This is Nottingham --
ESENDEX, the Nottingham specialist in SMS text messaging, is expected to expand rapidly after being bought out in an £11m deal.
The Wollaton Street company founded by Julian Hucker and Adam Bird 12 years ago, has been acquired by Darwin Private Equity.
Both will remain as consultants but will leave Esendex over a period of time.
Esendex's services are used by more than 6,500 businesses around the world to improve customer service, communicate with employees, increase operational efficiency and generate sales.
Clients include Ocado, BAA Gatwick, Addison Lee, Asda and Virgin Media.
Its strengths include its use of web-based tools and the ability to provide clients with direct connectivity to their own systems.
The business has grown to 60 staff who provide services in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Australia, US and Germany.
The sale will allow the company to create more jobs as it grows, said Mr Bird.
Darwin is backing Esendex's existing management team, led by chief executive Geoff Love, and will look to expand the business across Europe.
It has offices in Melbourne and Barcelona.
The management team is committed to growing the company in Nottingham.
As part of the deal, Tim Duffy, the co-founder and former chief executive of Meeting Zone, the conferencing services provider, joins the board as chairman.
Mr Love said: "Darwin's assistance will enable Esendex to fully realise its ambition to become Europe's leading business SMS provider. We expect to see our revenues double as we dramatically increase our share of the rapidly growing SMS market, for instance, a carrier telling a customer his purchase is about to be delivered."
In a statement, Mr Hucker and Mr Bird added: "We are delighted that we have found a partner in Darwin who will continue to develop the business. We look forward to supporting Esendex in the next phase of its development."
Mr Hucker becomes a non-executive director.
Nick Jordan, a partner in Darwin, said: "Esendex has built a leading position in an attractive segment of the SMS market, supporting the innovative use of messaging across a blue-chip customer base.
"We look forward to working with Geoff and the rest of the team to further accelerate the growth of the business and expand into new markets."
Advisers to the shareholders were Aquaa Partners, Murphy Salisbury and Nottingham solicitors Shakespeares. Reported by This is 17 hours ago.
ESENDEX, the Nottingham specialist in SMS text messaging, is expected to expand rapidly after being bought out in an £11m deal.
The Wollaton Street company founded by Julian Hucker and Adam Bird 12 years ago, has been acquired by Darwin Private Equity.
Both will remain as consultants but will leave Esendex over a period of time.
Esendex's services are used by more than 6,500 businesses around the world to improve customer service, communicate with employees, increase operational efficiency and generate sales.
Clients include Ocado, BAA Gatwick, Addison Lee, Asda and Virgin Media.
Its strengths include its use of web-based tools and the ability to provide clients with direct connectivity to their own systems.
The business has grown to 60 staff who provide services in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Australia, US and Germany.
The sale will allow the company to create more jobs as it grows, said Mr Bird.
Darwin is backing Esendex's existing management team, led by chief executive Geoff Love, and will look to expand the business across Europe.
It has offices in Melbourne and Barcelona.
The management team is committed to growing the company in Nottingham.
As part of the deal, Tim Duffy, the co-founder and former chief executive of Meeting Zone, the conferencing services provider, joins the board as chairman.
Mr Love said: "Darwin's assistance will enable Esendex to fully realise its ambition to become Europe's leading business SMS provider. We expect to see our revenues double as we dramatically increase our share of the rapidly growing SMS market, for instance, a carrier telling a customer his purchase is about to be delivered."
In a statement, Mr Hucker and Mr Bird added: "We are delighted that we have found a partner in Darwin who will continue to develop the business. We look forward to supporting Esendex in the next phase of its development."
Mr Hucker becomes a non-executive director.
Nick Jordan, a partner in Darwin, said: "Esendex has built a leading position in an attractive segment of the SMS market, supporting the innovative use of messaging across a blue-chip customer base.
"We look forward to working with Geoff and the rest of the team to further accelerate the growth of the business and expand into new markets."
Advisers to the shareholders were Aquaa Partners, Murphy Salisbury and Nottingham solicitors Shakespeares. Reported by This is 17 hours ago.
