365 iT plc Acquires 5i Limited

IT services and solutions company 365 iT plc has acquired 5i Limited, a UK provider of high level, consultancy-led, Cisco and Microsoft based Unified Communications (News - Alert) (UC) solutions.

Working closely with its channel partners, 5i has delivered over 150 UC solutions to corporate and multi-national customers.

Giving this information, 365 iT plc officials said that this acquisition brings into the 365 iT group one of Cisco’s (News - Alert) UK partners in UC, enabling the group to address a growing market demand created by new emerging technologies and the significant shortage of skills in these areas.

According to officials, 5i’s Unified Communications solutions encompass complex messaging, mobility, real time communications, telephony, contact centers, multi media, collaboration, conferencing and video technologies across multiple communication modes and devices under a single managed support contract.

"This is the next step in the evolution of our service portfolio and sees us entering a new phase in 365 iT’s development as we continue our ambitious growth and acquisition strategy,” said Peter MacLean, 365 iT’s chairman and chief exec, in a statement.

MacLean said that the deal enables 365 iT to focus on its core strengths and to deliver UC services and solutions to a growing number of UK businesses including the company’s existing substantial customer base.

He said that the UC market is strategically very important to 365 iT.

MacLean said that aside from acquisitions, the company is seeking to maintain an organic growth rate in excess of 15 percent per annum. 5i significantly strengthens the capability in the UC field and will help facilitate the company’s overall group development objectives.

“Through the acquisition of 5i, we are strengthening our strategy to enable our customers to maximise the functionality and return on their investment in their IT infrastructure,” MacLean said.

According to MacLean 5i will continue to trade under its well established brand and its existing management team will continue to lead the business forward with same business model and solutions portfolio, which has ensured its success in the past.

365 iT plc, formerly known as Impera plc, was founded in 2005 and now employs over 55 people in the UK. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries 365 iTechnology and 5i, the group provides an extensive range of IT services and solutions that address 9 strategic functional areas in IT operations and management: virtualization, unified communications, business continuity, data backup, it security, storage solutions, networking, infrastructure, and managed it services.

Peter Howells, 5i’s managing director, said that becoming part of an ambitious IT services group was a natural progression for the company’s business and it fits with the strategy for continued growth both in terms of profitable revenues and the extended services the partners and their customers demand.

Howells said 5i’s goal is to ensure that the company’s partners and customers continue to receive the highest standards in solution delivery and customer service.

“We firmly believe 365 iT is the best partner to deliver against this requirement given their recent performance and strength in the marketplace," he added.