ASG ramps up acquisitions despite unsure market

Australian managed service provider, ASG Group has acquired leading Canberra professional services firm Group 10 Consulting, its second buy in less than six months.

In an interview with CRN, ASG chief executive Dean Langenbach said Group 10 was an ICT consultancy firm in Canberra, with a significant portfolio of public sector clients.

“[Group 10] has capabilities in areas we are interested in entering,” he said. “[We are] into ICT asset management particular, software asset management.  Canberra has always been a good region for us.”

The acquisition would provide ASG with additional capabilities, including the ability to provide clients with ICT asset management through Group 10 Consulting.

The acquisition took three months to complete thanks to ASG’s full time dedicated acquisition team, installed nine months ago.

“They are very focused on Australia and New Zealand and make the process very efficient,” Langenbach said.

ASG’s recent buy comes off the back of its purchase of Brisbane-based MSP 1ICT in November 2019. The MSP services clients in Australia and India.

According to Langenbach two purchases in six months wasn’t unusual for ASG, as that is the intent of the full time acquisition team.

“Given the market conditions we aren’t planning on slowing down,” he said, “We plan on accelerating our acquisition plans.

Langenbach said ASG will take Group 10’s service capabilities into Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria.

“[We intend] to bring these services to our current government clients, mining clients and all other sectors including, as well new clients,” he said.

“There’s a lot of excitement from sales because of the attraction to Group 10, [with its] new service offerings.”

Under the acquisition, Group 10, which was founded in 2013 and employs more than 80 staff, will continue to operate under its brand, specialising in customised solutions to clients in the ACT.

The two co-founders, Cosimo Garreffa and Jennifer Nelson, will continue to lead the local team.