Knowledge Integration Dynamics (KID), one of South Africa`s leading business intelligence and data management groups, has concluded a BEE transaction in terms of which it has sold 26% of its equity to Leshume Solutions, a subsidiary of Uranus Investment Holdings.
Leshume MD Richard Page joins the board of KID, in terms of which he will help the group to grow its presence in new and existing markets.
Leshume is 54% held by Uranus, with the other 46% held by a variety of groupings totalling 150 previously disadvantaged people. This makes Leshume a truly broad-based black empowerment company, representing as it does women`s and disabled people`s groups, among others.
"Our group has since 1999 been among the market leaders in the business intelligence market," says KID MD Aubrey van Aswegen. "KID has a relatively short, but proud history in the South African market and we plan to continue to make a meaningful contribution to the development of its economy. Our BEE status will significantly improve our competitive positioning and provide a strong impetus for growth. That in turn will provide the opportunity for job creation and skills development."
KID and Leshume have a number of shared values, says Page: "We both focus on finding and delivering the right solution for our clients. Our people on both sides have long and successful track records of providing value to the corporate market; and we believe in partnering and developing networks to drive growth."
Jeff van Rooyen, CEO of Uranus, says the group was seeking a number of attributes in considering companies for potential investment. "We wanted a nimble organisation with experienced management, that offered compatibility and shared values; with a track record of profitability and good cash flows; a commitment to empowerment; that was set for rapid growth; and where we could add value to the business. Our due diligence showed that KID met all of these requirements."
KID was formed in 1999 and rapidly established itself as one of the market`s leading business intelligence specialists. It has since evolved into the largest, most comprehensive and most successful data management supplier of software and services in the country, with more than 40 employees.
Leshume Consulting was founded six years ago by Page, also a founding member of Uranus Investment Holdings. It has a number of leading corporate clients in the private and public sectors. Its sister company, Leshume Solutions, is being used to drive and fulfil empowerment opportunities in the ICT sector.
"We will be adding significant value to KID," adds Page. "Through our contacts and existing clients, we leverage opportunities in government, parastatals and the financial sector. We will assist in finding suitable black talent and provide access to BEE enterprise development opportunities. We have several deals in the pipeline, in which we will involve KID. We are deploying as much of our own resources to ensure this partnership fulfils its potential."
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Knowledge Integration Dynamics (KID) was formed in 1999 to address a clearly identified need in the South African corporate market for high-performance business intelligence solutions. The company has since evolved into a comprehensive and successful data management company including master data management, data profiling, data quality, data integration, data transformation/migration, business intelligence solutions and information management. The company`s skills set spans multiple technologies while maintaining a focus on the business issues and deliverables, ensuring the best technologies are deployed to support specific applications. In addition, the company provides expert consulting in strategy development, capability development and realisation programmes.
For further information, visit www.kid.co.za.
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