20/01/2022

Advising shareholders on exit from Vortex IoT

Vortex IoT, one of Wales’ leading technology firms, has been acquired by Marston Holdings, the UK’s leading provider of integrated, technology-enabled transport solutions.

Capital Law’s corporate team, led by Tom Kelleher working alongside Elizabeth Cotton and Evie Williams, acted for Vortex shareholders (including the Development Bank of Wales) on the deal.

Headquartered in Neath, Vortex was founded by CEO Adrian Sutton and CTO Behzad Heravi. The business, which now employs 35 high qualified employees including engineers with expertise in emerging technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G, LiDAR laser technology and machine learning, is specialised in the supply of environmental sensors, networks and data services designed to support improved air quality and decarbonisation initiatives.

The new deal will help Vortex accelerate its ability to deliver social value and environmental change for the public sector, while strengthening Marston’s offering to its local authority clients.

Adrian Sutton, Vortex CEO, said:

The team at Capital Law have been our trusted advisors as we grew Vortex in recent years, they took time to understand the business and have supported us on many aspects of our scaling and maturity with complete professionalism and good humour.

Tom, Elizabeth and Evie fully continued this experience by immersing themselves in our deal and that delivered confidence and expediency into the exit process for Behzad and I as founders and both the Board and its investors. Thank you.

Tom Kelleher, Partner at Capital Law, said:

Over the past few years working with Vortex, we’ve seen their start-up grow into a leading tech firm in Wales.  Supported with invaluable funding from DBW, Vortex have put themselves squarely at the forefront delivering cutting edge tech in the fight against climate change and the reduction of carbon emissions, delivering real solutions for its clients.

We have been fortunate to have advised on a number of high value deals in the technology sector, which continues to thrive both in Wales and the UK, and it was a pleasure to continue that trend assisting Vortex on the deal with Marston. The new relationship with Marston offers great opportunity for Vortex to continue to flourish and we look forward to what our continued relationship with two great teams will hold.