Azzurri sees blue skies with buy-out
Reseller makes 10th acquisition and has plans for four more
Reseller Azzurri Communications has continued with its aggressive acquisition plans by buying Everlogic, a voice, data and security VAR.
Everlogic is the 10th firm bought by Azzurri, which has acquired resellers with data and voice specialisations in the UK.
"We will make no changes to staffing whatsoever," said Martin St Quinton, chief executive of Azzurri.
"In fact, we'll be recruiting to expand the Leeds office. David Smith will become a divisional director."
St Quinton told CRN that Azzurri is now posting an annual turnover of £70m. His intention is to double that to £140m, through both acquisition and organic growth.
He claimed the company is looking to make three or four more acquisitions, with security as a prime target.
"We'll be taking on the north-eastern division of the firm," said David Smith, managing director of Everlogic. "Staff from the former Convergent offices in Barnsley will be joining us in Leeds."
Smith added that he had no concerns about integration and was impressed by the professionalism of Azzurri's staff. Everlogic will remain "fairly self-sufficient", he said.
The reseller's acquisition strategy has focused on buying resellers that cross the voice and data divide. It has also looked to buy firms across the UK.
Azzurri is funded by investment firm 3i, with banking services managed by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Everlogic posted a turnover of £4.2m and a profit before tax of £180,000 in the last annual report it filed with Companies House in March last year.
St Quinton said the firm will help Azzurri cover the Yorkshire area, and add more sophisticated data integration skills and security expertise.
Azzurri has also secured a Platinum Business Partner accreditation from Avaya after winning Mitel's highest accreditation in July last year.
Clive Sawkins, vice president of Avaya in the UK and Eire, said last year that his firm had been in discussions with Azzurri about improving its accreditation for several months.