Two leading UK channel partners have been acquired within days of each other by a trade and private equity buyer, respectively.
In a microcosm of the current M&A dynamics of the UK IT channel, cloud and audio-visual specialist transACT has been snapped up by US-based IT solutions provider giant Presidio, while Microsoft partner mhance has been purchased by PE house SilverTree Equity.
Trade acquisitions have come back into vogue in the channel in recent times after a spate of PE-backed deals in the early 2020s. CAE Technologies, CCS Media, Sync, CSI and Total Computers have all sold up to trade buyers since the start of 2024.
While £26m-revenue transACT ranked 184th in Oxygen 250 2025, m-hance was just below the report cut-off with 2023 revenues of £13.1m.
New York-based Presidio hit the headlines in April when it became the first channel partner to publicly announce it has sold over a $1bn via AWS Marketplace.
Presidio picked up a UK business in 2020 when it snapped up Arkphire, an Irish-headquartered Dell partner with 220 staff.
It claimed St Albans-based transACT will expand its UK and Irish business and “accelerates growth in key technology platforms”.
“transACT brings Presidio a seasoned team with expertise in cloud and digital transformation that increases our ability to deliver high-impact technology solutions to our clients around the world,” Presidio CEO Bob Cagnazzi said.
“Together, we will accelerate innovation and drive strategic outcomes for our clients in the UK and beyond.”
mhance’s new owner harbours contrasting motives, meanwhile, with SilverTree promising to boost the Manchester-based outfit’s growth organically and through M&A.
This includes helping the Microsoft Dynamics GP non-profit sector specialist expand into adjacent verticals and boost its Azure and Dynamics offering.
It is the latest in a dwindling line of PE platform sales in the MSP sector, including most recently The Networking People in April.
“SilverTree’s investment marks an exciting next chapter for mhance,” mhance CEO Alan Moody, stated.
“This investment enhances our value proposition and accelerates our proven ability to help customers turn AI, data, and business applications into measurable business value.”
