COMPUTER group Skillsgroup has gone on a buying spree again and snapped up a training firm in a £32.5 million deal.

The firm, which now employs around 300 at its Haslingden Acuma arm, has bought Cap Gemini UK Training.

The deal - the latest in a string of acquisitions by the firm - follows the purchases last month of Pontis Consulting for up to £34 million and The Knowledge Centre for a maximum net consideration of £3.85 million.

And it follows a series of sales of businesses by Skillsgroup, which began as P&P Computers in Haslingden, which have raised cash to fund acquisitions.

David Southworth, chairman of the group said: "The three recent acquisitions which have involved a total outlay of approximately £70 million, provide a clear indication of our intention to establish a leadership position in the IT skills market."

Cap Gemini UK Training operates from London and Bournemouth, and employs 120 staff. To the year end December 31, it generated pre-tax profits of £3.2 million on revenues of £16.5 million with net assets at the year end of approximately £2.5 million.

The company provides IT skills development training to corporate clients and to its parent company Cap Gemini UK.

An agreement has been reached following the deal whereby Cap Gemini UK will continue to use Cap Gemini UK Training's skills development services for two years as an exclusive supplier and for a further two years as preferred supplier.

The Knowledge Centre is a UK-based datacoms and education company and Pontis is a computer system design and integration consulting company, supplying large financial institutions with complex IT systems.

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