{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"146790","rtpr_id":"nPn62MmGTa-20260917","ticker":"SCTS","exchange":"LSE","all_tickers":["SCTS"],"title":"H.I.G. Capital Signs Definitive Agreement to Sell General Datatech","author":"PR Newswire","published_at":"2026-09-17T16:30:00.429Z","article_body":"H.I.G. Capital Signs Definitive Agreement to Sell General Datatech\nPR Newswire\n\nSAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2026\n\nSAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- H.I.G. Capital (\"H.I.G.\"), a\nleading global alternative investment firm with $75 billion of capital under\nmanagement, is pleased to announce that one of its affiliates has signed a\ndefinitive agreement to sell its portfolio company, General Datatech (\"GDT\" or\nthe \"Company\"), a leading global provider of IT solutions and services, to an\naffiliate of Softcat plc (LSE: SCT) (\"Softcat\") for an enterprise value of\n$1.05 billion. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and\nis expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2027.\n\nHeadquartered in Dallas, Texas, GDT is a leading global IT solutions provider\ndelivering secure, enterprise-grade, AI-ready infrastructure and services to\ncustomers across a wide range of end markets. Founded in 1996, the Company\ntakes a services and architecture led approach to delivering comprehensive\nsolutions across its networking, hybrid cloud and data center, cybersecurity,\nand collaboration practices.\n\nSince H.I.G.'s investment in GDT in 2021, the Company has undergone a\nsignificant transformation, strengthening its leadership team, refining its\nservices and solutions capabilities, and establishing a global delivery\nplatform by launching its Bangalore center of excellence. The Company also\ninvested significantly in AI and cybersecurity capabilities, further\npositioning GDT as a differentiated technology partner to large and complex\nenterprise customers. During H.I.G.'s ownership, the Company has doubled\nEBITDA while expanding in high-growth sectors and increasing its mix of\nrecurring gross profit.\n\nShawn O'Grady, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of GDT, commented, \"H.I.G.\nhas been an outstanding partner to GDT and has supported our team as we\ninvested in our people, practices, and client and partner relationships.\nTogether, we have diversified the business, brought tremendous value to our\ncustomers, and positioned GDT to capitalize on the significant opportunities\ncreated by continued enterprise IT modernization. We are proud of what we have\naccomplished and excited to begin our next chapter with Softcat.\"\n\nAaron Tolson and Kevin Van Culin, Managing Directors at H.I.G., commented,\n\"Shawn and the GDT management team have done a phenomenal job transforming the\nCompany into a leading IT solutions provider. The strategic investments during\nour ownership into high-growth areas such as hybrid cloud, AI, and\ncybersecurity have driven exceptional growth. We look forward to following the\nteam's continued success.\"\n\nGuggenheim Securities, LLC and Moelis & Company LLC served as financial\nadvisors, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to H.I.G. and\nGDT in connection with the transaction.\n\nAbout General Datatech\n\nGDT is a global IT solutions provider that delivers secure, enterprise-grade,\nAI-ready infrastructure and services to customers across a wide range of end\nmarkets. With a 30-year heritage and a people-first approach, GDT helps\norganizations modernize and scale their IT environments to support innovation,\nresilience, and growth. The Company provides services-led solutions across its\nnetworking, hybrid cloud and data center, cybersecurity, and collaboration\npractices. For more information, visit gdt.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4776428-1&h=1089380467&u=https%3A%2F%2Fgdt.com%2F&a=gdt.com)\n.\n\nAbout H.I.G. Capital\n\nH.I.G. is a leading global alternative investment firm with $75 billion of\ncapital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta,\nBoston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Stamford in the\nUnited States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London,\nLuxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, and Hong\nKong, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to middle\nmarket companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added\napproach:\n\n * H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and\ncorporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming\nmanufacturing and service businesses.\n * H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche, and junior debt financing to\ncompanies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination)\nbasis, as well as in the secondary markets.\n * H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit\nfrom improved asset management practices.\n * H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in\nthe infrastructure sector.\nSince its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 400\ncompanies worldwide. The Firm's current portfolio includes more than 100\ncompanies with combined sales in excess of $53 billion. For more information,\nplease refer to the H.I.G. website at hig.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4776428-1&h=4254418969&u=https%3A%2F%2Fhig.com%2F&a=hig.com)\n.\n\n*Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and its affiliates.\n\nContact:\nAaron Tolson\nManaging Director\natolson@hig.com (mailto:atolson@hig.com)\n\nKevin Van Culin\nManaging Director\nkvanculin@hig.com (mailto:kvanculin@hig.com)\n\nH.I.G. Capital\nOne Sansome Street\n37th Floor\nSan Francisco, CA 94104\nP: 415.439.5500\nhig.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4776428-1&h=3527170365&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hig.com%2F&a=hig.com)\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hig-capital-signs-definitive-agreement-to-sell-general-datatech-302882355.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hig-capital-signs-definitive-agreement-to-sell-general-datatech-302882355.html)\n\nSOURCE H.I.G. Capital\n\n\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS672640/HIG-Capital-Logo.jpg?id=OA2954198\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved.","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nPn62MmGTa-20260917","title":"H.I.G. Capital Signs Definitive Agreement to Sell General Datatech","author":"PR Newswire","ticker":"SCTS","created":"2026-09-17T16:30:00.429Z","tickers":["SCTS"],"exchange":"LSE","article_body":"H.I.G. Capital Signs Definitive Agreement to Sell General Datatech\nPR Newswire\n\nSAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2026\n\nSAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- H.I.G. Capital (\"H.I.G.\"), a\nleading global alternative investment firm with $75 billion of capital under\nmanagement, is pleased to announce that one of its affiliates has signed a\ndefinitive agreement to sell its portfolio company, General Datatech (\"GDT\" or\nthe \"Company\"), a leading global provider of IT solutions and services, to an\naffiliate of Softcat plc (LSE: SCT) (\"Softcat\") for an enterprise value of\n$1.05 billion. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and\nis expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2027.\n\nHeadquartered in Dallas, Texas, GDT is a leading global IT solutions provider\ndelivering secure, enterprise-grade, AI-ready infrastructure and services to\ncustomers across a wide range of end markets. Founded in 1996, the Company\ntakes a services and architecture led approach to delivering comprehensive\nsolutions across its networking, hybrid cloud and data center, cybersecurity,\nand collaboration practices.\n\nSince H.I.G.'s investment in GDT in 2021, the Company has undergone a\nsignificant transformation, strengthening its leadership team, refining its\nservices and solutions capabilities, and establishing a global delivery\nplatform by launching its Bangalore center of excellence. The Company also\ninvested significantly in AI and cybersecurity capabilities, further\npositioning GDT as a differentiated technology partner to large and complex\nenterprise customers. During H.I.G.'s ownership, the Company has doubled\nEBITDA while expanding in high-growth sectors and increasing its mix of\nrecurring gross profit.\n\nShawn O'Grady, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of GDT, commented, \"H.I.G.\nhas been an outstanding partner to GDT and has supported our team as we\ninvested in our people, practices, and client and partner relationships.\nTogether, we have diversified the business, brought tremendous value to our\ncustomers, and positioned GDT to capitalize on the significant opportunities\ncreated by continued enterprise IT modernization. We are proud of what we have\naccomplished and excited to begin our next chapter with Softcat.\"\n\nAaron Tolson and Kevin Van Culin, Managing Directors at H.I.G., commented,\n\"Shawn and the GDT management team have done a phenomenal job transforming the\nCompany into a leading IT solutions provider. The strategic investments during\nour ownership into high-growth areas such as hybrid cloud, AI, and\ncybersecurity have driven exceptional growth. We look forward to following the\nteam's continued success.\"\n\nGuggenheim Securities, LLC and Moelis & Company LLC served as financial\nadvisors, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to H.I.G. and\nGDT in connection with the transaction.\n\nAbout General Datatech\n\nGDT is a global IT solutions provider that delivers secure, enterprise-grade,\nAI-ready infrastructure and services to customers across a wide range of end\nmarkets. With a 30-year heritage and a people-first approach, GDT helps\norganizations modernize and scale their IT environments to support innovation,\nresilience, and growth. The Company provides services-led solutions across its\nnetworking, hybrid cloud and data center, cybersecurity, and collaboration\npractices. For more information, visit gdt.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4776428-1&h=1089380467&u=https%3A%2F%2Fgdt.com%2F&a=gdt.com)\n.\n\nAbout H.I.G. Capital\n\nH.I.G. is a leading global alternative investment firm with $75 billion of\ncapital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in Atlanta,\nBoston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Stamford in the\nUnited States, as well as international affiliate offices in Hamburg, London,\nLuxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogotá, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, and Hong\nKong, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to middle\nmarket companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/value-added\napproach:\n\n * H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations, and\ncorporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming\nmanufacturing and service businesses.\n * H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche, and junior debt financing to\ncompanies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination)\nbasis, as well as in the secondary markets.\n * H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit\nfrom improved asset management practices.\n * H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in\nthe infrastructure sector.\nSince its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 400\ncompanies worldwide. The Firm's current portfolio includes more than 100\ncompanies with combined sales in excess of $53 billion. For more information,\nplease refer to the H.I.G. website at hig.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4776428-1&h=4254418969&u=https%3A%2F%2Fhig.com%2F&a=hig.com)\n.\n\n*Based on total capital raised by H.I.G. Capital and its affiliates.\n\nContact:\nAaron Tolson\nManaging Director\natolson@hig.com (mailto:atolson@hig.com)\n\nKevin Van Culin\nManaging Director\nkvanculin@hig.com (mailto:kvanculin@hig.com)\n\nH.I.G. Capital\nOne Sansome Street\n37th Floor\nSan Francisco, CA 94104\nP: 415.439.5500\nhig.com\n(https://edge.prnewswire.com/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4776428-1&h=3527170365&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hig.com%2F&a=hig.com)\n\nView original content to download\nmultimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hig-capital-signs-definitive-agreement-to-sell-general-datatech-302882355.html\n(https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hig-capital-signs-definitive-agreement-to-sell-general-datatech-302882355.html)\n\nSOURCE H.I.G. Capital\n\n\n\nPhoto: \nhttps://mmx.prnewswire.com/media/MS672640/HIG-Capital-Logo.jpg?id=OA2954198\n\nCopyright (c) 2026 PR Newswire Association,LLC. All Rights Reserved."},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-09-17T16:30:00.475198158Z","server_sent_at_ms":1789662600475},"received_at":"2026-09-17T16:30:00.528Z","source_url":"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hig-capital-signs-definitive-agreement-to-sell-general-datatech-302882355.html"},"analysis":{"id":"135622","press_release_id":"146790","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Technology Distributors","sector":"Information Technology"},"redFlags":["financing structure and potential dilution for the $1.05B acquisition not disclosed","no valuation multiple, synergy, or accretion figures provided","deal subject to customary closing conditions; close not expected until end of Q1 2027 (execution/timing risk)"],"eventType":"m_and_a","narrative":"H.I.G. Capital has signed a definitive agreement to sell its portfolio company General Datatech to an affiliate of Softcat plc for an enterprise value of $1.05 billion, with closing expected by the end of Q1 2027.\n\nGDT is a Dallas-based global IT solutions provider spanning networking, hybrid cloud and data center, cybersecurity, and collaboration, and has doubled EBITDA since H.I.G.'s 2021 investment while building AI and cybersecurity capabilities and a Bangalore delivery hub.\n\nFor Softcat, the deal extends its IT distribution and services platform into the US enterprise market and adds AI-ready infrastructure capabilities at scale.\n\nGuggenheim Securities and Moelis & Company advised the sellers alongside legal counsel Kirkland & Ellis; the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":true,"suggestedAngle":"Softcat's $1.05B acquisition of GDT is a major US expansion play for the UK IT reseller, adding AI-ready enterprise infrastructure services."},"keyFigures":{"dealValueUsd":1050000000,"customDimensions":{"expected_close":"end of Q1 2027","enterprise_value":"$1.05 billion","hig_capital_under_management":"$75 billion","ebitda_change_under_hig_ownership":"doubled since 2021 investment"}},"quotedText":"We are proud of what we have accomplished and excited to begin our next chapter with Softcat.","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Shawn O'Grady","role":"Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Datatech"},{"name":"Aaron Tolson","role":"Managing Director, H.I.G. Capital"},{"name":"Kevin Van Culin","role":"Managing Director, H.I.G. Capital"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"Softcat plc","ticker":"SCT","relationship":"acquirer"},{"name":"General Datatech (GDT)","relationship":"target"},{"name":"H.I.G. Capital","relationship":"seller / private equity owner"},{"name":"Guggenheim Securities, LLC","relationship":"financial advisor to seller"},{"name":"Moelis & Company LLC","relationship":"financial advisor to seller"},{"name":"Kirkland & Ellis LLP","relationship":"legal counsel to seller"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$1.05 billion","context":"enterprise value of GDT sale to Softcat affiliate"},{"amount":"$75 billion","context":"H.I.G. Capital capital under management"},{"amount":"$53 billion","context":"combined sales of H.I.G.'s current 100+ portfolio companies"}]},"materialImpact":{"score":5,"reasoning":"Genuine M&A: the filer (Softcat) is acquiring General Datatech for a $1.05 billion enterprise value — a deal on the order of ~18% of Softcat's market cap, materially expanding its US enterprise IT footprint. Per the rubric, M&A warrants the top impact score."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[{"ticker":"SCT","relevance":"acquirer — Softcat plc, LSE-listed ticker of the acquiring company"}],"primary":"SCTS"},"globalImportance":48,"audienceRelevance":30,"eventTypeSecondary":[],"importanceComponents":{"note":"Release authored by seller (H.I.G. Capital); filer is the acquirer","tickerTier":"mid-cap international (LSE-listed)","dealSizeBand":"$1-10B M&A","eventGravity":"$1.05B enterprise-value M&A","sectorWeight":"IT distribution/services consolidation","issuerAuthored":false}},"event_type":"m_and_a","event_type_secondary":null,"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":5,"narrative":"H.I.G. Capital has signed a definitive agreement to sell its portfolio company General Datatech to an affiliate of Softcat plc for an enterprise value of $1.05 billion, with closing expected by the end of Q1 2027.\n\nGDT is a Dallas-based global IT solutions provider spanning networking, hybrid cloud and data center, cybersecurity, and collaboration, and has doubled EBITDA since H.I.G.'s 2021 investment while building AI and cybersecurity capabilities and a Bangalore delivery hub.\n\nFor Softcat, the deal extends its IT distribution and services platform into the US enterprise market and adds AI-ready infrastructure capabilities at scale.\n\nGuggenheim Securities and Moelis & Company advised the sellers alongside legal counsel Kirkland & Ellis; the transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions.","key_figures":{"dealValueUsd":1050000000,"customDimensions":{"expected_close":"end of Q1 2027","enterprise_value":"$1.05 billion","hig_capital_under_management":"$75 billion","ebitda_change_under_hig_ownership":"doubled since 2021 investment"}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Shawn O'Grady","role":"Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Datatech"},{"name":"Aaron Tolson","role":"Managing Director, H.I.G. Capital"},{"name":"Kevin Van Culin","role":"Managing Director, H.I.G. Capital"}],"products":[],"companies":[{"name":"Softcat plc","ticker":"SCT","relationship":"acquirer"},{"name":"General Datatech (GDT)","relationship":"target"},{"name":"H.I.G. Capital","relationship":"seller / private equity owner"},{"name":"Guggenheim Securities, LLC","relationship":"financial advisor to seller"},{"name":"Moelis & Company LLC","relationship":"financial advisor to seller"},{"name":"Kirkland & Ellis LLP","relationship":"legal counsel to seller"}],"dollarAmounts":[{"amount":"$1.05 billion","context":"enterprise value of GDT sale to Softcat affiliate"},{"amount":"$75 billion","context":"H.I.G. Capital capital under management"},{"amount":"$53 billion","context":"combined sales of H.I.G.'s current 100+ portfolio companies"}]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flash","prompt_hash":"sha256:727b4b9429a443af","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-09-17T16:30:56.028Z","global_importance":48,"audience_relevance":30,"importance_components":{"note":"Release authored by seller (H.I.G. Capital); filer is the acquirer","tickerTier":"mid-cap international (LSE-listed)","dealSizeBand":"$1-10B M&A","eventGravity":"$1.05B enterprise-value M&A","sectorWeight":"IT distribution/services consolidation","issuerAuthored":false}},"durationMs":55497,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flash"}}