Lancashire-based technology consultancy Sundown Solutions has been acquired by Ancoris to create a new tech business called Telana.
Telana means ‘where treasures are kept’ and the terms of the deal have not been revealed.
The deal is hugely significant because it brings together two pure-play technology partners.
Husband and wife team Heath and Kelly Groves, who were included in BusinessCloud’s 2024 Northern Leaders list, set up Sundown in 2009, which is based in Time Technology Park, in Simonstone, near Accrington.
Sundown Solutions had a string of blue chip clients including the NHS, Ministry of Defence and National Audit Office.
In 2022 the firm hired the band Toploader to play at its Christmas party, which was held at Accrington Stanley Football Club.
Bracknell-based Ancoris are experts in AI, data, analytics, and application development
The new tech business – Telana – is described as a market-leading, end-to-end provider for innovation, focused on delivering business outcomes through AI, data, software development, and cloud engineering expertise.
Beech Tree Private Equity played a key in bringing Ancoris and Sundown together.
It’s understood Heath and Kelly Groves will remain in Telana, along with all the Sundown staff.
‘Lancashire needs actions, not words’ to realise business potential
Kelly Grove wrote on LinkedIn: “It’s been a hell of a ride over the past 15 years, now to see where Telana takes us…the future is bright.”
Heath Groves said: “For years, Sundown’s reputation has been built on delivering secure, automated, and highly-regulated cloud infrastructure and managed services on Microsoft Azure.
“Now, as part of Telana, we’re thrilled to extend that same level of trust and expertise to Google Cloud customers. This is an exciting opportunity to broaden our reach and, crucially, to empower our existing Microsoft-focused clients to flex their innovation muscle with the combined power of Telana.”
Andre Azevedo, Telana CEO, said: “This is a significant milestone for both businesses and one that we are all excited about.
“By combining our strengths, we are creating a unique provider that can deliver unparalleled value to our customers – and increasingly exciting growth opportunities for our people.
“The services market has evolved to become more business case driven, and customers need partners who can deliver outcomes across different technology stacks with both innovative and foundational capabilities – Telana is setting the standard on this front.
“I’ve always been proud of Ancoris’ focus on solving customer problems, and am so excited to take this same capability to new customers and across a broader scope of challenges as Telana.”
Beech Tree Private Equity director, Luke Burns, said: “We are delighted to have assisted in bringing together Ancoris and Sundown. Both businesses have leading capabilities in their respective industries, and together, now creates a powerful combination in Telana that will offer significant incremental expertise to the combined customer base.
“We have got to know the Sundown team well over the last few years and we’re incredibly excited to be working with them as part of Telana’s growth journey”.
The advisors on the deal were: Financial and tax DD – Dow Schofield Watts (Jonathan Steed); Legal DD – DLA (James Kerrigan, Sam Jones, Jenni Entwisle); Legals – Eversheds (Chris Archer, Matthew Newell); Tax – Alvarez & Marsal (Nick Walton). Forbes acted as legal advisors to the sellers.