Taalus grabs slice of tech courier market with Touch acquisition

Fast-growing managed services and logistics support firm is looking to broaden its offerings through M&A strategy

Aggressive services and support player Taalus has made its first foray into the technician and tech courier market by snapping up Touch Logistics for an undisclosed sum.

The move creates a firm with more than 250 employees and offices in Aston, Altershot and Gravesend, and a distribution network of 16 locations across the UK and Northern Ireland.

Both firms will continue to operate under their separate brands.

Taalus, which counts IBM, HP, Sharp, Xerox, Kyocera, Steljes and Avaya among its customers, has a team of engineers across the UK and offers a range of services including break-fix, managed print and cloud.

Its latest target Touch has more than 10 years’ expertise in the technician and tech courier space and offers value-added solutions through its UK-wide network of accredited technicians.

Richard Makowski, group chairman of Taalus, said: “Taalus has over 20 years' expertise in print and EPOS break-fix and repairs, AV and managed services sectors. The addition of Touch Logistics further fulfils the strategic objective to develop Taalus into a UK and pan-European provider of efficient, effective and timely tech logistics and break-fix solutions to sectors that we believe require a broader blend of service capability which our combined entity will be able to seamlessly deliver.”

Gary Piper, who jointly founded Touch along with Patrick McConnell, said: "With all the changes and consolidation in the UK IT services and tech courier marketplace over recent months, this is a merger that demonstrates that two different organisations can be clearly stronger together. The complementary service offerings of Touch and Taalus place our combined organisation in a clear and unique position of strength. These are exciting times and Patrick and I are looking forward to defining future strategies for the business with Richard and his team."

Makowski added: "I am delighted that Patrick and Gary are remaining within our business as we develop our service offering and market share to our joint prestigious client base. Taalus still enjoys the support and commitment from [parent company] Rcapital with whom we shall continue to pursue our strategy to grow both organically and through acquisition.”