Moore Barlow advise takeover of Online Support

Published by

Stephen Emerson

Southampton's Moore Barlow has advised on the management buyout of the IT managed service provider, Online Support.

Online Support provides IT support and telephony services to small and medium-sized businesses across London and the surrounding areas. It supports companies across a variety of industries, from finance and professional services to media and travel, and its clients range from start-ups to blue chip companies such as Qatar Airways and Sony BMG.

The company, which is headquartered in Brentford, was co-founded by Charlie Wetherall and Tim Page in 1998. Over the last two decades, Tim and Charlie have successfully driven year-on-year organic growth through innovative technical solutions and a strong focus on the quality of service their team provides. Online Support employs a team of 24 people and records annual revenues of £4.2m.

As it embarks on the next stage of its growth journey, Online Support aims to double turnover to £10million in the next five years.

As part of the deal, Tim has led a management buyout alongside client services director Adam Clark and technical director Roque Way, enabling Charlie to take a step back and move into a part-time consultancy role.

Commenting on the deal, Tim said: “During our partnership, Charlie and I have built a fantastic business that is focused on delivering an outstanding service to our customers and putting the technical expertise of our team at the heart of everything we do, and as a result we had started to attract the attention of private equity investors and other MSPs who were looking to acquire the business.

"I wasn’t quite ready to hang up my boots just yet, so leading a management buyout alongside our existing team has not only provided an opportunity for Charlie to take a step back, but it’s given us an opportunity to build on the solid foundations we have created and drive forward a very ambitious growth plan.”

The deal was led by partner Peter Jeffery in the corporate team at Moore Barlow and supported by solicitor Louise Hayward.

Stephen Emerson

Stephen Emerson is the Managing Editor of The Business Magazine and is responsible for the publication's print publications and online properties including the newly launched Biz News websites in Hampshire and Dorset. Stephen has been a journalist for 20 years and has worked at local, regional and national publications and led a team which made The Scotsman website one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK with over eight million monthly users. He has a keen interest in technology, property and corporate finance and telling the stories of the people behind the successful firms in these sectors.