Columbia-based office supply company acquired by Tennessee company

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A Columbia-based business equipment supplier that has been a fixture in the South Carolina business market for nearly 50 years has been acquired by a Tennessee-based company.

Novatech, based in Nashville, recently acquired Carolina Business Equipment, which offers managed IT services, managed print services and an extensive line of office products from industry leaders such as Sharp, Toshiba and Kyocera, according to a news release.

Founded in 1998, Novatech, Inc. is a nationwide business technology provider. The company eliminates the need for multiple managed service providers, hardware dealers, and software integrators. Offering a full Managed Office portfolio, Novatech simplifies and streamlines the technology experience for today's business, the release said.

This step aligns with Novatech’s mission of “providing comprehensive managed office solutions to businesses nationwide while expanding its reach into the thriving Carolina market,” according to the release.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Carolina Business Equipment to the Novatech family,” said Novatech CEO Dan Cooper. “CBE’s reputation for delivering exceptional customer experiences, innovative managed IT and print services and its impressive growth trajectory perfectly mirror Novatech’s vision for the managed office. This acquisition represents a key milestone in our ongoing growth strategy.”

Established in 1975, Carolina Business Equipment has significantly broadened its product and service offerings to provide more comprehensive solutions to its customers, enabling the company to expand its geographical reach across the Carolinas.

“This alignment with Novatech offers an incredible opportunity for our team at CBE,” said John Eckstrom, owner of Carolina Business Equipment. “With shared values and a commitment to delivering outstanding service and technology solutions, we foresee a bright future for our customers and employees.”

Carolina Business Equipment currently has offices in Columbia, Charleston, Florence, Greer, North Augusta, Rock Hill and Rockingham, N.C.

Novatech is the core portfolio company of Trivest Partners, a private investment firm that focuses exclusively on the support and growth of founder-led and family-owned businesses in the United States and Canada in both control and non-control transactions. Since its founding in 1981,  Florida-basedTrivest has completed more than 500 transactions totaling approximately $8 billion in value, according to the release. The company’s regional office is in Charlotte.