhancement to deliver secure IT solutions and foster growth. On the other hand, Blaze Networks sees this merger as an opportunity to accelerate its growth trajectory and enrich its offered services. Rockpool's investment director Tom Coey and investment manager Toby Hurdle spearheaded the deal. This strategic acquisition is anticipated to advance Communicate's revenue to £17 million by 2025.
Sectors
- Cybersecurity
- Private Equity
Geography
- United Kingdom – Communicate is based in Teesside, and Blaze Networks is based in Macclesfield, both located within the UK, indicating the geographical focus of the acquisition.
Industry
- Cybersecurity – The article discusses the acquisition of Blaze Networks, a security-focused managed service provider, by Communicate, a cybersecurity and IT network solutions firm.
- Private Equity – Rockpool provided the investment support for Communicate's acquisition of Blaze Networks, highlighting the role of private equity in facilitating corporate growth.
Financials
- £6 million – Communicate's turnover at the time of securing private equity investment from Rockpool in June 2024.
- £17 million – Project turnover for Communicate by 2025 following the acquisition of Blaze Networks.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communicate | Acquiring Company | Company | A Teesside-based cybersecurity and IT network solutions provider. |
| Blaze Networks | Acquired Company | Company | A Macclesfield-based security-focused managed service provider. |
| Rockpool | Investor | Company | A private equity firm that funded Communicate's acquisition of Blaze Networks. |
| Tony Snaith | CEO of Communicate | Person | Chief Executive Officer at Communicate, commenting on the strategic significance of the acquisition. |
| Ben Brassington | Managing Director of Blaze Networks | Person | Managing Director of Blaze Networks, expressing optimism about the merger. |
| Tom Coey | Investment Director at Rockpool | Person | Led the transaction for Rockpool's investment in the acquisition. |
| Toby Hurdle | Investment Manager at Rockpool | Person | Assisted in leading the transaction for Rockpool's investment in the acquisition. |