Fordhouse Equity has successfully completed the acquisition of Livetel Solutions, a telephone answering, virtual PA and lead generation provider.
The acquisition of Livetel Solutions forms part of multi-million pound investment strategy to grow the MessageBase brand, which was acquired by Fordhouse Equity in August 2014. MessageBase provides call answering, call handling and message taking services for both small and larger businesses, as well as public organisations looking to reduce costs and improve customer service levels.
The new acquisition, which was completed in May 2015, forms part of an expansion plan and wider strategy to shake up the call industry and strengthen MessageBase’s position as a top three player in the telephone answering services sector.
Colchester-based Livetel Solutions, provides professional virtual services nationwide for small and medium size businesses, ensuring businesses give the very best first impression at a fraction of the cost to employ someone full time and rent office space. Services include, live telephone answering, supply of free phone and local rate telephone numbers, London address mail forwarding and PA secretarial services. The acquisition will result in further staff additions to MessageBase’s headquarters in Hampton, Greater London.
Fordhouse Equity’s strategy for the expansion of MessageBase include a strategic acquisition play over the next three years. The first tranche of the multi-million pound investment has resulted in the expansion of MessageBase’s existing office accommodation, as well as building its own dedicated ultra-fast, high capacity and resilient telephony technology. The operational platform will help MessageBase to create and manage complex telephone answering service solutions for its clients and customers.
Fordhouse Equity Principal Nicholas Ashford said: “Businesses are waking up to the cost efficiencies, flexibility and customer service gains that telephone answering services can deliver. And it’s this realisation that is driving high growth in the telephone answering sector.
“The acquisition of Livetel Solution will help MessageBase cement its position as a top three player in the telephone answering services sector. The call handling industry been reaping oversized profits for too long – now it’s time for customers to get a fairer deal. We are on a mission to create value for customers, rather than extract it from them.”
Fordhouse Equity is seeking further acquisitions in the telephone answering services sector. Fordhouse is interested in talking to owners of telephone answering services, virtual receptionist services and selling serviced office space and is inviting expressions of interest from both standalone businesses and where the service forms parts of other firms.
