Thrive Jumpstarts International Expansion with Acquisition of U.K.-Based ONI

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass., June 3, 2021 / PRNewswire/ — Thrive, a premier provider of NextGen Managed Services, has acquired ONI, a leading U.K. Cloud, hybrid managed IT, Cisco Gold Partner and data center services provider based in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Thrive has accelerated growth with its recent investment from Court Square Capital Partners, and the ONI acquisition marks the company’s initial steps to significantly increase its geographic footprint, both domestically and internationally. 

“ONI is a tremendous IT managed services company with deep Cisco WAN, Unified Communication and Cloud expertise,” said Rob Stephenson, CEO of Thrive. “We were attracted to ONI due to their strong management team, led by CEO Kevin Kivlochan, attractive customer base, and desirable geographic location, just north of London. Thrive plans to add our robust Microsoft and cyber security capabilities to assist the ONI clientele, and we’re very excited to utilize their expert WAN engineering team to drive additional value to Thrive’s client base.”

ONI has been providing transformative digital technologies for more than 25 years and is a highly reputable center of excellence for digital transformation. The company is a leading provider of IT solutions and services to both the public sector and commercial markets. ONI’s specific expertise includes core network infrastructure, unified communications and collaboration, contact center solutions, data center services, connectivity, and cyber security. ONI Cloud services are delivered from its Tier 3+ data center, located in the South East of England.

“ONI has been committed to providing our customers with the availability, performance, and agility required to transform their business,” said Kevin Kivlochan, CEO of ONI. “We are ecstatic to join the Thrive family to complement and grow its extensive NextGen portfolio of solutions with our critical and business assured infrastructure objectives, delivering performance, high availability, flexibility, and redundancy. This will enable us to further advance our support to our existing clients in the U.K. with a wider range of service and support offerings.”

Mr. Kivlochan will become the Chief Executive for Thrive’s European Operations, reporting directly to Rob Stephenson, and all ONI personnel will remain onboard working directly for him.

With the completion of this transaction, ONI will mark Thrive’s eleventh acquisition since 2016. Recently, Thrive scaled its Mid-Atlantic region presence in the U.S. with the acquisitions of Howard Tech Advisors and Apex IT Group.

For more information about Thrive, click here.

About Thrive
Thrive is a leading provider of NextGen managed services designed to drive business outcomes through application enablement and optimization. The company’s Thrive5 Methodology utilizes a unique combination of its Application Performance Platform and strategic services to ensure each business application takes advantage of technology that enables peak performance, scale, and the highest level of security. For more information, thrivenextgen.com.

Thrive: LinkedInTwitterFacebookYouTube and Instagram

Media Contact:
Stephanie Farrell
Director of Corporate Marketing
617-952-0289 | 311404@email4pr.com

About ONI
Established in 1992, ONI Ltd is a leading provider of IT solutions and services to both public sector and commercial markets. Privately owned, ONI offers a comprehensive range of on-site, cloud and hybrid technology solutions.

ONI is an established, go-to center of excellence for digital transformation and has built a strong reputation based on innovation. ONI delivers cloud services from their Tier 3+ Data Center, located in the South East of England, which includes infrastructure, disaster recovery, UC, collaboration and contact center solutions as-a-service.

ONI is committed to providing customers with the performance, availability and agility required to optimize their IT investments. This is referred to as Business Assured and comprises three core pledges: 100% Uptime Guaranteed, On-Premises or Cloud Agnostic and Predictable and Transparent Costs. For more information, please visit https://www.oni.co.uk/.

Media Contact:
Debbie Cotterill | deb.cotterill@oni.co.uk 

Acuity advisors acted as the exclusive advisor to ONI for this transaction.

About Acuity Advisors
Acuity Advisors is a leading technology focused mid-market investment bank headquartered in the UK with international offices in Vienna and Shanghai. Acuity are experts in selling businesses, securing equity investments and raising debt finance. Acuity’s partners are senior players with an international focus, most of their deals are cross-border. The firm has a strong track record in key technology sectors including Semiconductor & Photonics, Deep Tech, Industrial Technology, Telecoms, Cloud & Managed Services, Software and Internet of Things.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thrive-jumpstarts-international-expansion-with-acquisition-of-uk-based-oni-301305268.html

Zack Halpryn

Zack Halpryn is an Associate at M|C Partners, where he focuses on investment opportunities in the digital infrastructure and technology services sectors. Prior to joining MC, Zack worked at HarbourVest Partners, where he was focused on buyout and growth equity investments. Previously he worked at Performance Equity Management and Credit Suisse. Zack received a B.B.A in Finance (summa cum laude) from the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. He currently lives in Boston’s West End and in his spare time enjoys playing sports (volleyball, basketball, golf), reading and watching the Celtics.

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Established in 1999 and based in Raleigh, is a trusted, local communications and managed services provider to businesses leveraging its fully owned fiber network. celito creates technology solutions for businesses across all sectors both large and small. From supplying high-speed Internet service, to providing quality VoIP telecom service, to setting up your office network, they offer turnkey solutions from the desktop to the cloud

 

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Jason Stutman is a Senior Fund Accountant at M/C Partners, responsible for the cash management of co-investment vehicles, preparing quarterly financial statements, and communication with Limited Partners. Prior to joining the firm in 2023, Jason worked in the Portfolio Analytics Group at HarbourVest Partners. He earned a BSBA with honors in Finance with a minor in Computer Information Science from The Ohio State University. Jason lives in South Boston and enjoys cheering on Boston sports teams, playing hockey and golf and traveling.

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Cuba Burch Berner is an Associate at M|C Partners, where he focuses on investment opportunities in digital infrastructure and technology services. Prior to joining the firm in 2022, Cuba was an Equity Research Associate at Citi covering infrastructure companies within the telecommunications industry, including data centers and wireless towers. He holds a B.S. in Mathematics with a specialization in Economics from the University of Chicago. Cuba currently lives in Boston’s West End and enjoys  a myriad of outdoor activities including running, swimming, hiking, and skiing.

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James F. Wade

Jim Wade co-founded M/C Partners in 1986 with Dave Croll. He has been investing in communications and technology services since the advent of wireless and broadband, cornerstones of the firm’s sector focus. As Chairman, he manages the firm’s investment process, and continuously seeks out management teams, company prospects and financial resources to grow the portfolio. Jim’s successful track record includes MetroPCS (IPO), Lightower Holdings (acquired by Berkshire Partners), Cavalier Telephone (acquired by PAETEC), NuVox Communications (acquired by WindStream), Attenda (acquired by Darwin Private Equity), Melita (acquired by Apax Partners), PR Wireless (joint venture with Sprint affiliate in Puerto Rico), Thrive Networks (acquired/recapitalized by Court Square) and Involta (acquired by Carlyle Group). Today he serves as a director on the Board of Connectivity Wireless and has responsibility for Omega Wireless. Jim graduated from the University of Notre Dame a B.B.A in Finance and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He lives outside Boston with his wife and four children. Jim was an avid boater and is now an average golfer.

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Abhishek Rampuria

Abhishek (A.B.) is a Partner at M/C Partners, where he leads origination, deal diligence and portfolio company support for investments in a variety of communications and technology services segments. He currently serves on the Board of Ascend Technologies, Connectivity Wireless, Edafio Technology Partners, TowerCom and serves as a Board Observer for Thrive Networks. A.B. previously served as a Board Observer for Ensono (acquired by KKR) and QOS Networks (acquired by Zayo). Prior to joining M/C Partners in 2015, A.B. worked at Altman Solon (formerly Altman Vilandrie), a technology, media & telecommunications focused strategy consulting firm, where he completed projects for both operating companies and private equity investors. A.B. received a B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He lives in Boston’s South End and outside of work, enjoys skiing, cycling, traveling and cheering on his home-town Patriots and Celtics.

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