McAfee partners Axial and Clearview tie the knot

Axial hails 'digestible' nature of latest acquisition

Axial Systems has made its first acquisition for more than eight years in the shape of fellow McAfee partner Clearview Data Systems.

Networking and security VAR Axial has been quiet on the M&A front since 2006, when its acquisition of Network Alliance transformed it into a £10m business.

Hatfield-based Clearview will bolster Axial's McAfee firewall skills but also has a strong pedigree in networking, said Axial managing director Mike Simmonds.

"It was an Axial in waiting," he added.

"If I'd interviewed them as individuals, I would have employed all of them."

Private equity-backed Axial renewed its hunt for acquisitions in 2011 but Simmonds admitted recently that talks with several targets had broken down over fears that such a move may dilute its focus.

However, Simmonds said Axial had finally found its man in tiny Clearview, which has just eight staff.

"One of the things we wanted to avoid was indigestion," he said.

"It's a really digestible bunch of people in as much as they have the same ethos as Axial and a good set of skills. As a puzzle piece, it sits on the side of Axial really well."

Axial, which recently turned 25, will keep on Clearview's office in addition to its existing locations in Maidenhead, Runcorn, Glasgow and Bournemouth.

Tony Harbon, founding director at Clearview, said in a statement: "I am delighted that Clearview Data Systems is now part of the Axial family and look forward to being able to continue to deliver value-add solutions to our combined customers as a result."