IT firm snaps up smaller rival

A Nortt West  IT service provider has snapped up a smaller rival.

Heywood-based Think4 has acquired Pradoray, a small Saddleworth firm, boosting its client numbers and technical resources.

The acquisition of Pradoray, which was set up by technical director Dave MacDougall in 2003, help Think4 to continue to grow rapidly. Last year turnover at the 20-strong firm, rose 21% to £3.5m.

Think4 managing director Robert Gibbons said: “Our core business of providing IT support and service to the SME sector has also performed really well, despite the tough economic conditions and Think4 has been actively looking to boost our growth through acquisitions.

“But, for me, the key has been finding the right people to work with. We believe we have done that with Pradoray. They have established a wide client base over the last nine years and have an excellent reputation. We share a very similar philosophy.
 
“This agreement is ideal for the two businesses and for our clients. We will have greater technical expertise to call on and an expanded client base, while Pradoray’s will have access to far greater resources both in terms of personnel and products.

Mr MacDougall, who is joining Think4, added: “We recognised the need for further expansion, both in personnel resource and product offerings. Organic growth alone would not have allowed us to grow fast enough to satisfy either our development plans or the requirements of our customers.
 
“That’s why this link up with Think4 makes good business sense. I was confident it would strengthen our ability to support our clients both now and in the future.”

Think4 provides a range of services to businesses from advice to software, systems, servers, networking and web hosting.