Capita agrees to sell Security Watchdog

Capita agrees to sell Security Watchdog

Capita plc (‘Capita’) today announces that it has agreed to sell Security Watchdog, the pre-and post-employment screening solutions provider to Matrix, which is owned by Bridgepoint Development Capital, part of Bridgepoint Group Plc for an enterprise value of £14m on a cash free, debt free basis.

Security Watchdog is the UK industry leader of digitalised, smart pre-and post-employment screening solutions, the largest EMEA supplier of background checks and a trusted partner to clients across the globe.

The reported revenue and profit before tax of Security Watchdog for the year to 31 December 2022 were £27.7m and £1.5m respectively.

 Along with Capita Resourcing, HR Solutions and ThirtyThree, for which contracts were exchanged with Inspirit Capital on 6 March, Security Watchdog made up Capita’s Modular People Solutions business and our People Pillar within Capita Portfolio.

The Security Watchdog senior management team and employees will remain with their business as it transfers to the ownership of Matrix.

Capita previously announced its intention to sell a number of non-core businesses to strengthen the balance sheet and focus on its two core divisions, Capita Public Service and Capita Experience. The agreement to sell Security Watchdog follows the recent disposal of our Pay360 payments processing business, two real estate and infrastructure consultancy businesses, as well as Optima Legal, and Capita Translation and Interpreting.

Jon Lewis, Capita’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are pleased to have agreed the sale of our Security Watchdog business to Matrix following a competitive sale process.

“This was one of a number of Capita businesses which were successful but did not form part of our core growth strategy, and which will benefit from opportunities under new owners.

“The sale marks another step for our successful disposals programme which has enabled us to significantly strengthen the balance sheet and materially reduce our debt.

“We are targeting for the majority of the remaining businesses within our non-core Portfolio division to be sold during the first half of 2023, depending on general market conditions.”

Capita is being advised on the Security Watchdog transaction by Rothschild & Co.

For more information, please contact:

Investor enquiries 

Helen Parris

Director of Investor Relations

Tel: 07720 169269

Email: [email protected] 

Media enquiries

Capita external communications

Tel: 0207 654 2399

Email: [email protected]

About Capita plc

Capita is a leading provider of business process services, driven by data, technology and people. We are a purpose-led, responsible organisation­. Every day our 50,000 colleagues help millions of people, by delivering innovative, digitally enabled solutions to transform and simplify the connections between government and citizens, businesses and customers. We partner with our clients and provide the insight and technologies that give time back, allowing them to focus on what they do best and making people’s lives easier and simpler. We operate across three divisions – Capita Public Service, Capita Experience and Capita Portfolio – in the UK, Europe, India and South Africa. Capita is quoted on the London Stock Exchange (CPI.L). Further information can be found at: http://www.capita.com

About Security Watchdog

Security Watchdog is the UK industry leader of digitalised, smart pre-and post-employment screening solutions, the largest EMEA supplier of background checks and a trusted partner to clients across the globe.

About Matrix

Matrix is a market leading workforce technology and services business that connects workers to work opportunities by providing a neutral vendor service and end-to-end process in one complete platform. Through a combination of people, processes and technology, which analyses data in real-time, it streamlines the way organisations recruit temporary, interim and permanent staff through a range of tailored staffing solutions. Matrix removes the complexity of the supply chain to help customers deliver on higher and faster fulfilment, giving them greater control, consistency of supply, transparency, and 100% compliance, while driving cost savings. Founded in 2008, Matrix is headquartered in Milton Keynes, UK. It works with over 100 organisations across the UK, across both private and public sectors. Find out more at https://teammatrix.com/