BDO acquires C5 Alliance Group

Thursday 01 March 2018

BDO in Jersey has acquired local technology business, C5 Alliance Group, creating one of the largest locally owned professional services and technology groups in the Channel Islands.

The move follows BDO's recent acquisitions of Jersey consultancy businesses Greenlight CI and Sator Regulatory Consulting in 2016.

C5, which provides technology services to businesses across the Channel Islands, was established 19 years ago and employs 200 people in the Channel Islands. Its growth has included the acquisition of Cronus Consulting in 2012, ITEX Holdings in 2013 and Altius CI in 2016.

Matthew Corbin (pictured left), CEO of BDO in Jersey, said: “This acquisition consolidates two leading businesses in their respective fields and creates a unified firm providing strategy, consulting, digital, technology and managed services."

He described the acquisition of C5 as "strategic" for BDO as they have developed their range of services "...from traditional accountancy to include strategic risk, change and regulatory advisory."  "Extending our professional services capabilities in the area of technology, which sits so firmly at the top of the boardroom agenda, ensures that we continue to align our services to the needs of our clients. Clients of BDO will gain access to a huge pool of technological skills and talent ensuring that technology underpins everything we do, while clients of C5 will benefit from working with a major international brand and a truly global organisation.”

Through this new acquisition, the BDO brand will grow to employ over 350 people across the Channel Islands.

Mr Corbin continued: “C5 has an inspirational management group leading a first-class team of technologists and business professionals, who we already know from working on shared client relationships. C5 attracts, trains and develops the best talent and works hard to support some of the most innovative and forward-thinking businesses operating in the Channel Islands and globally.

“The skills and experience within C5 will make an invaluable addition to our business, enabling us to fulfil our primary mandate to help our clients manage risk and seize opportunities by providing a range of services that evolve in-step with market and technological developments.”

Rob Leader (pictured right), Group Managing Director of C5, commented: “We are absolutely delighted that C5 has joined BDO. BDO is a fantastic fit for C5, with skills and expertise in complementary areas and an impressive global presence. We have worked alongside BDO on projects in the past and we know that our businesses collaborate and work well together. This new partnership will provide our staff with further opportunities to develop, and our clients with access to a wider range of high quality services as we continue to live up to our promise of ‘changing the way the Channel Islands use technology for positive impact’.”

Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey, welcomed the news of the acquisition. He said: “This deal will support our drive to become a digital centre of excellence and support inward investment and the growth of local talent in this important sector. This is a strategically important acquisition of a business that provides critically important IT services to support the growth and development of the local digital economy. We are delighted to see C5 continuing to grow under local ownership.”

Trond-Morten Lindberg, CEO EMEA at BDO International, commented: “BDO has an enviable position and reputation in the Channel Islands as a leading multi-disciplinary firm that delivers exceptional client service. Globally, BDO has been on a consolidation journey for some time with our expansion efforts focusing on business-critical players such as C5 Alliance.

"The acquisition of C5 is therefore another important milestone in the development of BDO, and fits firmly with our objective to help to accelerate the digital transformation of our clients. BDO is quickly building its reputation as a digital-first organisation, using data to create insight and value for our clients. Our objective is to add real value for our clients, in developing new solutions in an increasingly complex business world. I see the acquisition of C5 as benefiting BDO’s clients both in the Channel Islands and across the world.”