Birmingham software firm lands private equity investment
Private equity firm NorthEdge invested in Birmingham-based video content security services provider Friend MTS.
Founded in 2000, and headquartered in Birmingham with offices in Europe and the US, Friend MTS provides content owners, broadcasters and operators with advanced security and platform protection solutions, including network threat intelligence, forensic watermarking and global media discovery optimised with automated content recognition.
Friend MTS’s products have established it as one of the foremost content security providers to the global sports, media and entertainment industries, with long-term contracted revenues from blue-chip clients including Sky, UEFA, Serie A, Warner Bros Discovery, Rogers and United Group, serviced by its unified global cybersecurity SaaS platform.
NorthEdge is backing Friend MTS’s leadership team, including Jonathan Friend, founder, and Mark Scotter, chief financial officer and head of corporate development, to accelerate product investment and global expansion.
Friend said: “Friend MTS is dedicated to securing the content and revenues of our international client base through innovative platform security solutions. NorthEdge proved to be the right partner for our next phase of growth, as from the outset they have understood our vision for further expansion, alongside recognising the importance of continuing to invest in our technology and our people.
“With NorthEdge’s support, Friend MTS will continue to build on its reputation as a market leading operator within its sector, servicing a growing international blue-chip client base.”
The investment was run out of NorthEdge’s Birmingham office, and funded from NorthEdge Fund III alongside co-investors.
It was led by Jon Pickering, Andrew Skinner, Michael Joseph, Maninder Minhas, Mike Craven and Simone Masterson. Andrew and Michael will join the Friend MTS board on behalf of NorthEdge.
Pickering said: “Friend MTS is well known and respected as a market leading operator within its sector. We have been hugely impressed by the team’s passion for innovation, as well as their ambitious plans to accelerate growth.
“As one of our largest technology deals, it has been fantastic to work alongside Jonathan, Mark and the team to develop pioneering plans for future growth. NorthEdge has a great track record of helping UK businesses to flourish internationally and we are looking forward to supporting Friend MTS in its next chapter.”
NorthEdge was advised by Alantra (corporate finance) and Gateley (legal).
Friend MTS was advised by Friend Corporate Development (corporate finance) and Squire Patton Boggs (legal).
