Vespa Capital realises investment in Com Laude

Vespa Capital has realised its investment in Com Laude, a global leader in internet domain name management and online brand protection

London, 27th March 2024 – Vespa Capital, the lower mid-market private equity firm, has realised its investment in Com Laude, a global leader in internet domain name management and online brand protection, through a sale to PX3 Partners in partnership with the incumbent management team.

Headquartered in the UK, Com Laude is a tech-enabled business services company that manages internet domain name portfolios, monitors digital brand infringement, and ensures secure online brand presence for large corporates. The Company provides mission-critical internet domain name services to many of the world’s foremost branded companies, essential to the smooth functioning of their internet presence and infrastructure. Com Laude is led by an experienced group of industry specialists, with employees in the UK, North America, Europe and Asia.

With a strong heritage in domain portfolio management and consultancy services for new top-level domains, under Vespa Capital’s ownership the business has expanded, via the acquisition in 2018 of Demys, into high-growth online security services and domain-related brand protection and enforcement. In addition, significant investments have been made in both developing a highly differentiated industry-leading technology platform and expanding Com Laude’s geographic coverage.

Glenn Hayward, Chief Executive Officer of Com Laude, said:

“We have very much enjoyed our mutually beneficial partnership with Vespa Capital over the past years. Working closely together, we have diversified our services, strengthened our management team and invested in our technology. We also completed a very successful strategic acquisition and added further global brands to our world-leading enterprise client base.

With thanks to Vespa Capital and the board, we are now positioned strongly for the next business cycle, where we will realise further benefits from our investments. All our lines of business are growing strongly, and our industry is poised for a step-change opportunity with the next round of new top-level domains - an area of considerable strength for Com Laude”.

David Forbes, Partner at Vespa Capital, said:

“Com Laude has been a highly successful investment for Vespa Capital, and it has been an absolute privilege to partner with Glenn, his management team and the founders of both Com Laude and Demys.

Com Laude is the global quality leader in corporate domain name management, related security services, and top-level domains consultancy for some of the largest brand-owning multinational corporates. We have been delighted to support the company’s development via the recruitment and development of an industry leading team, service extension, geographic expansion, and technology innovation.

During our partnership with the team the business has more than doubled domains under management, net revenue and profitability.”

The selling shareholders were advised by Lincoln International and DLA Piper.