EDITOR’S COLUMN
COMPANIES IN THE NEWS
Arc Technology 7
EDITOR’S COLUMN
Arrow 3
ASBIS 8
john.garratt@iteuropa.com
Athena Solutions 4
Avnet 11
Azlan 11
BeyondTrust 7
CEIVA Logic 11
Magic combinations
Cisco 4, 11
Colubris 9
Day Software 7
Dell 8
Dexterra 7
DSGi 11 T
wo recent reports - from PWC and Regent the way new and growing markets are placed
- have looked at what is happening in the within a few hundred kilometres of IT-mature
Enfo 5
arcane world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A). countries makes it relatively easy to grow and
Esprinet 6
We say arcane because this is where the worlds of expand geographically. So M&A will continue for
Exigen 7
Extech 8
IT technology supply and high finance collide. Like a good while yet, say the forecasters, and we’re
Google 3 a high energy collider, nobody is quite sure what plenty of evidence of this in our news pages.
Gotive 8
will happen when two companies merge at high The expertise in making these deals happen
Getronics 1, 3
HP 10
speed, the result of many such businesses put is not a financial one, but a clear understanding
Huddle.net 11
together has been less than the sum of the parts, of the way organisations in IT supply work - how
IBM 5, 7 as we said here last issue. the chain of delivery, payment and support is
IDeaS 4
But among the particles spun out from the big different from other businesses, if only in the way
iHub 10
Ingram Micro 1, 3
bang there is usually a few euros in the pocket of that everyone expects the technology, to move
Intermec 8
the banker. So where possible, financial whizzes on during the process, and that the result will
Interwoven 7
encourage the M&A business. So when times start have a limited lifetime before being succeeded by
ITway 9
looking less than rosy, as they are now, one would something better. We could almost think of the IT
Kaspersky 6
KL Consulting 4
expect the magic to fade and the bankers to put manager as being more of a whizz on investment,
KPN 3 up the shutters, as they are in housing finance. returns, discounted cash flow and inflation
Lenovo 11
But it looks as though, barring accidents, the IT effects; but the ROI idea gets reduced too often
Luxoft 7
industry will keep on merging; figures from Regent to something the CEO or chairman understands.
Mambo Technology 11
Mamut 11
and others predict Hence the current fashion for
Microsoft 10 a solid 2008, barring boasting about a payback of
MyOB 11
catastrophe, and early When organic growth slows, other under a year for IT projects.
NextGen 3
indications are that Which makes a mockery
Nortel Networks 10
ways must be found to boost
Oracle 7
this is right. When
figures.......
of the planning, recycling,
Paessler AG 11 organic growth slows, upgrading, management
Pidion 8
other ways must be and support which most
Protel A.S. 4
Providis 8
found to boost figures, and there seems to be no large projects merit. Rather than worry about
Psion Teklogix 8
shortage of ready money to make it happen. technology for its own sake, which seems to be
Research In Motion 4 Arguably, Europe is better placed as an the approach increasing adopted by vendors and
RM Solutions 4
environment for continuing M&As. The national manufacturers promising the latest speeds and
Salesforce 7
SAP 7
components of Europe make market infill a better feeds, we think everyone should be looking at the
Scribona 3, 11
proposition than in the flat established markets real issues and what the entire package can do for
Sevana Oy 5
of the US, yet without the thrills and spills of a the customer. Otherwise all these mergers may
SGI 8
completely unknown business territory. Similarly look like just deals designed to create monopolies.
Siemens 3
Sony Ericsson 7
S&T 6
StarSoft 7
Steria 7
Coming next in IT Europa
Sunsoft 4
Tata 1
Tech Data 3, 11 Turkey’s huge, young population is ready to use you’d like us to cover, talk to us.
Tekes 5
what IT can deliver. In the last few months we’ve Contact us now on +44 (0) 1895 45 45 95
UBS 7
seen a wave of new entrants, so our survey in the Or you can email me:
Unitech 8
Westcon Group 10
next issue aims to bring you up to date on the john.garratt@
Wipro Technologies 6 opportunities in this fascinating market. If you iteuropa.com
have another channel topic or ideas or companies
2 02 MAy 2008
It0808 - 2-3_news.indd 2 2008-04-30 12:41
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