Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire-based ECsoft Synapse Holdings Plc, which supplies computer services to the IBM Corp mainframe and mid-range market, has bought the operations of AS/400 software applications supplier, Beacon Management Services Ltd, for an undisclosed cash sum. The acquisition of Beacon, of Uckfield, Sussex, will, according to ECsoft’s group managing director Geoff Tubb, bring a strong customer base to ECsoft, which specialises in the distribution, retail and manufacturing industries. ECsoft Synapse underwent a management buy-out from its Netherlands-based parent, ECsoft NV, in July 1994, since when the UK company claims to have achieved a profit turnaround and increased turnover, 50% of which now comes from supporting open systems, and from IBM Corp proprietary systems to Unix conversion programs. Beacon reported turnover of ú1.5m in the 15 months to September 30 and is the sole UK business partner of Denver, Colorado-based J D Edwards Inc, an AS/400 applications house. Since ECsoft has bought just the operations of Beacon, Beacon’s offices in Uckfield are vacant. Some Beacon staff now work in ECsoft’s Wellingborough, Northamptonshire offices, others are working from home, for geographic reasons, with on-line links to Wellingborough. The company will not say how many Beacon staff joined ECsoft but says that its personnel levels are currently under review.
