Intergen Acquires Ecentric

14 October 2005

Intergen Acquires Ecentric

Software development company Intergen announced today that it has acquired complementary company Ecentric. The acquisition is effective immediately.

The completion of the deal follows two months of talks between the two companies, says Intergen Managing Director Tony Stewart.

"The takeover will be good for staff and customers alike," he says. "Ecentric brings to us an area of expertise and client base to complement what we do at Intergen."

He says the two companies have a number of large clients in common, such as IAG and the New Zealand Defence Force, who will benefit from the consolidation of their suppliers.

Ecentric is known in the market for its work in the entrepreneurial sector, involvement with start up companies and new initiatives. It is responsible for the development of a number of high-end custom web applications including the PartsTrader system developed for IAG Insurance, and a 200,000-member interactive community for Adidas. The company has also delivered successful e-business solutions for the likes of NZ Dairy Foods, eCargo, Ministry of Research, Science & Technology, and the NZ Army. Ecentric’s expertise and customer base complements Intergen’s work with established business focused solutions including the government sector.

Rob Cooper Ecentric CEO says the acquisition enables Intergen to capitalise on Ecentric’s competencies to a wider market and is a good fit for both teams culturally. It also paves the way for a new commercial venture.

“Historically almost all of Ecentric’s business has focussed on services provision. However, online markets like PartsTrader have commercial potential well beyond the services business model, and Ecentric was not well placed to divert resources to exploit this opportunity. The sale enables Ecentric’s shareholders, myself and Colin Bevan, the opportunity to set up a new venture that will focus fully on commercialising online markets in partnership with Intergen.”

Mr Cooper will work with Intergen for the next 6-12 months to ensure the team, customers and competencies are successfully transitioned. Intergen will take over the existing Ecentric facilities at Featherston St and move staff into the premises to cope with overall business growth.

Together, Mr Stewart believes they will be able to offer software systems service second to none.

"Our people will learn from the Ecentric staff and they in turn will benefit from the investment in skills development made possible because of our greater size.”

"There is an ever increasing complexity involved in systems delivery. It is getting more and more difficult for smaller organisations to invest the effort required to develop and maintain best practice across the entire Microsoft suite.”

"We are entering a very exciting period as Microsoft introduces a whole raft of new products and technologies over the next 18 months. We are working to ensure all our people are kept up to speed."

This acquisition follows the establishment of Interfusion, a joint venture between Intergen and Fusion5 which acquired Ernst & Young’s Microsoft Navision business and swells Intergen's staff base to 110 across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Intergen is New Zealand's largest Microsoft-exclusive solution provider.

ENDS

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