ConvergeOne is expanding its portfolio again, this time by acquiring Annese & Associates, an MSP and Cisco Gold Certified partner. The acquired business will be called Annese, A ConvergeOne Company effective immediately.
ConvergeOne, which specializes in collaboration and technology solutions, is owned by Clearlake Capital Group, a private equity firm. ConvergeOne boasts more than 5,700 customers, including 52 percent of the Fortune 100 and 40 percent of the Fortune 500 customers. The company's clientele stretches across healthcare, finance, manufacturing, education, and energy industries.
The Annese deal appears similar to one the company undertook in 2015 when it acquired SIGMAnet, another Cisco Gold Certified Partner. Growth through acquisition is an important part of the company’s business model. ConvergeOne has acquired 12 businesses since 2004. This year, the company also acquired Rockefeller Group Technology Solutions (RGTS), a Unified Communications as a Service provider.
Annese’s certification as a Cisco Gold Partner will bring additional Cisco solutions and service capabilities to ConvergeOne’s portfolio, the company says. That includes enterprise networking, security, collaboration, and cloud. The deal will also help ConvergeOne increase its presence in the northeastern United States.
Good Timing
For Annese, which specializes in network support service and hardware and software installation, the timing seems right. According to the Albany Business Review, the family-owned company had reached the point where it either needed to invest money to spur growth -- or sell the business.
Ray Apy will continue to lead Annese as senior vice president of the new business unit, reporting to Paul Maier, president and CEO, Solutions, ConvergeOne.
In a prepared statement, Apy says the deal will help cement Annese’s longevity and create stability for its employees. "As part of a much larger company, this acquisition will provide our employees with unparalleled professional growth and development opportunities,” he said.
