Fulcrum Business Solutions, the leading provider of enterprise project management (EPM) solutions, and UMT Portfolio Management SA (UMT), today announced the merger of the two businesses.
The merged business will trade under the name UMT South Africa and the merger will take effect from 1 March 2008.
UMT was founded two years ago and quickly established itself as the major player in implementations of Microsoft Project Portfolio Server as well a provider of other project, program and portfolio related services.
Over the past seven years, Fulcrum Business Solutions has implemented over 80 EPM solutions, establishing and entrenching its position as the leading provider of Microsoft EPM solutions.
Pieter Meyer, Managing Director of UMT, explains the reasons behind the merger: "Both Fulcrum and UMT are part of the Fulcrum group of companies and have a substantially common shareholding base. UMT Europe - who have been the world leaders in the project and portfolio management space since 1989 - is the other shareholder in the business. We share a number of common customers, and have significantly overlapping offerings. Customers were finding it confusing when engaging either Fulcrum or UMT, particularly in understanding which company offered what service and how best - and with whom - to engage. By putting the two companies together, we are able to offer the full enabling technology and training.
"We will also be able to take advantage of operational efficiencies that can be achieved by eliminating duplication of infrastructure between the two companies while still enjoying the benefits that UMT Europe as a shareholder and partner provides."
Rodney Barrell, Managing Director of Fulcrum, explains the vision of the new business: "The merger of Fulcrum and UMT has brought together the market leading positions of two organisations.
"Our aim is to leverage our combined experience in servicing more than 100 organisations together with the international experience of UMT Europe, to position the new UMT South Africa as the leading project, program and portfolio services, consulting and outsourcing company in South Africa. We are able to offer the full spectrum of services related to a project, program, or portfolio environment, from management assessments to consulting on the set-up of processes and methodologies, to the full outsourcing of your project or program environment. We can assist with the provision of resources; we offer project, program and portfolio technology solutions, as well as a full complement of training offerings."
Pieter Meyer takes on the role of CEO of UMT, while Rodney Barrell will fulfil the role of MD.
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UMT Project and Portfolio Management Services South Africa (UMT SA) was formed through the merger of Fulcrum Business Solutions, South Africa's leading provider of enterprise project management solutions, and UMT Portfolio Management SA, the leading portfolio management organisation.
Since 1989, both UMT and Fulcrum Business Solutions have pioneered the field of project and portfolio management and devised unique methodologies that, when combined with effective project management, enable an integrated link between strategy formulation and execution. We contribute to our clients' success by linking business, product and IT strategies to day-to-day activities leading to improved performance and tangible results.
We are the leading project, program and portfolio management (PPPM) services, consulting and outsourcing company in South Africa, and have serviced more than a 100 of the country's leading organisations with our offerings.
We apply solutions that consistently help our clients build capabilities that support effective business decision-making and enhance business delivery performance. Our objective is to assist our clients in ensuring the operational delivery of their strategy through effective project, program and portfolio management.
UMT SA is a product independent services company with experience to deploy PPP Management solutions that will suit clients' specific requirements. Visit our Web site: www.umtsa.co.za
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