Utilize acquires tn4 Solutions in Sage growth push

Utilize has acquired Sage specialist tn4 Solutions, adding more than 150 Sage 200 customers.

The deal is the UK managed IT services provider's sixth acquisition and nearly doubles its Sage customer base. It also brings four tn4 employees into the business, while tn4 Managing Director Tim Hanchet will continue to work with Sage customers.

The transaction expands Utilize's business applications practice and broadens the support available to tn4 customers. They will now have access to managed IT, cyber security, cloud, infrastructure and communications services alongside Sage support.

Following the deal, the enlarged business is expected to end the year with more than 155 employees and annual turnover of about £28 million.

Sage focus

Sage is already a significant part of Utilize's business applications work. The company provides implementation, management and optimisation services for systems used in financial management, reporting and wider operational processes.

The addition of tn4 brings further Sage 200 expertise at a time when many customers want their financial systems to work more closely with other software, infrastructure and cloud services. The combined team will support customers across both business applications and the underlying IT environment.

For tn4 customers, the deal is intended to preserve existing Sage relationships while opening access to a broader technology offering. Utilize will focus on integrating the two teams and maintaining continuity of service.

Guy Hocking, Managing Director at Utilize, said: "Bringing tn4 into Utilize is a great fit for both businesses. They've built strong customer relationships and bring valuable Sage 200 expertise that complements our existing team.

"By combining that knowledge with our wider technology capabilities, we can provide customers with more joined-up support across their business applications and IT infrastructure. It's about building on the relationships tn4 has established while giving customers access to additional expertise as their needs develop."

Growth strategy

The acquisition continues Utilize's expansion through deals as it adds specialist skills and customer accounts. Sage has been an important contributor to that growth, and tn4 adds both sector knowledge and scale in Sage 200.

The broader aim is to deepen support for customers that use finance systems as part of a wider technology estate. Businesses running Sage software often need it to connect with infrastructure, cloud platforms and security tools, creating demand for suppliers that can support several parts of the environment.

Warren Davies, Founder and CEO at Utilize, said: "Sage has been an important part of our growth, and tn4 brings both specialist knowledge and a substantial Sage 200 customer base to the group.

"This acquisition strengthens our existing expertise and gives us greater capacity to support customers. It also creates opportunities for both tn4 and Utilize customers to benefit from a wider range of technology services, backed by teams that understand their business requirements."