Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised the founders of Onecom, the UK’s largest independent business telecommunications provider, on a £100 million funding package to help support organic and acquisitive growth.

The funding package has been secured from mid-market private equity firm LDC and credit funds managed by an affiliate of Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES).

Founded by Darren Ridge and Aaron Brown, Onecom currently manages nearly 100,000 business customers, delivering communication services and unified solutions across fixed line voice, connectivity and cloud computing. It employs 400 people across 10 regional offices and its partners include Samsung, Apple, Vodafone, Gamma, Mitel and Virtual1. The investment will be used to support the company’s significant growth plans.

The London-based Stephenson Harwood team which advised was led by corporate partner Ben Mercer, and included senior associate Chris Cowley, associate Thomas Parker, and trainees Harry Wilson and Louise Harkness.