COS Systems acquired by Pivot Partners
COS Systems, the provider of the leading software platforms COS Business Engine for operators of True Open Access Networks, and demand aggregation platform COS Service Zones, has been acquired by Pivot. The Sweden-based private equity firm steps in as new owner as the broadband industry is at a pivotal point in time, where communities are starting to invest in fiber infrastructure at an exponential pace.
New York, NY, October 5, 2020 – Having a strong foundation in the mature Swedish Open Access market and a global customer base, COS Systems is currently expanding rapidly in North America. With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic still spreading across our world – changing the way we live, work, and learn, one thing has become clear to community leaders; Without access to high speed internet your community is vulnerable.
“The digital divide has been a known problem for a long time, but it took a crisis to put it on top of the agenda. Outside of the largest cities, residents and businesses are struggling to go on with their day-to-day lives, with outdated or non-existent infrastructure to connect to the internet. Now, community leaders are stepping up and taking their digital future in their own hands by investing, or finding partnerships to build high-speed fiber infrastructure,” says Isak Finer, CMO & VP North America at COS Systems.
This critical infrastructure has been proven to be as important to communities as roads, water and electricity and should therefore be treated as such. The True Open Access business model, supported by COS Systems since the company’s inception, is ideal for these infrastructure projects.
“With one entity owning the infrastructure and multiple service providers selling services on it, the subscriber can choose what suits their needs best, while competition between providers will drive the quality up, and price down. It is also a future-proof model since providers of not only internet, but any type of services such as tele-health, and smart services are free to use the infrastructure. Even small rural communities can become ‘smart’ as the capital-intensive network deployment, the largest entry hurdle for providers, has been removed,” explains Bjorn Wannman, Sales Manager at COS Systems.
“COS Systems’ has established a strong position in a market with enormous potential for growth. We are excited about the unique product offering of both demand aggregation and open access BSS/OSS platforms, paired with the turning point towards larger community investments in fiber optic infrastructure. The logical business model to choose for a community is True Open Access as it offers better revenue potential and allows a democratization of broad band services. We will ensure COS Systems has the resources to meet this increasing market demand,” says Niklas Hofverberg, partner at Pivot Partners.
COS Systems’ international expansion will be supported on the Board of Directors by Stefan Georgi as Chairman, who brings significant experience from the sector as an industrial and strategic advisor, and Mikael Philipsson as a member, who has previously been the CEO of IP-Only and has deep sector expertise.
“I am proud of what our great staff and original owners have accomplished this far. As the industry is now at a point of change and expansion never seen before, it is the perfect time to get new owners on board. Pivot Partners brings expertise and resources to build on our previous successes and take COS to the next level,” says Peter Lidstrom, CEO of COS Systems.
About COS Systems
COS SYSTEMS is a leading provider of software to plan, deploy and operate modern broadband networks that support services from one or more providers, using a powerful yet simple self-service interface. Specializing in True Open Access Networks, COS Systems takes customer needs and delivers innovative software solutions that streamline operations, accelerate revenue, and deliver more satisfied subscribers. Learn more about COS Systems at www.cossystems.com
About Pivot Partners
Pivot is a Swedish private equity-fund, investing in- and developing qualitative, high-potential companies in the Nordics, with a focus on development and growth initiatives. We invest capital and engagement – lots of engagement. We support our investments with experiences, processes and networks to instill new energy and capabilities to develop and capitalize on dormant opportunities through Innovation. We like local companies. The explanation is simple; Less Talk – more action. We believe in retaining the local footprint, whilst growing the business on a global scale – strengthening the region by creating job opportunities. For more information, visit www.pivot.se.
For additional information contact:
Isak Finer
CMO & VP North America
COS Systems
+1 (540) 988 3224
isak.finer@cossystems.com
www.cossystems.com
Niklas Hofverberg
Partner
Pivot Partners AB
+46 (70) 190 75 58
niklas@pivot.se
www.pivot.se
