Ultima Business Solutions, which has a UK headquarters in Reading, has announced plans to merge with London-based Trustmarque Group, in a landmark deal. The merge will bring together more than 1,000 employees and in excess of 3,000 customers, providing a combined portfolio of expert-driven, end-to-end information technology (IT) and managed services.
The deal, expected to complete in early November, will create one of the country’s largest IT services providers, with a combined Gross Invoiced Income (GII) approaching £1 billion.
Both businesses bring nearly four decades of United Kingdom and global IT channel experience, supporting organisations ranging from FTSE 100 companies to some of the most secure areas of the UK Government. The merger will create a business with a unified workforce of more than 1,000 employees.
The joint customer base will exceed 3,000, transacting across seven locations in the UK and globally. It will count Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Hitachi Vantara, HP, Palo Alto, and Citrix among its top strategic vendors.
The business would continue to be supported by private equity firms One Equity Partners and Apse Capital. The merger is expected to be completed within the next few weeks.
Simon Williams, Chief Executive Officer at Trustmarque, said: “Together, we are a powerhouse for managed services and digital innovation across the UK and globally. This merger brings together complementary strengths to create greater value for our people and our clients. Building on Trustmarque’s strong Microsoft and Cisco heritage, we are combining the breadth of services and scale needed to deliver, with the depth of expertise and experience that comes from our united teams. “This gives us more opportunities to anticipate our clients’ needs, stay ahead of changes in their industries and unlock new opportunities together.”
Jamie Beaumont, Chief Financial Officer at Ultima, added: “This is a major milestone in our growth strategy. From the outset, it has been clear that there is exceptional complementarity between Trustmarque and Ultima, with the potential to combine scale with specialist expertise. Together, we offer a comprehensive, integrated range of services and support, delivered by exceptional talent that our customers rightly value. “Our immediate priority is to complete the transaction and ensure a smooth transition in the coming months for all our customers and partners, while unlocking the full potential of the group.”
Simon Williams will become the group’s Chief Executive Officer, with Jamie Beaumont as Chief Financial Officer, supported by an integrated leadership team.
Image source: Trustmarque
