Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
Workflow and managed print services specialist Karlson and Intevi have been jointly acquired to create Aura Futures, a new company which aims to be a leading consultancy and technology provider, offering a full end-to-end service for clients from consultancy to integration.
The newly-formed business will operate across six offices globally, servicing 300 large clients in over 60 countries and has an ambitious buy and build programme to create a business worth over GBP 200m within five years.
Aura is the culmination of a joint vision shared by the former leadership team of a FTSE plc – Alpesh Unalkat, Sajan Shivshanker and Steven Hallissey.
Intevi co-founders Adam Wilson and Tom Scott have joined its Board, as have Karlson MD Martyn Kidd and Director Stephen Todd, together with Stuart Beere, formerly of Deloitte LLP.
Adam Wilson told us “The whole Intevi team is excited to continue our consistent growth with a wider team that has a pedigree in the technology solutions sector. Our customers can expect the same high level of attention, knowledge and support but on a much larger global scale, our capabilities are now double what they were before. We’re excited to bring additional, complementary solution based offerings to our customer base and recognise technology integration and seamless use is more important than ever in all workplace sectors. The formation of Aura and bringing together of our new board allows us to for fill our aspirations whilst retaining our core DNA”
Alpesh Unalkat said “With private equity backing, two complementary businesses as the foundation for growth and the entrepreneurial spirit and track record of those involved; we have huge aspirations for Aura in reimagining the future of workspaces. The business world has been facing a number of challenges in adapting to changing working practices, no more so than now. Bringing together changing generational attitudes in the workplace, being agile as to how and where people work and injecting greater connectivity to ensure that no matter where people are they feel part of something, can create huge differentiation in organisations. We believe we have an opportunity to reimagine the future workspace, bringing together a unique combination of products and services, and using our expertise to integrate these seamlessly for our clients.”
The deal was back by the Global Investment Fund, Baird Capital, which has raised and managed more than GBP 2.4bn and invested in nearly 300 portfolio companies since 1989.
Andrew Ferguson, partner at Baird Capital, said: “At Baird we partner with entrepreneurs and, leveraging our executive networks, strive to build exceptional companies. We are passionate about Aura and have made a significant commitment to forming the platform and then scaling the Aura business through further organic and acquisitive growth with an entrepreneurial team that has previously developed, diversified and scaled managed services businesses.”
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