ANS doubles in size with Alpha move

Manchester and Stockport-based VARs come together to form £35m player

Scott Fletcher: This transforms us into a £30-50m business

ANS Group has become one of only two UK-based VARs to hold top-tier status with both Cisco and NetApp after acquiring storage reseller Alpha for about £4.85m.

Talking to CRN, ANS chief executive Scott Fletcher said the deal would take ANS’ annual sales runrate to £35m and bolster its expertise on joint Cisco, VMware and NetApp projects.

"This transforms us into a £30-50m business so is a huge step for us," he said.

"Alpha is one of the top two independent NetApp partners alongside B2net. Alpha was the logical choice as it is a solutions-led outfit. Its people have a very similar culture to us."

Founded in 1982, NetApp Star partner Alpha is based just down the road from ANS in Stockport and is on course to bank operating profits of £500,000 on sales of £15m in calendar 2010. The 40-strong firm is also an EMC Velocity partner although Fletcher said this relationship would be reviewed.

Integration of the two head offices would occur over the next thee months, Fletcher said, while ANS’ five staff in London will move across to Alpha’s slightly larger City pad.

Alpha managing director David Mair, who is leaving the firm alongside marketing director John Malabon, Fletcher said: "The combined capabilities of the two businesses are very compelling."

Fletcher said that half of the £4.85m sum will be paid upfront with the balance made up of deferred payments over the next 30 months, meaning ANS does not have to take on debt. ANS last made an acquisition in 2006, when it bought Preston-based voice over IP speciailst BIOS.

Alpha sales director Simon Birney and technical director Howard Johnson will join ANS' management team.