Managed services provider Claranet has sold web hosting services provider the Amen Group to Italian web services group Dada for EUR 17.5 million. The Amen Group was acquired by Claranet in July 2005 as part of its takeover of Via Networks. Claranet said it wants to focus more on its core managed services business, but it will continue to work with Amen on network and hosting services for business customers. Founded in 1999, Amen is a leading provider of domain and hosting services in France, Spain and Portugal, and is also present in the UK, Dutch and Italian markets. Amen counts over 140,000 business customers, 300,000 hosted domains and more than 3,000 dedicated servers. The deal gives Dada a total of 400,000 business clients and more than 1.2 million domains, of which 70 percent outside of Italy. The acquisition was made through Dada unit Register.it and financed with cash on hand and credit facilities.
