| Computacenter
plc to acquire GE CompuNet and GE Capital IT Solutions Austria
Creates
IT infrastructure services provider with strong positions in
Europe's three largest countries
Kerpen,
Vienna, November 28 2002 – GE and Computacenter plc today
announced an agreement for Computacenter to acquire GE CompuNet
and GE Capital IT Solutions Austria. GE management and the Computacenter
board have unanimously approved the agreement. Completion of
the acquisition, which is subject to Computacenter shareholder
and certain regulatory approvals, is expected in early 2003.
At
completion, the combined companies will have strong positions
in Europe's three largest markets (Germany, UK, and France),
and will be well positioned in Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
Under the agreement, GE CompuNet and GE Capital IT Solutions
Austria will become wholly owned subsidiaries of Computacenter
plc.
Joining
the strengths of GE CompuNet and GE IT Solutions Austria with
Computacenter in UK, France, Belgium, and Luxembourg will:
Enable
the new company in each country to offer integrated solutions
and services spanning the whole life cycle of IT infrastructures
to customers across Europe.
Enable the new company to build stronger relationships with
all IT technology vendors to the benefit of its customers.
Allow the combined businesses to share important investments
and best practices, and to develop common processes to improve
the scope, quality, and cost-effectiveness of their offerings.
Create a new company with a total revenue of more than Euro
4 billion and approximately 10,000 employees.
Dr. Johannes Meier, CEO of GE CompuNet said: “This is
an exciting opportunity for our customers and employees. Joining
the strengths of our business with Computacenter as one company
positions the combined organisation to deliver seamless and
integrated IT services to customers across Europe.”
Hermann
Kaineder, CEO of GE IT Solutions Austria, added, “We are
convinced that being part of Computacenter will enable us to
strengthen our position in the Austrian market and give us the
scale to compete more effectively with other leading IT service
providers.”
Mike
Norris, Chief Executive of Computacenter plc, said, “GE
CompuNet is the German equivalent of Computacenter. It has a
strong services element in its portfolio and this supports Computacenter's
strategy of growing its services base and building contracted
revenue streams. This acquisition represents an important step
forward in establishing Computacenter as Europe’s leading
infrastructure services provider.”
About
Computacenter:
Computacenter is a leading European provider of IT infrastructure services.
To help our customers maximise the value of IT to their businesses,
we offer services at every stage of infrastructure investment.
We can help our customers with the choice of technology, its procurement,
tailored configuration, testing and integration within the enterprise.
We can then ensure continued efficient, cost effective performance
through our range of operational management services. The company's
corporate and public sector clients are served by a network of branch
offices across the UK, Germany, Austria, France, Luxembourg and Belgium and,
through our international partners, at locations throughout Europe, Asia Pacific
and North America.
About
GE CompuNet:
GE CompuNet is one of Germany's main vendor-independent system
reseller and integrator for the IT infrastructure needs of corporations.
GE CompuNet focuses on the design, integration and operating
of distributed and central IT infrastructures.
About
GE Capital IT Solutions Austria:
GE Capital IT Solutions Austria is a key IT infrastructure and
solutions provider for the Austrian corporate market. |
