Stuttgart, Germany/Bogota, Colombia, 25 January 2024 – Global digital transformation pioneer GFT Technologies SE (GFT) agreed to acquire 100% of shares in Colombia-based core banking expert Sophos Solutions S.A.S..
With Sophos, GFT advances to one of the top 3 banking IT services
providers across Latin America and also increases its global delivery
capability. The purchase from Advent International, one of the largest
and most experienced global private equity investors, is a clear sign of
GFT’s continued focus on growth and profitability.
GFT is gaining a new stronghold for core banking solutions, AI and cloud modernisation,
as well as additional partners and clients, which include Colombia’s
most relevant financial institutions. The company is increasing its
presence to 20 countries, six of which are in Latin America: Brazil,
Mexico and Costa Rica are now complemented by Colombia, Chile and
Panama. The combined impact of both companies will result in GFT
advancing to be a top three provider of IT services for banking across Latin America*.
Thanks to Sophos’ more than 1,700 employees, GFT’s global headcount will grow by almost 20 percent to more than 12,000.
This is the largest number of talents ever added in a GFT acquisition.
The transaction is expected to be completed in early February 2024. In
2022, Sophos generated revenues of around 257 billion Colombian pesos (currently around 60 million Euros) and GFT reported over €730 million Euros worldwide.
“In this strategic acquisition, we're not just merging companies; we're
multiplying potential,” said GFT CEO Marika Lulay. “It is a logical
continuation of our successful strategy for growth and profitability.
All aspects of Sophos are highly valuable to us. From the new
colleagues, new competencies and new clients to the new partners for
core banking solutions, such as Oracle Flexcube. All this results in
high traction for GFT in Latin America’s third-largest market Colombia,
plus exponential growth scope in the Americas and beyond.”
Clients benefit from expertise in core banking, AI and cloud modernisation
Sophos
is especially renowned for its core banking, AI and cloud modernisation
expertise, as well as innovation and digital transformation. GFT clients benefit from expanded delivery capacity and access to new expertise, including in solutions for core banking with Sophos’ established partners. For Sophos’ clients, the acquisition means access to the additional large GFT talent pool,
extensive experience in successfully implementing next generation
technology, more partners like Thought Machine, and pre-built solutions.
All that combined translates into a shorter time to market and effective services delivery for all clients.
“We are proud to have partnered with the entire Sophos team during a
time of significant growth for the company,” said Lucas Marulanda,
Director at Advent International. “Since our investment in 2020, Sophos
has strategically scaled its platform through international and regional
expansion and continued to help drive significant technological
transformation and modernisation across the financial industry. We look
forward to following the company’s continued success.”
“For everyone at Sophos, it is a great opportunity to become part of
GFT,” added Sophos CEO Felipe Villa. “I see a perfect fit with combined
expertise and global presence of Sophos and GFT. This will enable us to
even better support our clients on their digital transformation journey –
great news for our employees and their career development, as well as
for our clients. We are grateful to Advent for taking our company to the
next level.”
Canaccord Genuity is serving as the exclusive financial advisor to Advent and Sophos.
