Gen-i today announced that it has agreed to acquire the business of Real Time Computing (RTC), the Gen-i franchise group operating in the Manawatu, Wanganui and Taranaki areas.
The purchase forms part of Gen-i’s strategy to grow its business to become Australasia’s leading ICT services provider, through a mix of organic growth, strategic alliances and acquisitions. The initiative is designed to strengthen Gen-i’s service delivery for clients, ensure a greater focus on Gen-i’s business priorities and extend its technical reach and capabilities.
Steve Mills, Gen-i’s General Manager of New Zealand Corporate Sales, said the merger is a logical extension of the existing relationship between the two teams in the region.
“The RTC franchise, known locally as Gen-i Central and Gen-i Taranaki, is a very successful business employing over 70 people across offices in New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wanganui and Hawera,” said Mills. “It is the largest of our regional franchise groups, with a diverse range of clients across the local government, health, agriculture, corporate and energy sectors.”
“We are very excited at the prospect of combining RTC’s skills in IT with our strengths in telecommunications to build on our ICT leadership in the region,” said Mills.
Mills added that the merger was the latest initiative by Gen-i to invest in its people, technology and infrastructure to create value for its clients.
“We work hard to earn our clients’ preference and recognise that we don’t choose our clients, they choose us. We look forward to being able to offer our clients across the Manawatu, Wanganui and Taranaki regions greater technical reach and depth of resource with this acquisition.”
RTC had been placed on the market by its owners, and the acquisition is a result of many months of planning. Gen-i has completed a robust due diligence process, and settlement is targeted for 12 December 2008.
The two businesses will integrate key business operations on that date, and then Gen-i will implement further integration plans over a three month transition period.
Chris Quin, CEO Gen-i, added that the acquisition will provide Gen-i’s clients in the region with an unrivalled range of converged technology and telecommunications services.
“Our focus is to create strong and sustained relationships with our clients, and show them how converged ICT solutions can help them to achieve the goals they set for their businesses,” said Quin.
“This acquisition aims to provide even greater clarity for clients, giving them the ability to do business with local decision makers, but also gain all the advantages of our national capability.”
Chris Sharpe, one of the Principals of the franchise, said he was delighted at the opportunities the merger will bring to staff and clients.
“I am looking forward to developing an even stronger breadth and depth of capability and sharing these benefits with our clients,” said Sharpe. “The merger reinforces Gen-i’s commitment to regional clients, with an even greater investment in our people and services.”