marchFIRST UK saved by separate buyers
- Added:
- May 31, 2001
In a move that has yet to be fully revealed to the UK business' 500 or so staff, French consultancy firm Unilog, a giant on the European scene, has bought marchFIRST's IT consultancy arm, including the division's 150 to 170 employees.
At the same time, the branding consultancy business, which is thought to employ more than 300 people, is also understood to have been sold, though to a separate buyer, and under the marchFIRST brand.
A spokesperson confirmed the sale of the IT consultancy business to Unilog and the sale of the branding consultancy business, but could not name the buyer. She added that the deal for the IT arm was signed today. More details of both acquisitions are expected next week.
The spokesperson said: “The whole of the organisation doesn't know about it yet…the deal only went through today.”
The moves will see Unilog take on the UK technology business in its entirety, though the marchFIRST brand will remain with the original entity, leaving Unilog to rebrand the IT agency as its own UK arm. The UK is the only major European market where Unilog, which employs up to 5000 people across Europe, has yet to develop a presence.
marchFIRST, which employed more than 7000 staff worldwide at its peak, entered liquidation on 17 April leaving its non US-based businesses, which include operations in 11 separate European markets, in turmoil.