Stock Exchange Release no. 12/2006
Columbus IT takes over Finish company and acquires companies in Mexico and Brazil - and opens subsidiary in Chile
As part of Columbus IT's international partner strategy with regard to organic expansion of the company's global presence, Columbus IT takes over the activities of a Finish company and acquires 2 companies in Mexico and Brazil respectively. Furthermore, Columbus establishes a subsidiary in Chile on July 1, 2006.
Finland Columbus IT takes over the activities of the Finish consulting firm, PBS Enterprise OY, and establishes a new company of which Columbus IT owns 65%. The establishment makes Columbus IT the biggest Microsoft NAV-partner in Finland. The East expansion puts Columbus IT in a leading position for business solutions in the Nordic and Baltic regions.
With a strong focus on Microsoft Dynamics NAV (former Navision), PBS Enterprise is the fastest growing Microsoft partner in the Finish ERP market. The company has offices in two cities, Espoo, just outside Helsinki and Oulu in Eastern Finland, 14 employees and a portfolio of 23 customers.
The purchase price of the PBS Enterprise activities amounts to DKK 1.6 - 1.7 million, primarily paid with new issued shares in Columbus IT Partner A/S.
Brazil, Mexico and Chile Columbus IT acquires 51% of the consulting firms Capston Consultoria de Informática Ltda. in Brazil and Spade S.A. de C.V. in Mexico. Furthermore, Columbus IT establishes a subsidiary in Chile on July 1, 2006. Thereby the Columbus IT group is present in five countries in South America and employs 100 Spanish speaking employees - a decisive competitive factor in the promising Latin American market.
Columbus IT has been active in South America for five years with subsidiaries in Columbia and Costa Rica. The three new countries will focus on Dynamics AX (former Axapta) and CRM - with a CRM centre of competence in Brazil:
* Columbus IT acquires 51% of the Brazilian consulting firm Capston, which is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. The IT company, which will change name to Columbus IT Brazil, is a local leader within Microsoft Dynamics CRM with a particular focus on the financial industry, medical industry and industrial production. The purchase price for the shareholding in Capston amounts to DKK 3.2 - 3.3 million, primarily paid with new issued shares in Columbus IT Partner A/S. * Columbus IT acquires 51% of the Mexican consulting firm Spade, which changes name to Columbus IT Mexico. Spade has more than 10 years experience from the Mexican IT market and the primary activities are consulting services and implementation of Microsoft Dynamics AX with a focus on the industries industrial production and distribution. The purchase price of the shareholding in Spade amounts to DKK 1.2 - 1.3 million of which DKK 0.4 million is paid with shares in Columbus IT Partner A/S. * Columbus IT Chile is established as a 100% owned subsidiary of Columbus IT's company in Columbia. The ongoing implementation projects in Chile will officially be transferred to Columbus IT Chile on July 1, 2006.
Chief Executive and part owner, Dallyz Montenegro, Columbus IT Columbia, will have the joint responsibility for business development in Latin America together with CEO Michael Gaardboe. In all companies both management and key employees will obtain status as shareholders. All above mentioned acquisitions are expected to be finalised during June og further notification to the stock exchange regarding the transactions will be issued when the above-mentioned capital increases in connection with the transactions in Columbus IT Partner A/S are carried-out.
The transactions do not result in changes regarding the outlook for 2006 already expressed by Columbus IT as the transactions were included in the company's outlook. Please see Stock Exchange Release no. 11/2006.
Ib Kunøe Michael Gaardboe Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer Columbus IT Partner A/S Columbus IT Partner A/S
Contact for further details: Michael Gaardboe, CEO or Sven Madsen, CFO, T: (+45) 70 20 50 00.
