Adept acquires IT MSP Shift F7 in deal advised by Evolution Capital

The deal will expand AdEPT’s IT capabilities and customer base, bringing expertise in outsourced managed IT and telecoms solutions, including IT support, hosted IT, cyber security, data connectivity and next generation IP telephony services.

Dorking-based Shift F7 reported £5m in turnover for the year ended 31 May, 2018. Following the acquisition, AdEPT’s revenues will grow by 10% to circa £54m and, depending on the trading performance of Shift F7 in the year post-acquisition, a further £2.9m may be payable in cash.

Shift F7 was founded in 1995 and provides IT support services and technology solutions to 200 mid-market customers. Its key suppliers include Citrix, Microsoft, HP, Cisco, Ericsson LG and VMWare. The company also operates hosted platform environments in London Docklands and Heathrow.

The companies are well known to each other having collaborated on projects over a ten year period, during which both organisations displayed an appetite for building recurring margin while pursuing capital asset light strategies that are highly cash generative.

Approximately 75% of Shift F7’s gross margin is generated from recurring products and services.Shift F7’s Dorking premises will be retained, along with the senior management team responsible for strategy, technology development and general business operations.

AdEPT CEO Ian Fishwick commented: “Shift F7 enhances our market position in IT, particularly in London, and complements AdEPT’s acquisition of OurIT in February 2017 which also focused on London and south east commercial customers. Following the Shift F7 acquisition more than 70% of AdEPT’s revenue will be generated from managed services including IT support, unified communications and data networks.”