The Company and Our Investment
In July 2009, Octopus invested £2 million into communication systems provider KeTech, alongside a £2.5 million invoice discounting facility from Centric Commercial Finance. The transaction is the first from the £30 million Octopus Capital for Enterprise Fund.
KeTech is a multi-disciplined Group of companies specialising in communication systems integration and in-building environment and security controls. Its products include:
- Train safety systems and customer information boards for the underground and mainline trains.
- Nerve and drug detection equipment for use by the police and military.
- Building management systems and controls.
Many of KeTech's products are used in critical operations and it has a strong reputation for delivering on time and to spec. The company has been involved in a number of high profile projects including the upgrade of the Victoria Line and South Coast Line as well as the DLR extension.
"Since the current economic crisis began, the lack of available credit, even to viable businesses such as KeTech, has significantly impaired our ability to keep growing.I am therefore delighted that Octopus Capital for Enterprise Fund is injecting much needed capital into KeTech. This will play a critical role in enabling us to secure profitable new contracts which regrettably, until now, we have been forced to turn away."
John Kearney, Chief Executive Officer, KeTech
