Arctic Stream, an IT infrastructure and security integrator, has formalized the transaction for the acquisition of 23% of the shares in Data Core Systems (DCS), one of Romania’s leading cybersecurity service providers.
The signing of the agreement on March 21, 2025, marks the final step in consolidating the strategic partnership between AST and DCS, following the completion of all legal and financial due diligence procedures specific to such M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) operations.
According to the agreement, the transaction is valued at 9.89 million lei, structured as a mix of cash, AST shares, and performance-based bonus payments—terms that were agreed upon in the memorandum of understanding signed by both companies in April 2024. Following the completion of the acquisition, DCS is valued at 43 million lei (8.63 million euros).
“I am pleased to announce to Arctic Stream shareholders and other stakeholders the completion of the acquisition of 23% of Data Core Systems’ share capital, a company among Romania’s top cybersecurity service providers, which shares the same values as we do. This was the most important criterion we considered when initiating this strategic partnership, and throughout the process of finalizing the transaction, we have been repeatedly reassured that we made an excellent choice. Almost a year ago, we stated that our partnership aimed to build the strongest technology hub for IT solutions integration and cybersecurity services in Romania. Today, I can confirm that this partnership is operating at the level of excellence we envisioned, and its results will become increasingly significant,” said Dragoș Diaconu, Founder and CEO of Arctic Stream.
“In recent times, we have observed a significant increase in the number of cyberattacks, as well as the diversification of attack vectors. The Data Core Systems team has been actively involved in successfully managing and mitigating an increasing number of cybersecurity incidents, leading to higher demand for our services. The frequency of intervention requests has surged, and the impact of incidents has become much more severe. The most frequent attacks we encountered were detected by our own Security Operations Center (SOC) or directly reported by clients. The partnership with Arctic Stream provides us with the opportunity to expand our capabilities and deliver greater value to our customers by integrating advanced IT security solutions and services in an era where digital threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated,” stated Cristian Mănescu, CEO of Data Core Systems.
The shared priorities of both companies include maintaining operational synergy, developing service lines and technical capabilities, and helping clients adapt to the requirements of European directives, such as NIS2 (Network & Information Security Directive) and DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act), while enhancing their ability to respond to cybersecurity incidents (Computer Security Incident Response Team).
The rise in cybersecurity threats and the growth of the industry are reflected in the evolution of Data Core Systems. Founded in 2012, the company is experiencing rapid expansion, both operationally and financially. DCS closed the year with a turnover exceeding 70 million lei (14 million euros), marking a 130% increase compared to 2023, and a net profit of approximately 2 million lei.