SearchHURST advises Active on its sale to tech company Babble
A team at HURST has advised north west IT and telecoms solution provider Active on its sale to technology company Babble.
Our advisers involved in the transaction were Ben Bradley and Max Perry from HURST Corporate Finance and Adrian Young and Sarah Haley from our tax team.
Active, which is based in Stockport and Ellesmere Port, has expertise across unified communications, mobile and cyber, with more than 500 customers in various sectors across northern England.
Chief executive Mark Boyle will initially remain as part of the new combined organisation to support the integration process and beyond.
The acquisition reinforces Babble’s commitment to the north west, adding additional scale, presence, capability and expertise following its acquisitions of Lake and Concert in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Babble now has staff and offices in Winsford in Cheshire, Ellesmere Port and Stockport.
Ben Bradley said: “It’s been a pleasure assisting Mark and the team in getting the deal completed with Babble. We wish them all the very best for the future as part of the larger group.”
Mark Boyle said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for Active’s customers and staff. Being part of a company like Babble means we can provide an even better service to our customers and provide them more opportunities to grow.
“We’ll make sure that they continue to receive the same level of excellent service as before, with a seamless integration into the Babble family.”
Babble chief executive Matt Parker said: “We’re excited to have the opportunity to acquire a business of Active’s quality and that its CEO, Mark, will be helping us on our ongoing journey. His experience of business in the north is unparalleled and we are both aligned in Babble’s mission to help ambitious businesses succeed in this region.
“Whilst we’re growing rapidly, our core purpose continues to be to provide all our clients with the personalised and local service that they expect, regardless of where they are in the country. Our strategy of acquiring great businesses across the UK allows us to successfully do just that. Babble is going to continue to grow, which will only benefit our clients.”
Since 2018, Babble has completed 17 acquisitions in the UK, leading to revenues of over £40m last year. Following the acquisition of Active, Babble now has more than 5,000 customers with a presence across the south coast, the north west, the north east and Scotland, in addition to the Midlands and London.
Thinking of selling your business? Contact us in confidence imagine@hurst.co.uk