On Tuesday November 1, 2005, BT announced the takeover of Oswestry, UK-based Total Network Solutions Ltd, again for an undisclosed figure, as part of its plan to build up its BT Global Services operation.
Dublin-based Cara Group will also be rolled into the Global Services arm, which made revenue of 8.2bn pounds ($14.8bn) in the year ending March 2005. Cara was originally the in-house IT arm of airline Aer Lingus, and was subsequently acquired by Groupe Bull in 1996.
In 2001, Cara was bought out of the struggling French firm by its management team and backers including Hibernia Capital Partners for 33m euros ($40m). The company then sold its payroll processing arm, Carapeople, to Northgate Information Solutions Plc for 18.7m euros ($22.5m) in 2003.
Cara Group has 134 staff that provide network, telephony, and IT integration and support services, and made revenue of 38m euros ($46m) in full-year 2004.
