ANS powers up with Eison swoop

MANCHESTER IT firm ANS Group has kicked off its 21st year in business with the acquisition of a  data network solutions provider.

The deal to buy Stockport-based Eison by the Manchester Science Park-based company will add around £7.5m in revenues creating a £60m turnover group with 250 employees.

Eison, whose founders Jamie Coan and Richard Peck are remaining with the enlarged group, was launched in 2006. It has 35 staff and designs, implements and supports complex network, datacentre and mobility solutions for organisations with locations in the UK and around the globe.

It was ranked 75th in The Sunday Times Tech Track 100 in 2014 and has built a reputation for service excellence whilst achieving consistent growth.

Scott Fletcher, chairman and founder of ANS said: “This is an excellent strategic fit – it’s our first acquisition for about four years – we’re not a buy and build.

This acquisition gives us the additional expertise to ensure that our networking solutions are as innovative and robust as our datacentre solutions giving our joint customers the ideal partnership for their ongoing needs.

“Eison, like ANS, has been built on technical excellence and outstanding customer service and we are thrilled to welcome them to the team at ANS.”

He said the Eison brand would be phased out over the coming months as part of the integration process.

Richard Peck, co-founder of Eison said: “We are delighted to have found such a safe pair of hands for the business that we have built over the last nine years. ANS’s customer service focus and technical expertise means that our customers and staff can be safe in the knowledge that they will continue to be looked after. We look forward to working with the ANS team to ensure a successful integration of the businesses.”

Law firm Weightmans advised ANS while a team from Preston firm Napthens, led by Richard Robinson represented Eison.