Videoconferencing firm enters the AVM stable

Audiovisual reseller adds Video Meeting Company to its list of recent acquisitions

VAR Audio Visual Machines (AVM), a subsidiary of London-based technology merchant bank Interregnum, has acquired videoconferencing (VC) firm The Video Meeting Company (VMC) for an undisclosed amount.

Earlier this year, AVM acquired audiovisual reseller ITM. The com-pany said then that it intended to acquire another three or four more firms by end of next year (CRN, 9 May).

Edward Cook, managing director of AVM, told CRN: “VMC provide and install VC for corporate clients.

“We provide traditional audiovisual systems, so it ties in nicely with our offering and enables us to add a videoconferencing element to customers. These days, videoconferencing is a necessary part of a complete room offering.”

VMC will become part of AVM and Cook said all its employees have been kept on. “We recently expanded our premises in the City, and are also going to expand our Kingston office, so we have plenty of room for additional staff,” he said.

Asked about future plans, Cook said: “In the short term, it’s organic growth, but we will be looking to make further acquisitions. Our core focus is services, in particular both maintenance and support services. We also want to broaden our security offering and get into IP surveillance."

“We have just won a large contract to provide and support all of BP’s, VC and AV requirements at its headquarters in Sunbury.”

VMC was previously owned by the Unique Group and has more than 600 clients in 35 countries. The firm generated revenues of £3.5m in the financial year to 30 April 2005. AVM’s annual turnover is about £10m.

David Rose, managing director of VMC, said: “The merger with AVM is really an extension of our total capability. Customers want their videoconferencing to be integrated into a more complex room offering these days. We will keep the VMC brand but will trade under AVM.”

Rob Gowman, senior sales consultant at VC reseller JKC, claimed: “Although VMC was a competitor of sorts for us, whenever we came up against it in a bid for a contract, we were always able to beat it on price. VMC tended to be quite highly priced.”

Interregnum is listed on London’s Alternative Investment Market and invests in technology companies.