Telcombrokers Acquires TLC Custom Communications

By Cara Sievers

California-based voice and data master agent Telcombrokers has acquired the contracts and agent base of TLC Custom Communications, based in Las Vegas. Terms of the deal, which was finalized Nov. 5, were not disclosed.

TLC Custom Communications is a small voice and data master agency that has direct contracts with fewer than 10 carriers, and is represented by approximately a dozen agents, some outside the Las Vegas market.

Telcombrokers President Dominic Antonini said the acquisition will be nearly invisible to the subagents customers. Although some subagents were selling under the TLC name, others were selling under their own names; and if the subagents wish, they can keep their e-mail addresses and other materials.

Our goal is to come in, do no harm, and then expand the offerings and commissions, because we get more commissions than they were getting, said Antonini. Agents will have the option of operating under new contracts with Telcombrokers or keeping their current contracts in place.

In addition to higher commissions and an expanded carrier portfolio, the subagents also will have access to the Salestream PRM tool for instant quotes and more, free of charge. Were going to hopefully automate the sales process and help the agents to be able to streamline proposals and quotes, expand their offerings and hopefully make them more money, Antonini said. We hope to keep the business growing because the business has been growing and we hope to speed up that growth.

Antonini expressed excitement about gaining a Las Vegas presence through this acquisition, saying he had great products for that market, such as TelePacific and TSI.

Im excited to know that the customer base and the subagents will be supported through Telcombrokers and their highly skilled team, giving me the peace of mind to move forward with my newfound opportunity my adventure, said TLC president Kat Pasquarelli, referring to her plans to leave telecom completely to explore the business, marketing and finance fields. I like Dominic and what hes done, and I am more than comfortable with him managing this agent base.

Nancy Ridge, Telcombrokers vice president of sales, will replace Pasquarelli in the role of making recommendations.

In a steady flow of acquisitions, Telcombrokers acquired Fine Telecom this spring and more acquisitions are in the works for 2007 and 2008. Moving forward, Antonini is looking for active agents who are looking to roll their bases under a master. For various reasons, agents will roll their contracts under masters, but usually they lose a little bit of commission and dont get anything for it, he said. What Im looking to do is roll out a program where well actually pay people to roll their contracts under our agreement so that they have an incentive to do that that will grow our base and expand our agent sales force.

Telcombrokers represents more than 40 carriers in the United States.

Telcombrokers www.telcombrokers.com