Ed-tech innovator acquired by safeguarding technology provider

Peter Terry, corporate finance partner at Grant Thornton

A Salford ed-tech innovator has been snapped up by Leeds firm Smoothwall, for an undisclosed sum.

TripleLock software, provided by eSafe Global, protects more than one million children and young people.

The company, which was founded in 2009, brings together advanced intelligent detection technology, highly skilled behaviour analysts and InsightLab experts who update eSafe Global’s threat libraries constantly across a wide variety of languages.

Safeguarding technology provider Smoothwall, which was founded more than 20 years ago, is backed by European mid-market tech investor, Tenzing.

Its software protects more than five million children across the UK. It pioneered the content-aware, real-time web filter which is now the UK’s number one web filter for education, and in recent years it has become a provider of digital safeguarding record management solutions and human moderated proactive monitoring solutions.

Smoothwall chief executive, Georg Ell, said: “The acquisition comes at a pivotal time with both the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) and Ofsted Abuse Review highlighting the need for improved digital safeguarding provision at all levels.

“We thank all eSafe and Smoothwall customers for their continuous support and look forward to exciting times ahead.”

Christian Hamilton, founder and co-managing partner of Tenzing, said: “The acquisition of eSafe is an important step in UK education as the need to protect children online becomes more and more critical.

“This investment strengthens Smoothwall’s position in the fast growing monitoring market and enhances the company’s offering to its loyal customer base in schools around the world.”

Grant Thornton UK’S North West corporate finance team, led by partner Peter Terry, assisted by manager Alex Hirst, advised exiting investor, Maven Capital Partners, on the deal, identifying Smoothwall as an excellent strategic partner to support eSafe’s future ambitions.

Peter Terry said: “Online safety and safeguarding is one of the biggest challenges facing schools, colleges and local authorities – particularly as the switch to remote learning over the last 18 months has meant pupils have, out of necessity, spent much longer online than ever before.”

He added: “As a consequence, we are seeing a lot of M&A activity and investment in the ed-tech space, a trend which we can only see continuing over the medium term – eSafe has developed an important solution in this sector and is now well placed for further growth.”

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