Data centre firm swoops for managed services company in £15m deal

Derby-based data centre firm Node4 has bought managed services firm Starcom Technologies from its owner K3 in a deal worth £14.7m.

Node4 is backed by private equity investment firm, Bowmark Capital, and has Derby, Leeds and Northampton.

The transaction generates a significant profit on disposal, in excess of £10m, which will be accounted for as an exceptional contribution to K3’s results in the current financial year to November 30,

In the unaudited results of the 2020 financial year, Wigan-based Starcom generated £10.2m in revenues and pre-tax profits of £1.2m.

Its group net assets stood at £2.5m. The management team and staff of Starcom have transferred with the sale of the business, together with its 280 customers.

Under the terms of a transitional services agreement Starcom will continue to provide K3 and its customers with managed services for at least three years.

Andrew Gilbert, CEO of Node4, said: “We are excited to be working with the Starcom team and their customers, with our shared mission of helping businesses with cloud-led managed services.

“We would like to thank K3 for working with us during the acquisition and are looking forward to continuing the relationship by providing industry-leading managed services.”

K3 chief executive, Adalsteinn Valdimarsson, said: “Node4 is an excellent new home for Starcom with its focus exclusively on managed services, and the deal enables us to accelerate our strategy of growing own IP product revenue.

“We wish Starcom great success for the future.”