The acquisition is the firm’s first and marks a milestone in the growth and evolution of Converged, which was established in 2005 and specialises in providing Internet connections, telephone systems and IT support services. Valued at around £500,000, the purchase allows Converged to strengthen its in-house service offering to clients.
CBS was established in 1999 by Brian West and Kevin Sinclair and supplies computer hardware, software and technical support to a wide range of businesses throughout north-east Scotland. The firm’s entire team will transfer to Converged and relocate to its premises on Mugiemoss Road. This will increase the workforce at Converged to over 25.
Acquiring CBS follows a period of continued investment by Converged, in which it has significantly expanded its connectivity network in the north-east. Along with being a partner in CityFibre’s Aberdeen superfast Internet network and the brightsolid Aberdeen datacentre, the independent firm now has its own equipment in nine unbundled Openreach exchanges in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Unbundling allows Converged, as an Internet service provider (ISP), to offer more competitively priced and flexible Internet connections directly to its customers. The move means that the firm now has one of the most extensive and robust connectivity networks in north-east Scotland.
Neil Christie, managing director at Converged, said: “This is a notable move for Converged. To date, we have grown and expanded naturally, so our first acquisition is a major step. Brian and Kevin, supported by a talented team, have built a very strong business in Century Business Systems; its integration into Converged will enrich the service that we offer to clients.
“Converged is in a very strong position following the major investments we have made over the past 18 months. Purchasing new premises, expanding our connectivity network and increasing our skilled technical support team illustrate our commitment to the north-east and ensuring that businesses have access to a range of network connections to operate efficiently in it.”