mergers - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• NTT creates new global technology provider

  Dimension Data among 28 companies absorbed into NTT Ltd

• 7 best practices for working with cybersecurity startups

  Security startups are often ahead of the technology curve and can provide more personalised service. Here's how to find the best of them and minimise risks

• MinterEllisonRuddWatts in joint venture to drive AI in legal services

  “Our plan is to create a credible and global AI business you would be hard pressed to find in Silicon Valley.”
  

• Vocus proposes to acquire FX Networks

  Vocus will emerge as the third largest network operator in NZ and leader in trans-Tasman telecommunications and data centres, says CEO James Spenceley.

• Cisco buys mobile collaboration company

  Cisco this week acquired Collaborate.com, a Boston-based developer of mobile collaboration applications.

• Motorola Mobility is by far Google's biggest acquisition ever

  Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility is far and away Google's biggest-ever purchase -- in fact, it's greater than Google's next 10 biggest acquisitions combined and only its third above a billion dollars.

• Northern district health boards merge non-clinical services

  The three district health boards in Auckland and the Northland district health board are merging their non-clinical services into one organisation, to be known as healthAlliance New Zealand Ltd.
  The shared services operation is the latest large scale public sector merger following the creation of the Auckland Supercity.

• Merger success can make you forget the 'I' word

  The fees charged by lawyers and investment bankers suggest that handling M&A transactions is among the most skilled and taxing jobs in the world. Most CFOs know different: the hard work continues well after the completion of a deal.

• Datacraft purchase of Integral/Axon confirmed

  Datacraft has confirmed that it has made a conditional offer to buy Integral/Axon Computer Systems. The transaction is expected to be completed by November 1. Neither party will disclose the purchase price.
  It’s being positioned as an acquisition of capability. Datacraft NZ managing director Robin Hartendorp says. Datacraft set out to acquire a company that provided strong competencies in IT infrastructure management to complement Datacraft’s network management focus.

• HP buying security vendor ArcSight

  Hewlett-Packard has announced it has agreed to purchase security vendor ArcSight for US$1.5 billion. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.
  ArcSight sells a series of products for monitoring suspicious activity on corporate networks. Combined with HP's own IT management software, the products will allow customers to detect threats, understand their impact and take corrective action, said Bill Veghte, executive vice president of software and solutions at HP, during a conference call.

• HP sues Hurd on confidentiality issues

  Hewlett-Packard is suing its former CEO, Mark Hurd, who was named co-president of rival Oracle on Monday, saying his hiring violates the terms of a severance agreement he signed with HP.
  Hurd left HP last month after a scandal involving an undisclosed relationship with a contractor and alleged improprieties with expense reports.

• Rumoured SAP-Red Hat merger seen as a long shot

  Rumours swirled once again this week regarding a possible takeover of Red Hat, this time by SAP, but a number of industry observers said that the prospect is unlikely at best.
  "There seem to be so many more directions that make more sense" for SAP, such as the enterprise mobility strategy it is pursuing through its recent acquisition of Sybase, said 451 Group analyst China Martens.

• An IT merger’s ticket to success

  When lifestyle media company Scripps Networks acquired the Travel Channel in late 2009, its IT group had to deal with managing another network without an increase in staff.
  The merger went fairly smoothly, Scripps IT leaders say, in large part because Scripps Networks - which also owns the Food Channel, HGTV and the DIY Network - had incorporated business service management (BSM) into its own operations. The company could automatically provision new systems and change policies. And failures and misconfigurations were detected before they cascaded into more serious outages.

• What to do with CRM systems after a merger

  Extensive academic research shows that the majority of mergers fail to increase shareholder value, often because the integration of acquired business units takes longer than anyone planned. So the ability to effectively integrate the information systems of merged business units is a key success factor for any acquirer.
  Even though there are a lot of corporate integration consultants, the execution of their strategic plans seems to go awry...particularly when it comes to CRM systems.

• How the vendors are placed in Supercity ICT

  Documents appear to confirm that IT vendors with strong existing installations in Auckland councils are in the box seat to become ICT suppliers to the new Auckland Council, which takes charge of the city on November 1.
  Auckland Regional Council's group manager of ICT, John Holley, recommended last October that the Auckland Transition Agency should use systems that are already in use within the councils or systems selected as part of a recent tender, to deliver both strategic and tactical IT services on Day One of the Supercity.