TVS bought as part of Rapid's expansion plans

Acquisitive Apple dealer Rapid Group strengthened its hold on the Macintosh market when it bought Thames Valley Systems (TVS).

The agreement was signed on 17 March and came after Rapid was approached by TVS late last year. Steve Rush, sales and marketing director at Rapid Group, said TVS will be a separate subsidiary, run as it is now, under its present name. He refused to say how much Rapid had paid for TVS.

Martin Stead, chairman of TVS, will leave the reseller to branch out into developing a telecoms and Microsoft NT project.

Rush said: 'This business interest has grown to the stage where Stead can't successfully dedicate his time to both Rapid and the telecoms product he wants to bring to market.' He added that 35 staff will leave within the next three months, but no further job cuts were planned.

The move was the latest in a series of acquisitions by Rapid. Last year it bought the assets of Romford's Microcore and acquired Glenlake Computers.

It took over Apple Centre Norwich the previous year, and Apple Centre Cambridge in 1995.

The company, with a workforce of 72, plans expansion through buyouts within the Apple and PC reseller market. Rush said: 'We want to make further acquisitions, and double our current £27 million turnover by next year.' He insisted resellers and companies approach the company due to its reputation for wanting acquisitions.

Alistair Johnston, MD of TVS, described the move as 'great news'.