Ambitious integrator Telindus has recently expanded to Ireland and is on the lookout for acquisitions to fuel further growth.
The firm, which is owned by Belgian telecoms giant Belgacom, has aggressive plans to be the number three services player in the UK by 2009 (CRN, 18 September 2006).
Darragh Richardson, head of marketing and development at Telindus, told CRN: “The Irish market is one we have been looking at for some time, and although we looked at potential acquisitions, we decided to go for the organic approach and grow the business ourselves.”
The firm has currently recruited three members of staff for its Irish arm, but is looking to increase the headcount to 20 by the end of the year.
“We are already pretty close to a number of seven-figure deals,” Richardson claimed. “The Irish market has unique characteristics and it is important to have someone on the ground within the territory rather than trying to manage it remotely, which some of our competitors have done.”
He added Telindus is not ruling out acquisition as a means to further expansion.
“If we do find assets that can be purchased – we will be looking at both the UK and Ireland. But we will not buy for the sake of it – this is not about growth for quick, short-term gain,” Richardson said.
Alastair Edwards, senior analyst at Canalys, said the Belgacom backing puts Telindus in a good position.
“Having a firm like Belgacom behind it, certainly gives Telindus the financial clout to go into new markets,” he said. “It has also probably got some big accounts in the UK that have operations in Ireland, so it can scale up those accounts. The Irish channel seems to be doing well at the moment so this is not a surprising move.”C
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