Internet service provider Calico bought by Hostworld

Background

Calico UK, an established internet service provider based in Cromarty, had been serving customers since 1994. With a strong reputation in the Highlands, the business provided reliable hosting and domain services to a loyal customer base.

As the owners planned for their next steps, they sought a buyer who could continue Calico’s legacy, maintain service quality, and support the existing team. Business Partnership was engaged to manage the sale, ensuring a smooth transition while securing the best outcome for both the sellers and the business.

Approach

We initiated a structured sale process, positioning Calico UK as an attractive acquisition opportunity. Key steps included:

• Conducting a full valuation to establish market value.
• Identifying and approaching strategic buyers in the hosting and IT services sector.
• Managing a competitive bidding process over three months to maximise the outcome.
• Ensuring the chosen buyer aligned with the seller’s goals, particularly regarding staff retention and customer service continuity.

With multiple interested parties, the sale process focused on securing the best strategic fit rather than just the highest bid.

Solution

Hostworld Internet Limited, owned by Darren Summers, emerged as the ideal buyer. With a strong track record in web hosting and virtual server services, Hostworld had grown steadily through acquisitions and organic expansion.

The deal was structured to:

• Ensure all services provided by Calico UK continued seamlessly under Hostworld.
• Retain Calico’s existing employees, providing job security and continuity for customers.
• Leverage Hostworld’s expertise to modernise and enhance Calico’s offerings while maintaining its customer-focused approach.

Hostworld recognised Calico as a reputable and well-established brand that complemented its existing business. Darren Summers was particularly committed to maintaining the personal service that Calico’s customers valued, ensuring they continued to receive high-quality support.

Results

Following the acquisition, Hostworld successfully integrated Calico UK into its operations, providing additional resources and modernising its services while maintaining the strong customer relationships Calico had built over the years.

Customers now benefit from Hostworld’s expanded support options, including telephone and email assistance, ensuring continued high levels of service. Employees from Calico UK have also seamlessly joined the Hostworld team, preserving the business’s culture and expertise.

What the buyer says…

 The Calico brand is reputable and established, making it a good fit for our current workforce and network. I saw an opportunity to continue the work of the previous owners and to make improvements by providing customers with a more convenient and modern approach to hosting services.

One of my main priorities was to continue to work with the current Calico employees. I am happy to announce that staff who worked with Calico are now working alongside the Hostworld team – this was something that was important to me.

Darren Summers, Owner of Hostworld