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IDION subsidiary Vision Solutions completes acquisition of OS Solutions

Combined companies expand technology, channels and solution offerings to include systems management and SMB high availability
Johannesburg, 13 Apr 2005

IDION Technology Holdings` subsidiary Vision Solutions, the industry standard in eServer High Availability, announced that it has completed the acquisition of the business of UK-based OS Solutions (OSS), a leading provider of advanced systems management, disk and data optimisation utilities and SMB High Availability for the IBM eServer iSeries platform market.

"This clearly is a great move by Vision and addresses the growing requirement for more system optimisation and improved autonomics in the dynamic enterprise," said Dan Kusnetzky, Program Vice-President of IDC.

"This combination of companies strengthens Vision`s offerings and IDC continues to believe that Vision`s offerings should be on an organisation`s short-list in addressing availability requirements of the dynamic enterprise."

The combined companies create a global iSeries solutions powerhouse with the most complete and cost-effective availability solutions currently in the market, now combining systems management and optimisation into the delivering of high availability. The range of solutions now includes OS Director, a highly advanced set of autonomic system optimisation and system management tools; OS Data Manager, a unique archiving tool for increased performance and legislative compliance in enterprises and OS-DR and OS-HA, pure remote journaling high availability offerings for the IBM iSeries server. The new technology addresses specific market segments and requirements that complement Vision`s industry leading ORION offerings. No other vendor can deliver such a complete solution set offering disk and data management, systems optimisation and advanced autonomic functionality so well integrated into high availability.

"As leading solution providers, we are looking for solutions that are more tightly integrated and deliver more functionality from a single vendor," said Dennis Burke, President of Essex Technology. "The addition of OS Solutions products to Vision`s well established multi-platform ORION offerings provides that more complete story and enables Essex to deliver better value to our customers with technology, methods and support from the industry leader. This is a very good thing."

This acquisition is strategic for Vision and adds not only highly complementary new products based on leading-edge technology, but adds new customers, additional channels of distribution and an even larger European presence for Vision. The combined companies will share more than 2 200 customers and leverage their respective unique technologies and channel partnerships across the globe. As part of the acquisition, Vision will be strengthening its European presence by opening a European base of operations in the UK that will house sales, marketing, development and support.

"More than ever, IBM is striving to deliver educational tools, marketing support and incentives to our partners worldwide to deliver more comprehensive solutions to our customers," said Mark Shearer, General Manager, IBM eServer iSeries. "Vision has extensive experience and demonstrated leadership that IBM has come to rely on in the high availability space. The addition of tools and utilities from OS Solution further enhances opportunities for success within the mid-market."

"OS Solutions products deliver such a great feature set that they really should be the first installation done to any iSeries right after the operating system," said Jeff Murri of JR Simplot Company. "We are excited about OS Solutions and Vision becoming one company because the power of the larger company behind the combined technology resources will result in great products becoming even better."

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Vision Solutions

Vision Solutions, headquartered in Irvine, California, is the industry standard in eServer High Availability, providing software, services and support solutions for managing a company`s mission-critical applications and data. With more than 1 850 customers and 11 000 licences around the world, the company works closely with a worldwide network of channel partners supporting virtually every industry with its world-class solutions: Visualize, Vision Suite, ORION and ORION Integrator. Vision Solutions is an IBM Premier Business Partner and an IBM High Availability Business Partner. Vision Solutions is a member of the publicly traded IDION group of companies (JSE: IDI). For more information on Vision Solutions, please visit www.visionsolutions.com.

OS Solutions

OS Solutions, based in the UK, is a leader in Remote Journaling High Availability and advanced Systems and Data Management tools and utilities for the IBM eServer iSeries providing sophisticated software, services and support across industry segments and applications. The company has more than 370 customers worldwide using its industry-leading, highly integrated family of products including OS Director, a systems optimisation and systems management solution; OSD-Data Manager, an advanced archiving and data management solution, and OSD-High Availability, a state of the art, pure remote journaling-based solution for iSeries high availability. OS Solutions is an IBM Business Partner and IBM Partner in Development.

Essex Technologies

Essex Technology Group Inc is an IBM designated Premier Business Partner, acknowledged by IBM as a "go to" player for full-service infrastructure, e-business, and implementation consulting services in the middle market. We offer a unique combination of certified technical expertise and proven experience, which has earned us several prestigious IBM Business Partner Awards, including the "Americas Business Partner Leadership Award" and the "iSeries Eagle Award".

IDC

IDC is the premier global market intelligence and advisory firm in the information technology and telecommunications industries. We analyse and predict technology trends so that our clients can make strategic, fact-based decisions on IT purchases and business strategy. Over 775 IDC analysts in 50 countries provide local expertise and insights on technology markets, and our management team is comprised of experienced and respected industry luminaries. Business executives and IT managers have relied for 40 years on our advice to make decisions that contribute to the success of their organisations.

JR Simplot

The JR Simplot Company is a privately held food and agribusiness corporation based in Boise, Idaho. We employ more than 12 000 people in the US, Canada, China, Mexico and Australia. Annual sales are about $3 billion, derived principally from food, fertilizer, turf and horticultural, cattle feeding, and other enterprises related to agribusiness. JR Simplot is one of the world`s largest frozen-potato processors, annually turning out 3 billion pounds of french fries and other potato products worldwide. The firm is also one of the nation`s largest beef-cattle producers, and ranks as a major agricultural-fertilizer manufacturer, with markets in the US, Canada and Mexico.

IDION Technology Holdings

IDION Technology Holdings Ltd is an investment holding company listed on the main board of the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE: IDI). Through its subsidiary, Vision Solutions, it provides solutions for assuring the availability of a company`s mission-critical applications and data. For more information on IDION, please visit www.idion.com.

Editorial contacts

Corn'e Arnold
Idion Technology Holdings
(011) 517 1510
carnold@idion.com