Onecom, the UK’s leading business communications technology and cloud communications specialist, has acquired Russell Telecom Ltd in its fourth acquisition of 2021.
The transaction, backed by mid-market private equity firm LDC, which is fuelling Onecom’s ambitious growth strategy, brings Russell Telecom’s team and more than 1,500 customers into the Onecom Group.
Gateshead-based Russell has been a leader in business telecoms for more than 35 years and, like Onecom, is known for providing cutting-edge communications solutions and outstanding customer service.
Martin Flick, Onecom Group CEO, said:
“As we continue to grow, supported by LDC, we are delighted to welcome the Russell Telecom team and customers to Onecom. Our businesses are a perfect match and this transaction, our fourth in 2021, supports our strategy of acquiring strong businesses that share our culture, values and ethos and our commitment to providing exceptional products and solutions to UK businesses of all sizes.
“Russell has demonstrable strength in the education sector which is an excellent complement to our already existing specialisms that bring proximity to specific customer need in distinct markets.
“We are delighted to welcome Russell’s long-established SME and enterprise customer base and its fantastic team into the Onecom family.”
The transaction comes after Onecom acquired Olive Communications at the start of 2021, which created the UK’s largest business-to business, connectivity and cloud specialist. That deal was followed by the addition of thousands of customers and hundreds of channel partners with the acquisition of 9 Group, and then the purchase of Devon-based IP Office Ltd.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Whiteley, Hampshire, Onecom employs over 600 people in offices around the UK and counts Vodafone, Mitel, Samsung, Apple, Gamma and Five9 among others as its strategic partners.
Onecom was advised by Shoosmiths LLP and RSM UK.
About Onecom
Onecom is the UK’s leading business telecoms and cloud communications provider, operating from regional offices across the UK. The company currently manages nearly 100,000 business customers, delivering communication services and unified solutions across fixed line voice, connectivity and managed cloud to some of the UK’s most dynamic companies. Its customers include Farrow & Ball, Thwaites, Celtic Manor, Laithwaite’s Wine, Yorkshire Building Society and 118 UK Ltd.
In 2019, it secured a funding package from mid-market private equity firm LDC and funds managed by Ares Management Corporation to help support organic and acquisitive growth.
Recent awards include the ‘Best Customer Service Award’ at the Mobile News Awards; ‘Best Unified Comms Dealer’ at the Mobile Industry Awards, and it has been named Vodafone Total Communications Partner of the Year for the last five years. Onecom has its headquarters in Whiteley, Hampshire, and offices in Brighton, High Wycombe, Shoeburyness, Glasgow, Leeds, Telford and Cardiff.