Triton-backed OCU buys telecoms services firm Opals

• Opals provides telecommunications infrastructure services for all types of digital communications networks
• OCU’s purchase of Opals is part of its plans to consolidate the fragmented UK infrastructure services market
• Triton bought OCU Group in July

Instalcom, a division of Triton-portfolio company OCU Group, announced on Friday that it has bought Peterborough, England-headquartered Opals Group. Manchester-headquartered OCU Group was acquired by Triton Partners in July and is a utilities contractor that was founded in 1994. Opals Group provides telecommunications infrastructure services for all types of digital communications networks.

OCU’s pick-up of Opals is part of its plans to consolidate the fragmented UK infrastructure services market and to reinforce OCU’s presence in the south and east of England.

“We are delighted to welcome the Opals team into the OCU family as we look to further grow the business in line with our group strategy,” said Vince Bowler, managing director of Instalcom. “The acquisition of Opals represents another significant step in our ambition to become a leader in full fibre network delivery and expands our presence into the East Midlands and East of England. Under Sam’s entrepreneurship and guidance, the Opals business has flourished, and we look forward to working with Sam and the Opals management team.”

“Opals and I are delighted to become part of OCU, a business that is at the forefront of the fibre roll-out across the country and very much aligned with our culture and strategy,” said Sam Hodge, managing director and founder of Opals. “There are many synergies between the businesses; not only will these allow us to expand our capacity for our customers but crucially accelerate the deployment of fibre in the East Midlands and East of England. I believe OCU to be the ideal partner, given they share our vision of providing a responsive, professional, and innovative service to our market leading customer base.”

Triton Partners, the London-headquartered private equity firm, has a portfolio of 49 companies. It invests across strategies in the industrial tech, services, consumer and healthcare sectors. Triton Fund V was established in 2018 and has raised capital commitments of €5.2 billion. It has a European focus.