Capita snaps up customer contact firm for £40.5m

19th Sep 2011 13:32

FTSE 100 outsourcing firm Capita has bought Vertex Private Sector for £40.5m in cash, in an effort to improve its customer services operations, following the purchase of customer contact centre specialist Ventura in July."Vertex Private Sector is a contact centre focused outsourcing business, which is particularly strong in the retail, utilities and telecommunications markets. Its customers include Marks & Spencer, The National Trust and Scottish Power," Capita said.Vertex Private Sector, which has 1,400 employees across the UK, made a pro forma operating profit of £4.6m on sales of £48.8m in the year ended 31 March.Capita's chief executive Paul Pindar said, "Many of our clients adopt a multi-channel approach for both sales and also customer engagement, so it is essential that we have the depth of functions necessary to meet all of these requirements. This acquisition will bring new expertise and capabilities that will not only strengthen our existing proposition, but will also open up new market opportunities in the private sector."By 13:32, shares were 1.23% lower at 724.50p.BC