SME & CONSUMEr NEWS
Imtech buys UK IBM specialist
Scribona deal price
NETHErLaNDS UK
get a stronger hold in the
may be higher
UK market. They
DUTCH technical services provider Imtech has strengthen their knowledge
SWEDEN
bought UK-based, 100-strong REAL Solutions base, can service their THE Scribona board is unanimously recommending
Group. The purchase price is based on six times clients better and also that shareholders approve Tech Data’s bid for the
the EBITA so it’s around €270m and will be paid they become a member of business (IT Europa 14 March 2008).
in cash, with the acquisition contributing directly Imtech. We can get further The transaction will require amendments to
to profit per share. REAL Solutions, based in acquisitions because of the articles of association which, according to the
London and Manchester, is an ICT specialist with them, as we can use their Swedish Companies Act, requires support from
a mix of activities around the IBM portfolio. 60% network for candidates.” shareholders holding not less than two-thirds of
of revenues is consultancy on IBM infrastructures “We want to give real high quality business total both the votes cast and the shares represented at
and their sale and implementation, 20% from IBM solutions by combining our core technologies; the annual meeting. The value per share indicated
software and 20% from other IT services. electrical engineering, mechanical engineering in the announcement of the transaction on 4
Peter Koenders (above left), corporate and ICT. We currently have €3.3bn revenue, and March 2008 was preliminarily estimated to be in
communications manager at Imtech, says the we want to get to €5bn by 2012; €1bn by organic the range of SEK 4.40 to 5.10 per share (€0.46 to
deal is part of a wider expansion. “We want growth and €1bn by acquisitions.” €0.54). Scribona’s current best estimate is that the
to become the number three player in the UK Imtech has been very active within the net proceeds to the shareholders will be slightly
technical market. That’s our ambition. We are European ICT market recently. In 2006 it acquired higher than the mid-point of this range.
currently number 10 or 12, and want to get there by German company Fritz und Macziol (FUM), while However, the Board says it is important to
organic growth and strongly and quickly through in 2007 it acquired the German-based companies emphasise that the estimates of net proceeds are
acquisitions.” BMS and X-Wert as well as the Switzerland-based based on assumptions which are rather uncertain at
Koenders admits the fact that REAL Solutions Interex. The same year it acquired Peek Traffic, this stage and which could have a significant impact
Group had links to IBM was a major appeal. “They a high tech IT and product specialist in the UK on the proceeds. It will have more information
are a fairly excellent company with good results. mobility market. over the coming months once the deal with Tech
Imtech is interested in having IBM as a business The management of REAL Solutions will stay on Data is consummated, and will communicate that
partner. We have a strategy for dealing with after the acquisition. information to the market at an appropriate time.
Microsoft and IBM. The deal has two benefits. We
www.imtech.nl www.scribona.com
Telepresence for SMEs - new partners in UK and mainland
EUrOpE
solutions means that
UK
we can now take
TELEPRESENCE solutions telepresence out of
vendor Telanetix Inc, which its traditional home in
offers systems and VoIP the boardroom and
services to the SMB and into other areas such
SME markets, has started its as e-learning. The high
channel roll-out. In the UK the definition, real-life,
channel is run through master real-time images mean
reseller Imago. Other European that verticals such as
appointments are expected medicine and law can
to be announced shortly as Telanetix are currently screens and room configuration, giving them the make use of the technology in training or court
in talks with other potential European partners. final decision on how the room will look following appearances.
Expect Germany, France and Benelux to be high on installation. Any additional requirements can be “With a price tag starting from €40,000 for the
its list. discussed with, and more importantly provided by, two screen system, we see all sorts of uses across
The Telanetix solution is claimed to be the reseller. Europe.”
completely customisable, creating more The system is a fraction of the cost of He emphasises that the business plan is not to
opportunities for resellers, so this is seen as very competitive solutions. Rick Ono, COO at Telanetix look for US companies with European branches
much a channel product, and Imago will be acting says, “Analyst firm Frost and Sullivan estimate that but go for the mass of business allowing local
as master reseller, supporting the channel with the telepresence industry will grow to €0.7bn by companies to talk to each other. Suitable markets
resources. 2013. By enabling resellers to add value to sales are anywhere where scare resources have to be
Unlike competitive solutions, Telanetix Digital of our system, Telanetix has made it possible for shared in a graphical way such as in medical training
Presence does not require any specific room the channel to earn significant margins from this using the high definition ability to show X-ray
preparation, such as lighting or expensive furniture, burgeoning market.” images or MRI scans. See enterprise news in this
it claims. The system is sold as an appliance and the “In addition to this, the low overall price point issue for more telepresence announcements.
user has the option of choosing the appropriate of this technology in comparison to competitive
www.telanetix.com
18 apr 2008
9
It0807 - 8-11_SME_news.indd 9 2008-04-16 11:16
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