Advania, backed by Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking, has acquired Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central partner Azzure IT Ltd. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
This is technology M&A deal number 380 that ChannelE2E has covered so far in 2022. See more than 1,000 technology M&A deals involving MSPs, MSSPs & IT service providers listed here.
The Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division has owned a majority stake in Advania since February 2021. The relationship has helped Advania to acquire multiple IT solutions providers, MSPs, consulting companies and Microsoft patners.
About Advania and Azzure IT
Advania's history dates back to its inception in Iceland in 1939, according to the company's website. Today, Advania is an IT services provider in Northern Europe and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with operations in Sweden, Norway, the UK, Iceland, Denmark and Finland. Advania has 25 offices in six countries, and approximately 1,260 employees.
Azzure IT is a Microsoft-focused Dynamics Business Central and Dynamics 365 Sales (CRM) provider based in Sheffield, UK. The firm employs 60 Dynamics professionals and is one of the larger Dynamics practices in the UK. Azzure also offers proprietary solutions for order processing, procure-to-pay, stock control and distribution and time and billing solutions, according to the company.
The acquisition of Azzure IT will expand Advania's Microsoft Dynamics capabilities and expand its customer base, the companies said. In addition, the acquisition establishes Advania UK (operating as Content+Cloud) as one of the largest Microsoft Dynamics Business Central providers in the UK. Key areas of focus will involve Azure, cybersecurity, employee experience (through Microsoft's Viva and Fresh Intranet solutions), PowerApps and Teams voice solutions and services, Advania said.
Microsoft Dynamics Partner Acquired: Leadership Insights
Craig Such, CEO of Azzure IT, commented on the news:
"There is no shortage of demand or opportunity in the Dynamics space today. The evolution of the Dynamics proposition has underpinned Azzure IT’s strong growth, supported by our incredible team of Dynamics professionals. Content+Cloud’s reputation in the Microsoft ecosystem in the UK is second to none and we are delighted to become part of it."
Peter Sweetbaum, CEO of Content+Cloud (Advania UK), added:
"We would like to welcome the whole of the Azzure IT team to Advania. Together with Azzure IT, we are able to truly lead across the whole of the Microsoft ecosystem. While Dynamics has always been an important part of our capabilities, we have now fundamentally changed the scale at which we can deliver and lead in Dynamics solution implementation, integration and IP development space."
Advania: Previous Microsoft Partner & IT Consulting Acquisitions
Advania has remained active on the M&A front. Example deals include:
- In February 2022, Advania acquired Valtti, a full-service IT provider, from Adelis Equity Partners.
- Advania bought security services provider Painkiller and UK-based cloud specialist Content+Cloud in December 2021.
- In August 2021, Advania acquired IT service provider Visolit .
- Advania acquired IT consultancy and document management services company Beveric in June 2021.
- In May 2021, Advania acquired Danish hosting provider Genia APS.
- Advania acquired Hi5 in February 2021.
