The Company & Our Investment
Founded in 1996, CSL DualCom is a market leader in the supply of dual signalling intruder alarm devices for commercial premises. The devices communicate using a telephone line, wireless link or a broadband connection. CSL DualCom has been a service provision partner of Vodafone since 2000.
CSL has a strong product suite, with new products regularly introduced. This, combined with its excellent customer service, has led to significant year on year growth in profits. The company currently has over 100,000 alarm to security connections throughout the UK.
Octopus originally completed the MBO of CSL in 2006, with an investment of £3m and have since completed a further investment into CSL, which completed in July 2007. Octopus also provided £2.65 million of flexible debt from the Apollo VCT funds in February 2009, which was prompted because CSL's bank, Kaupthing, went into administration.
The demise of Kaupthing made it necessary to find a new banking partner. Unlike traditional high street lenders, Octopus showed a willingness to both understand the business and to lend. This, coupled with terms which are competitive and flexible, make it an ideal partner for developing the company's growth plans. It is our view that this move to borrow from Octopus has given the company a high degree of certainty in these uncertain times.
David Doble, Finance Director, CSL DualCom Limited
