Inflexion will combine ANS and UKFast to create cloud and digital group

Private equity player Inflexion, which has a majority stake in UKFast, is to add ANS to the fold after swooping for the cloud and digital services specialist.

The plan is to combine the latest ANS acquisition with UKFast under a single parent company focused on digital and cloud services. Each firm will continue to have its own brand, but will be pitching a solution to customers that leans on the expertise across the group.

ANS has public cloud, DevOps and digital transformation experience, which will support the existing cloud, hosting and security offering from UKFast.

Microsoft and AWS partner ANS comes with 270 staff and a solid reputation that has been cultivated since it was established back in 1996. UKFast can add to that a customer base of more than 6,000 that buy cloud hosting and security services.

There are plans for the group to launch a digital academy and apprenticeship programmes and hire more than 100 new staff in the remainder of this year. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it marks an exit for ANS majority shareholder Scott Fletcher.

“ANS has built itself into a UK leader for public cloud services, complementing our existing investment in UKFast,” said Simon Turner, managing partner at Inflexion. “Together, the businesses are well poised to accelerate their growth as the market for cloud and digital services continues to benefit from strong demand.”

Former Capgemini staffer Paul Nannetti has been appointed chairman of the combined group and Ian Brown of UKFast and Paul Shannon and Chris Hodgson of ANS will join the combined group board.

Paul Shannon, CEO of ANS, said the acquisition was a reflection of its position in the market. “This deal is testament to the skills, experience and leadership of the ANS team, whose passion and dedication have allowed us to become a leader in our sector,” he said. “Inflexion’s initiative provides a platform for us to accelerate our ambitious growth plans.”

Ian Brown, CEO of UKFast, said the tie-up created a “new UK tech powerhouse” which would have more reach in the market.

“The combined group creates tremendously exciting opportunities for our valued customers, our passionate team and our trusted partners,” he said. “With Inflexion’s vision and support, we are creating a unique digital transformation business.”

Inflexion became a majority shareholder in UKFast around May of last year and has recently being making waves in the channel with the strategic partnership Daisy Wholesale Services, which saw that operation demerge from Daisy.