The endgame of channel companies tends to be precipitous expansion. As they busy themselves perfecting their service models, a sizable bankroll from a firm can subsidize the effort and allow for a more effective diffusion of assets. Domination of the MSP scene is within the grasp of collaborative companies that understand how strategic alliances and financial planning are the bread and butter of the hybrid/cloud network management business.
International investment leader KKR has made public its acquisition of the Illinois-based IT MSP, Ensono. This deal will facilitate a concerted endeavor for global strategy development that draws on KKR’s technology portfolio and Ensono’s expertise in medium and large enterprise network administration. Ensono’s profitability last year makes it another service provider reaping the harvest of digital business adoption and work-from-home standards; the company reported $650 million in revenue for 2020. Long-standing associations with Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure have made Ensono a well-known name in the industry, holding more than 135 AWS certifications and around 700 AWS accreditations.
Ensono has developed an assembly of service management tools that optimize IT systems for physical, hybrid, and cloud-only frameworks. Beginning as a corporate offshoot from Acxiom Corp., Ensono materialized in its current iteration from a coveted $190 million buy-out by Charlesbank Capital Partners and M/C Partners in 2015 and a 2016 rebranding. Ensono’s hot off the press purchase of U.K. cloud consultancy, Amido, is indicative of a global expansion strategy.
"Digital transformation across industries is driving an increased need for comprehensive service providers to help simplify IT infrastructure management for enterprise clients. Ensono is a proven leader in delivering hybrid solutions for clients with complex IT environments, and we are thrilled to support the Ensono team on its next phase of growth and development," said Webster Chua, Partner at KKR.
The contract funding will be allocated from KKR’s Americas XII Fund, and although no official financial terms were announced due to Ensono not being a public company, industry analysts estimate the deal to be worth $1.7 billion. The acquisition will finalize sometime within the next few months, adding Ensono to the formidable roster of KKR’s engagements, which include GoDaddy, Epicor, BMC, Optiv, and more.
