Alpha deal bosts ANS’s profits
THE acquisition of Stockport-based Alpha Business Computers in October last year provided a boost to Manchester-based IT group ANS, which more than doubled sales in the year to March 31 to £29.4m.
The boost in volumes also fed through to the company’s bottom line, as operating profits increased by 66% To £1.5m (2010: £900,000).
The company’s board described its performance as an “excellent set of results during what has been a truly eventful year”.
It said that growth had been achieved both through organic sales and through revenues achieved through Alpha Business Systems.
Moreover, despite its initial outlay of £1.75m for Alpha Business Systems, the company’s cash balance only reduced by £556,000 to £3.7m.
Company founder and chairman Scott Fletcher said: “This has been another year of fantastic growth for ANS Group. The figures speak for themselves but there is more good news as we see tremendous potential in our managed services proposition.”
“Crucially, we have been able to retain the unique ANS culture through a period of acquisition and organic expansion; when you combine our talented and highly-motivated staff base with our well-planned business strategy you cannot fail to be excited about the potential for further growth.”
Staff numbers have doubled to 120 following the deal, and the company said that revenues through its managed services contracts grew by 60% to £8m. It also announced plans to invest £1m in the division, which it said it was likely to recoup before its next financial year end.
A statement by the company said that it had seen no significant change in spending from public sector customers despite government spending cuts arguing that its IT proposition is “cost-effective in providing long term cost savings and fits the localisation policy for IT systems being encouraged by the current government.”
