Broadband MOT - March 2004
'Eclipse Internet and Nildram have consistently traded places at the top of the speed league table at www.adslguide.org.uk during the latter half of 2003.
'Sebastian Lahtinen, co-founder of ADSLguide.org.uk, has his own particular commendation. "There are always market leaders in terms of ISPs trying to push the boundaries of speed, price and service," he says. "I would say Pipex has probably been the leader thus far on a retail level."' (Broadband World, March 1st 2004)

Pipex puts the accent on buying

Birmingham Post
10 August 2004

Telecoms network operator Pipex Communications yesterday predicted a 'solid' performance in the second half as it announced the acquisition of broadband internet service group AccentUK, which trades as Nildram, for pounds 12.9 million The acquisition accompanied a trading update on the first half to June, which the company said 'has gone well with particularly encouraging monthly broadband connection numbers.'

Nildram is an internet service provider (ISP) focusing on providing network application services and related products to businesses and broadband to both business and residential customers in the UK. At the end of July 2004 Nildram had approximately 35,000 broadband customers, of which an estimated 30 per cent are business customers.

Pipex said that Nildram is both profitable and cash generative. During the year ended March 31 Nildram's audited turnover was pounds 14.1 million and audited EBITDA was pounds 366,563.

The value of Nildram's net assets as at March 31 was pounds 323,219. Over the last 12 months Nildram has grown substantially, benefiting from the increasing demand for broadband.

The Nildram acquisition will take Pipex's total broadband customer base to 162,000.

Peter Dubens, chairman of Pipex, said: 'The acquisition of Nildram further strengthens Pipex's position as a leading UK provider of broadband services and takes the total number of broadband customers to 162,000.

'We continue to focus on our strategy of growth through both organic and acquisitive means, through opportunities which provide a clear strategic fit.

'The success of this strategy is demonstrated by the growth of our total customer base from approximately 12,000 customers in 2002 to over 350,000 customers today and a significant improvement in gross margin.'

Chief executive Mike Read added: 'The integration process of Pipex since the latest acquisition of Host Europe is progressing well.

'In addition to its substantial customer base, Nildram fits extremely well within our current framework and brings with it strong product development expertise that will add further strengths to the group going forward.'

Sean Stephenson, managing director of Nildram, said: 'This transaction is extremely positive for Nildram.

'By joining Pipex, Nildram will be able to achieve the scale required for stronger, more profitable growth.'

Why start another thread -this post would be better placed in the original thread - Pipex Communications - which well receives good info/news but adds little to the SP despite continuous large buys

old news, wrong thread