This is Cloud Direct’s fourth company acquisition since June 2015. It supports Cloud Direct’s ambitious growth plans organically and through acquisitions and strengthens its Microsoft partner status with two more ‘gold’ accreditations.
The news follows Cloud Direct’s recent acquisitions of Datel Business Systems in June 2015, ihotdesk in December 2015 and Redblade in July 2016, all facilitated by the Prism team.
The acquisition of AOG was funded in part with a new investment of five million pounds from Beechbrook Capital. It further widens Cloud Direct’s offering in terms of breadth and depth of professional and customer services and technical support for business continuity and hosted Microsoft Skype for Business.
AOG, which comprises alwaysON and sister company Data Continuity Group, is a gold Microsoft partner for hosting and communications. They also specialise in hosted Skype for Business, adding to Cloud Direct’s capabilities as a direct gold Microsoft CSP partner, with a focus on Azure and Office 365.
Cloud Direct bought the company from private equity firms Foresight Group and Mobeus Equity Partners, together with management and a group of private investors. The technology team at Transcend Corporate advised AOG shareholders.
Brett Raynes, CEO of Cloud Direct said: “Since 2003, we’ve been helping organisations grow by migrating them to the cloud – quickly and securely. Moving forward, AOG’s capabilities will be critical to that as we drive better business continuity, people productivity and infrastructure. Their people and customers are a great asset to our business at this exciting time of high growth. We’ll slowly integrate the business into the Cloud Direct clan as we continue to support organic growth with an ambitious acquisition strategy.”