Acquisitions News in the Technology sector: 2006

Thu, 21 Dec 2006: Silverdell is to acquire Redhill Analysts, the Dorking-based asbestos and environmental consultancy with four offices, for up to £10m....
[more: Redhill Analysts]

Wed, 20 Dec 2006: Bond International Software has acquired Gowi Group, the HR software developer with 120 staff in London, Portsmouth, Crawley, Lingfield and Wootton Ba...
[more: Gowi Group]

Wed, 20 Dec 2006: Quantum Microponents has been bought out of administration by a management team, securing the future of 70 jobs at its computer parts factory in Skelm...
[more: Quantum Microponents has been bought out...]

Tue, 19 Dec 2006: Kingston Communications has acquired JAM IP, the Maidenhead-based IP contact centre solutions company, for an initial £2.6m....
[more: JAM IP]

Thu, 14 Dec 2006: Eleco has acquired Asta, the Thame-based construction project management software company with 54 staff, for £7.6m....
[more: Asta]

Wed, 13 Dec 2006: Calyx is to acquire Mentec, the IT services company with sites in Leicestershire and Ireland, for EUR 16m....
[more: Mentec]

Fri, 17 Nov 2006: BT has offered £67m to buy internet service provider PlusNet. BT said it was buying the company because "broadband is increasingly becoming more than just fast internet access and PlusNet has a strong reputation for both customer service and innovation". PlusNet CEO Lee Strafford said: "BT recognises the importance of retaining PlusNet's identity and culture and I believe this will give rise to exciting opportunities for PlusNet, our customers and our employees." The company has almost 200,000 broadband customers and some narrowband punters too. PlusNet will keep its brand, its CEO, Strafford, a...
[more: PlusNet]

Tue, 07 Nov 2006: Phoenix IT has acquired Servo Computer Services, the Derbyshire-based hardware and software services company, for £30m. The IT support services ...
[more: Servo Computer Services]

Wed, 25 Oct 2006: Armstrong Laing Group, the Knutsford-based software company, has been acquired by Business Objects of the US for £...
[more: Armstrong Laing Group]

Tue, 17 Oct 2006: Vecta Software Corporation, the Oxford-based supplier of sales intelligence software, has been acquired by Electronic Data Processing for £0.9m,...
[more: Vecta Software Corporation]

Tue, 17 Oct 2006: Spiritel is to acquire Networks Direct UK, the provider of voice, broadband, wholesale line rental and non-geographic numbers, for £1.6m. The de...
[more: Networks Direct UK]

Tue, 03 Oct 2006: Vebnet has acquired 4th Contact, the London-based employee benefits software company with 11 staff, from Star Technology for £661m. The deal consists of a cash consideration of £319,000 with the remaining £205,000 to be satisfied with the issue of 145,997 Vebnet shares. 4th contact has a high profile client list, including the London Stock Exchange, Walt Disney, Daimler Chrysler and Volkswagen and its software systems are used by around 20,000 employees. Vebnet's systems are used by around 170,000 employees and clients include Tenon, JP Morgan and BT. This year, Vebnet reported profits of £180,000, an increase of £167,000 on the previous year, which fuelled speculation that the company was looking to make an acquisition. Vebnet CEO Gerry O'Neil commented: "The acquisition of 4th Contact is another significant development for Vebnet. This provides us with additional scale in both client and enrolled employee numbers. It also increases our market share, reinforces our position as the leading provider of flexible benefits technology, and marks the start of what we believe will be a period of further c...
[more: 4th Contact]

Mon, 02 Oct 2006: Kingston Communications is to acquire Smart421, the Ipswich-based IT services company, for £24m. The acquisition will be paid for in cash. Smart421 will continue to operate smart as a separate entity, but will complement Kingston's existing systems reseller and integration business, Affiniti. The brand name and management team will remain. In June this year, Smart421 had gross assets of £6.6m, of which £3.4m was cash or cash equivalents. Malcolm Fallen, CEo of Kingston Communications commented: "The acquisition of Smart421 provides an exciting opportunity for Kingston. The business has an outstanding reputation in the applications integration marketplace, offering a high quality service to its customers. The Group will benefit from the immediate extension of application-related skills, particularly through Smart421's Microsoft and IBM capabilities." Kingston Communications currently has aro...
[more: Smart421]

Thu, 21 Sep 2006: Access Intelligence is to acquire Management Services 2000 (MS2M), the York-based developer of compliance software for the financial services industry...
[more: Management Services 2000]

Tue, 19 Sep 2006: Radstone Technology, the Towcester-based defence technology company, has accepted a £130m takeover offer from GE-Fanuc Embedded Systems of the U...
[more: Radstone Technology]

Wed, 06 Sep 2006: Glen Group has acquired Explore, the Edinburgh-based IT services company, for £115k. Explore focuses on the SME market, and has recently downgra...
[more: Explore]

Tue, 29 Aug 2006: Associated Newspapers has acquired SimplySwitch, the utility, broadband and phone price comparison service, for £22m. The deal consists of &poun...
[more: SimplySwitch]

Tue, 29 Aug 2006: Exalia, the London-based web hosting company, has been acquired by the web hosting and domain management group NBT for up to £3.2m. NBT will pay...
[more: Exalia]

Mon, 28 Aug 2006: Fibernet, the telecoms network provider, is to be acquired by Global Crossing of the US for £50m. Fibernet will be integrated immediately into Global Crossing's UK operations, and is expected to add over $30m to Global's annual EBITDA. Fibernet is based in Basingstoke, UK, and its customers include the Bank of England, IBM, Citigroup and Carphone Warehouse. "The addition of Fibernet makes us an even stronger competitor, both in the UK and globally, contributing positively to Global Crossing's leadership position as a next-generation communications provider," said John Legere, chief executive officer of Global Crossing. "This acquisition will further accelerate the performance of our 'invest and grow' segment with the addition of Fibernet's valuable enterprise and Internet service provider customers and the opportunity to serve their future requirements with Global Crossin...
[more: Fibernet]

Mon, 07 Aug 2006: Cohort is to acquire MASS Consultants, the defence systems house with about 100 staff at sites in St Neots and Lincoln, for an initial net consideration of £12.5m. A further £0.5m will be paid subject to MASS winning two named overseas contracts within 24 months of completion. The deal is Cohort's first acquisition since it listed on AIM in March 2006, and the company expects that it will be immediately earnings enhancing. Cohort raised funding of £8.8m for the acquisition through a placing of 6.55 million shares. MASS will operate as an independent unit within the Cohort group, retaining its brand and management team. "The acquisition of MASS is consistent with Cohort’s stated strategy of building an independent business supplying technical services to the defence market. The acquisitio...
[more: MASS Consultants]