Telecoms operator Energis has strengthened its position in Europe by paying £496 million to take control of a German web-hosting company.

UK-based Energis, which specialises in the business communications market, has taken a 75 per cent stake in Ision from Distefora, the Swiss and German IT group.

Ision is based in Hamburg and offers corporate customers a range of e-business and web services similar to the Energis Squared e-business product.

Energis chief executive Mike Grabiner said the deal put Energis in "pole position" in one of the fast-growing parts of the European Internet services market.

"This acquisition significantly strengthens our existing operations in Germany and takes a major further step in our strategy to become the leading data and internet solutions provider in Europe."

Energis will take control of a firm employing 900 people and with corporate customers including Comdirect Bank, Commerzbank and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Ision, which hosts more than 800 corporate sites, has a range of internet and other related services across five other European countries.

It reported revenues of £40.7 million in the nine months to September 30.