HBC steps on acquisition path

IT services firm guarantees jobs as it adds half a million to its top line and looks to growth

IT services player Hampshire Business Computers (HBC) has acquired Andover-based Networking Fundamentals (NeFu) for an undisclosed sum.

The deal will add £500,000 turnover to HBC, which is hoping to smash £3m sales in its next trading year.

Kieron Doyle, managing director of HBC, said: "HBC has an appetite to expand our on-premise solutions, helpdesk, engineering and virtual IT department services.

"The deal was attractive to HBC in order to grow our customer base and extend our engineering services, hardware sales, software licencing and business communications. NeFu's products and services reflect those of HBC very closely and the SMB client base and locality fitted perfectly."

As a result, NeFu will move into HBC's Romsey offices, stripping out building and administration costs.

Ed Best, majority shareholder at NeFu, said he looks "forward to working within a larger team, offering a broader range of services and resources and playing a role in expanding HBC."

Doyle hinted at further growth to come: "Having been around since the mid-1980s, HBC has experienced the highs and lows of several economic cycles and each has its own unique challenges and opportunities.

"We are finding things very buoyant and demand is high – further acquisitions are on the agenda."