News | Concorde Informatics

New owners at Brighouse-based Concorde Informatics Ltd have quickly demonstrated their commitment to expanding the business by completing their first acquisition within weeks of taking over.

Concorde Excel Holdings, owners of Concorde Informatics Ltd and one of the North of England’s leading IT service and solutions providers, has acquired Morley-based IT business Phase CRS Ltd for an undisclosed sum.

Formed in 1985, Phase CRS is a well-established IT service and solutions company with over 100 contract clients across the UK. It employs 24 people and has a turnover approaching £2m.

As part of the deal Phase’s owner and managing director Chris Walker becomes Concorde’s Technical Operations Director and takes a stake in the business.

Colin Meakin, Concorde Informatics’ Managing Director, said: “There are a lot of synergies between the two companies. Phase CRS has an excellent client base and we have different geographic strengths which will stretch our service coverage to all corners of the UK. Also, it will give us better buying power and better prices for our clients. I’ve known Chris for over 30 years since we worked together at Systime and I’m delighted we have been able to complete the deal.”

Chris Walker added: “Having started Phase CRS nearly 25 years ago I’m proud of the company’s success and now we can benefit from becoming part of a bigger entity. I’m very excited at the prospect of helping Colin to develop Concorde's business.”

Marcus Armstrong of Leeds commercial law firm Lupton Fawcett and James White of accountants Brown Butler were Concorde Informatics’ advisers.

Some of the 24 Phase CRS employees, mainly technical support staff, will relocate to Concorde Informatics’ Brighouse and Huddersfield offices. The remainder will continue to work from client sites.

Concorde now employs over 70 people employees and expects turnover to grow to £9 million in 2009. Long term clients include Yorkshire Water, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Jewsons Ltd, Marshalls plc, Bradford Bulls and several Police Authorities around the UK. The company is an HP Authorised Service Provider, Microsoft Gold Partner and also has two specialist divisions offering bespoke software solutions to the automotive and public safety sectors.

Completion of the acquisition has followed less than a month since Colin Meakin and a consortium of local businessmen including Barry Roberts, the founder and former chief executive of ICM Computer Group plc, acquired Concorde Informatics in a buy in management buyout deal.

Colin Meakin added: “Discussions between Concorde and Phase began several months ago but the new ownership consortium was the key to completing the deal. We are committed to growing the business and will be looking for more acquisition opportunities in the future.”