Business continuity and communications specialist Vocal, which is based in Colchester, has been acquired by the global emergency communications group Everbridge.

Vocal, which serves more than 1,000 customers in 85 countries and was the supplier of emergency messaging systems for incident management at the London 2012 Olympics, will become a fully-owned subsidiary of Everbridge but continue to support its own web-based IModus range of modules.

Jaime Ellertson, president and chief executive of Everbridge, said: “Our rapidly growing market continues to demand increased global scale and connectivity.

“Our rapidly growing market continues to demand increased global scale and connectivity. Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to creating the industry’s most comprehensive global ecosystem of local support, strategic partners, and world-class solutions for critical communications.”

Trevor Wheatley-Perry, founder and managing director of Vocal, added: “We are thrilled to be a part of the Everbridge team.

“With two industry leaders joining forces, we are now positioned to provide our customers with the industry’s richest solutions, coupled with the broadest and deepest global support and expertise available.”

The deal, the value of which has not been disclosed, will consolidate the market-leading position of Everbridge which is based in Glendale, California, USA and will now serve more than 2,500 clients, communicating with more than 50million individual end-uers every year.

Keith Ferguson, a partner at the Ipswich office of BDO LLP which acted for the shareholders of Vocal in relation to its sale to Everbridge, said: “BDO is pleased to have been instrumental in this important sale of Vocal to Everbridge. We are sure that the sale secures a vibrant future for the business.”

Essex law firm Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP acted as legal advisers to the shareholders of Vocal.