Main Capital Partners (‘Main’), a leading private equity investor, and Ferranti, a trusted provider of mission-critical software for the energy and utility sectors, today announced that Main has acquired a majority stake in Ferranti.
This strategic move marks the beginning of a new growth phase for Ferranti, focusing on product innovation, international expansion, and a targeted buy-and-build strategy. The current management team will remain in place, with Tom Van Haute stepping into the role of CEO.
Ferranti: A leader in utility software solutions
Headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium, Ferranti is an established international software provider serving utility companies.
With a team of approximately 285 professionals, Ferranti develops software that supports leading energy suppliers, grid operators, water companies, and integrated utility providers in managing core processes such as meter-to-cash and distribution grid operations (DGO) for electricity, gas, heat, and water.
The company serves a diverse client base across more than 12 countries, with a strong presence in Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, and a growing footprint in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
Market tailwinds and strategic positioning
The utility software market is driven by long-term structural trends, including:
• Increasing regulatory complexity
• The rollout of smart meters
• The rise of distributed energy resources
These developments are fueling demand for modern, integrated platforms capable of managing increasingly complex ecosystems and processes.
Ferranti is well-positioned to capitalize on these trends through its cloud-based MECOMS 365 platform, built on Microsoft Dynamics 365. The platform integrates core modules such as:
• Customer Information Systems (CIS)
• Customer contact and interaction
• Market communication and orchestration
• Meter Data Management (MDM)
• Pricing, quoting, and billing
All within a single, unified environment.
A shared vision for growth
Main Capital Partners and Ferranti share a common ambition to further strengthen Ferranti’s position as a trusted software provider in the energy and utility sectors. The next phase of growth will focus on:
• Enhancing the MECOMS 365 offering
• Accelerating international expansion
• Pursuing selective strategic add-on acquisitions to broaden product capabilities and market reach
Sjoerd Aarts, Managing Partner & Head of Benelux at Main, commented: "Ferranti has built a strong position as a provider of mission-critical software for the energy and utility sector – a market characterized by attractive structural growth trends. By combining deep domain expertise with the scalable MECOMS 365 platform, the company has established strong, long-lasting customer relationships across multiple markets. We see clear opportunities to further strengthen this position and look forward to supporting the management team in this next phase."
Tom Van Haute, incoming CEO of Ferranti, added: "We are excited to welcome Main as our new majority shareholder. Over the past years, we have grown into a trusted partner for utility companies operating in increasingly complex and regulated markets. With Main’s software expertise and international network, we are well-positioned to accelerate our product development, deepen our service offerings, and expand internationally – while remaining true to the quality, reliability, and dedication that our customers expect from Ferranti."
Ernst Nijkerk, outgoing CEO and representative of the Nijkerk shareholder family, stated: "Finding the right partner for Ferranti’s next growth phase was of great importance to us. In Main, we have found a partner that understands Ferranti’s market and values our people, customers, and deep expertise. With Main’s support, Ferranti is excellently positioned for the future."
The completion of the transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals.
