TalkTalk Business has announced plans to merge with Liverpool-based ARO, creating a communications and technology group with annual revenues of approximately £200m. The combined entity will employ 650 people and serve more than 70,000 organisations, positioning it among the UK's largest independent providers of connectivity and managed technology services.
Merger Details and Background
TalkTalk Business, which separated from its Salford parent TalkTalk Group earlier this year, acquired Oxfordshire's Planet IT in March. The proposed merger with ARO, headquartered in Liverpool Innovation Park, will bring together TalkTalk Business's connectivity expertise with ARO's IT services and cyber security capabilities.
The merger is subject to approval under the National Security Investment Act. Executives from both firms anticipate the process will be completed by the end of summer. Initially, both companies will continue operating under their existing brands and from their current office locations while integration plans are developed.
Leadership Perspectives
Ciaran Rafferty, CEO of ARO, described the merger as "a defining moment for both ARO and TalkTalk Business." He added: "Together, we are creating a business with the scale, expertise and ambition to become a leading independent provider of connectivity and managed technology services in the UK. By bringing together our complementary strengths, we are creating a stronger partner with broader capabilities, deeper expertise and greater capacity to invest in innovation, service delivery and long-term customer success."
Ruth Kennedy, CEO of TalkTalk Business, said: "This merger represents another important step in our transformation into a leading managed services provider and brings together two highly complementary businesses to create a leading independent technology partner for UK organisations." She noted that the market is evolving rapidly, with organisations seeking technology partners that combine strategic expertise, operational excellence and broad service capabilities at scale.
Scale and Future Outlook
ARO operates from multiple locations across the UK, including Aberdeen, Glasgow, Cardiff, Ewloe in North Wales, Farnborough, Leeds and London, in addition to its Liverpool headquarters. The merged group will have a customer base exceeding 70,000 organisations and combined annual revenues of around £200m.
Kennedy emphasised the combined platform's potential: "We are creating a platform with the scale to invest, innovate and grow. Together, we have an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in the future of the UK technology services market." The merger is expected to complete by the end of summer, subject to regulatory approval.
