GCI Telecoms seeks mini-BT status

Firm is keen to grow through acquisition as it aims for £100m turnover

Don McQueen: There are more buyouts on the cards

GCI Telecoms Group is to bring all its acquisitions into one entity and has laid out plans to become a 'mini-BT 21CN' and a £100m revenue outfit.

The Lincoln-based company has closed eight acquisitions in the past four years, most recently laying out £3.2m in cash for networking specialist NetServices.

The company currently trades using four brand names - Edge Telecom, IPI, Invomo and NetServices - but intends to bring all operations under the GCI Com banner this autumn.

GCI's 2009 revenue stood at £18m, with a £2m post-tax profit. The company is projecting to bank £6m EBITDA on sales of £40m this year.

Chief executive Don McQueen claimed GCI has entered the recession with a sizeable war chest and predicted that more buyouts will take place shortly, with "lots of well-priced acquisitions" still available.

GCI aims to become a £100m turnover company within a few years. One-third of the firm's business is drawn from channel partners, and McQueen said indirect sales could provide growth.

"The channel is very important to our business and we have quite an active plan to bring in more resellers," he said.

Dave Millett, founder of Equinox Business Consulting, cautioned that effective integration is paramount for firms keen to build scale through acquisition.

"Consolidation generally reduces choice for clients and the transition causes real problems because [providers have] different billing platforms."