Centratel Group founders Michael Aitken and Steven Dent have consolidated their ownership share in the business. They have bought out Ellerine Brothers Group and David Hilewitz, who helped them fund the company`s start-up six years ago.
Aitken and Dent are now the sole shareholders in Centratel, claimed to be one of the largest multi-vendor PABX distributors in sub-Saharan Africa.
"Our relationship with the Ellerine Brothers Group and David Hilewitz has been a very happy, long and successful one," says Aitken, Centratel`s group MD.
"We were always given carte blanche to run the organisation," he adds. "They always supported us financially and were 100% committed to any business dealings we were involved in. The original shareholders` agreement anticipated and provided for a claw-back of shares by management from investors. This has now been realised."
The agreement was concluded on 1 November, and follows the sale of Centratel`s least-cost-routing company, Centracell.
Aitken says Centratel is cash-positive and debt-free, and in a position to look at opportunities. Two acquisitions are under consideration.
He says the company is also considering black economic empowerment. It is also thinking about the possibility of either joining forces with "an international player or another organisation with which it could derive mutual benefit" or going public. "We don`t rule out the possibility of a future listing on the AltX, the alternative exchange."
Aitken adds that by utilising its own in-house financing organisation, Centrafin, the group will be able to provide its reseller base with financial flexibility. The group consists of two other companies, Centravoice and Masakhe.
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