White knight Daisy rides in to save 2e2 datacentres

Daisy's private equity backer Oakley sets up special purpose vehicle to buy 2e2's stricken datacentre business

Comms VAR Daisy will take charge of stricken 2e2's datacentre business in a deal bankrolled by private equity backer Oakley Capital.

Oakley has set up a special purpose vehicle, Daisy Data Centre Solutions Limited, to acquire the business and assets of the datacentre business owned by 2e2, Daisy confirmed in a Stock Exchange announcement this morning.

Debt-riddled integrator 2e2 fell into administration two weeks ago. Last week, administrator FTI Consulting asked customers to stump up almost £1m to keep 2e2's datacentres functioning after running out of money to keep the lights on.

Daisy said it will work with existing datacentre employees of the business to provide data and hosting services from 2e2's datacentres in Gateshead and Reading.

This will double Daisy's datacentre power from 2MW to 4MW, the firm said.

Daisy chief executive Matthew Riley said: "This appointment provides 2e2 customers with the opportunity to work with a long-term partner with proven expertise in the growing data and hosting market.

"Through the additional datacentre facilities the Group is in a position to significantly expand its data and hosting footprint, providing stability to existing 2e2 customers and offering further expertise and resource to Daisy customers."

FTI had hoped to sell 2e2's entire business as a going concern but was forced to pursue the route of flogging it off in chunks after buyers failed to emerge.

Last week, O2 grabbed the 2e2 staff who worked for the duo's joint venture, O2 Unify. 2e2's international operations are also now up for grabs, and on Friday a deal was done for the Isle of Man business.

White knight image from Shutterstock.com / Robert Inglis