LONG-established Belfast-based IT service provider CMI has new owners.
Cloud and managed services specialist BCN Group in Manchester has paid an undisclosed sum to acquire CMI, which was founded in 2009 and also has offices in London.
It is understood all 120 staff at CMI will transfer to BCN.
CMI designs and implements IT structures to SMEs and mid-market companies across England and Ireland. It also provides IT support to users across the world.
It was founded by – and is still headed by – industry veteran Ken Roulston.
An acknowledged expert in his field, with a great grasp of strategy and how ICT can enhance business organisation, Mr Roulston said: “This is extremely positive news for our team and customers.
“The additional capabilities BCN Group brings will expand the support, skill set and technology available and create even stronger IT support.
“We are looking forward to aligning our offerings and provide our strengthened specialist support to our ever growing customer base.”
CMI offers a complementary product set to BCN as specialists in Microsoft Modern Workplace, Microsoft Azure, cyber security and managed IT.
Its tailor-made technical solutions have helped more than 400 businesses across almost 40 sectors meet their aspirations.
In recent years CMI has benefited from backing from the £55 million Growth Loan Fund, which provides loans to established Northern Ireland SMEs seeking to access growth finance.
It received funding of £125,000 in 2014 with a further £200,000 in 2016 which provided the working capital the business needed following
two acquisitions in England and the doubling of staff numbers at that time to 50.
Thanks to the funding, CMI increased turnover to £5m, and has gone to hit sales in excess of £15m by the time of this current takeover.
The acquisition bolsters BCN’s portfolio and expands its UK base, which currently sits at 1,200.
This is the second acquisition since ECI Partners invested in BCN in 2022, following on from the purchase of Microsoft Dynamics 365 specialists Evo-soft last September.
BCN Group chief executive Rob Davies said: “CMI’s complementary product and service offering allows us to increase our Microsoft customer base and strengthen our team of technical experts.
“Importantly, the acquisition means we can take our combined technical capability to the next level, further establishing ourselves as a key player among UK managed service providers.”
The latest acquisitions bring combined annual business revenue at BCN Group to more than £50m.
