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AF Smith completes acquisition of island computer business

Tim Smith, left, the CEO of AF Smith, Morgan Smith the chief marketing officer at AF Smith, Damika Tucker, the vice-president of Bermuda Microsystems Group Ltd, and Phil Cooper, the CEO of Bermuda Microsystems Group Ltd (Photograph by Jeremy Deacon)

An office furniture company and authorised reseller of Apple products has bought out an island computer firm.

AF Smith has taken over Bermuda Microsystems Group Ltd, which will continue to operate as a separate standalone company, based at the AF Smith office, on Woodlands Road.

The company is known as an IT services and IT consulting firm and is partnered with Dell Technologies and Intel, as a distributor of computer hardware.

Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed and there were no redundancies as a result of the acquisition. Altogether 50 people will be employed.

Phil Cooper, president and chief executive of Bermuda Microsystems said: “The team here has focused on building a great company that prides itself on providing high- quality IT products and professional services.

“It was important to me that I found a suitor that shared our values and growth vision. We believe that, with AF Smith alongside us, we can offer our customers more support, more services and more products that they need to improve and grow their businesses.”

Bermuda Microsystems will bring its Dell and Lenovo products to AF Smith, which is the authorised reseller and service provider on the island for Apple.

Mr Cooper added: “We were looking for synergies because the market has contracted with challenges like cloud computing. We needed to grow so we wanted some potential for long-term planning and synergies. Hanging our hat on just Lenovo and Dell isn’t necessarily going to be the answer.”

He said he had met Tim Smith, the chief executive of AF Smith, and added: “I saw all the different products they offer and they seem like they are heading in a slightly different direction than the traditional AF Smith that I remember.

“We have cross-selling potentials and the deal is the perfect catalyst to do new things and create new revenue channels.”

Bermuda Microsystems, which previously operated from Midsea Lane in Pembroke, relocated to its new premises at AF Smith last month.

Bermuda Microsystems Group was formed in 1993 by Philip Cooper, the company is Bermuda’s only Dell Technologies Platinum Partner.

According to its website, working with their extensive portfolio from client solutions to the cloud, the company helps customers translate the complexities of areas such as networking, storage, and security into simple terms.

The company uses a managed services platform to manage, monitor and remediate customer issues.

AF Smith has evolved from a standard office products dealer to a “cutting-edge provider of innovative technology, premium workspaces and inspired products and services for work and home”.

It was established in 1975 and employs 42 people. Its head office, retail store and distribution centre are located just off Woodlands Road, in Hamilton.

Renovations were completed to provide staff and customers with a larger showroom, a repair lab and offices.

Mr Smith said: “Phil approached me first and we had a very informal chat regarding his business succession and our desire for business growth. We saw a unique opportunity. We could expand our customer base and he could expand his customer base and we could bring in additional technology to help the workplace.

“Ultimately, I think we are one of the pre-eminent providers of work-related products so we understand the workplace, we understand the ecosystem of work and so adding another computer portfolio, particularly Dell and Lenovo to our products was, I thought, a really exciting opportunity.”

He added: “The acquisition represents a combination of two entrepreneurial companies, with strong cultures and beliefs rooted in people, experience, service, and a love for work.

“I’m thrilled for our customers because we can now cultivate a more technology-centric offering for all their workplace needs: in the office, in the cloud, together, remote, or hybrid, today and into the future.”

Mr Cooper will continue to work directly with clients and maintain high-level contacts and AF Smith chief executive Mr Smith will serve as chief executive of Bermuda Microsystems.

All contact information, such as phone numbers and e-mail addresses remain unchanged.

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Published February 06, 2024 at 8:00 am (Updated February 07, 2024 at 8:17 am)

AF Smith completes acquisition of island computer business

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