GCP signs definitive agreement to realise its investment in Bridewell, which will deliver a return of 9.3x to GCP Fund V

GCP is delighted to announce that it has signed a definitive agreement to realise its investment in Bridewell, the UK’s leading cybersecurity services business, to an investor group involving Oakley Capital, Eurazeo and Sagard NewGen. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory clearances and will deliver a return of 9.3x for GCP Fund V.

Bridewell was founded in Reading in 2013 and has quickly grown to be the leading independent cybersecurity services company in the UK. Bridewell provides managed and professional cybersecurity services across Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) environments, from architecture and design, governance, risk and compliance, fully managed security operations centre, penetration testing and data privacy, with strong differentiation across Critical National Infrastructure and other highly regulated and complex enterprise clients. Bridewell has operations in the UK and the USA and employs over 300 employees globally.

GCP began its investment partnership with Bridewell in March 2021, to support Anthony Young and Scott Nicholson and the wider management team to deliver on their ambitious growth plans. GCP’s technology services specialism and partnership approach has supported Bridewell to significantly invest in leadership, talent, systems and processes alongside refining their GTM proposition, developing proprietary technology, delivering strategic M&A and establishing international operations in the USA.

Bridewell’s growth journey will now enter a new phase in partnership with I-TRACING, a leading French-managed cybersecurity services business and existing portfolio company of the Oakley, Eurazeo and Sagard investor group. This partnership will bring together the market leaders in two of the largest markets in Europe thereby creating the go-to independent European cybersecurity powerhouse, protecting enterprise and mid-market clients globally at a time of rapidly escalating cyber risk.

The investment partnership with Bridewell highlights GCP’s ongoing commitment and strategic growth expertise in supporting ambitious, highly specialist, entrepreneurial businesses that have intellectual capital at their core and power the Knowledge Economy.

Ravi Monteiro, Partner, GCP commented: “The growth of Bridewell over the past four years has been exceptional. It has been a pleasure working with Anthony, Scott, Ruth, Martin, Ben and all the Bridewell team as they continued to build a fantastic business with an incredible culture of going above and beyond for employees and customers alike. We are proud to have supported Bridewell in becoming one of the UK’s leading cybersecurity services businesses, well set for continued growth.”

Richard Shaw, Partner, GCP, added: “We thank all the Bridewell team for their outstanding performance and are delighted to have been able to work in partnership to support the business with our range of strategic growth initiatives tailored to fast growth knowledge economy businesses. Joining forces with I-TRACING, will now enable Bridewell to take its leading cybersecurity services proposition to the world stage and we wish the combined group the very best of future success.”

Anthony Young, Bridewell, Founder and CEO, commented: “Bridewell has had fantastic growth over the last 12 years to become a leader in the UK cybersecurity market and we are now all really excited about growing internationally and being able to support more companies around the world at a time of increased international tensions. I would like to thank GCP for their invaluable support over the last four years. They understood our business, and their focus on partnership, sustainable ambitious growth and people development has aligned perfectly with our culture as we scaled.”