Growing its global footprint, integrating the European acquisitions and globalising the Dimension Data brand are among Dimension Data Holdings` priorities for this year, says chairman Jeremy Ord.
"Our global footprint is a major differentiator," he says. As an example, US-based RE/COM was very much a local operator, but once bought by DiData it acquired a global market with offices in 36 countries.
DiData intends focusing its acquisition strategy this year on the US, Spain, Scandinavia and Italy, allowing it to roll out its e-commerce and networking services around the world. Some of the funds raised in the upcoming initial public offer will be used to fund these acquisitions.
About half of DiData`s R2.3bn is held in Europe.
The group has three main business divisions: network services, which accounted for 85% of turnover for the six months to end-March; Interactive Commerce (i-Commerce), which contributed 15%; and a new venture, Protocol.
Protocol is essentially a venture capital business aimed at developing new initiatives to the point where they are able to be brought into the DiData fold.
Commenting on the acquisition of Comparex`s European networking services, Ord says the initital purchase price was reduced because of problems encountered in the operations. The business there has been rationalised, with 150 jobs slashed (the UK staff were cut from 98 to 25).
Four of the businesses in France have been merged into one.
Ord says Comparex Europe will be rebranded across the continent within six months.
The group is also globalising its brand, with its businesses worldwide co-branded at first, after which they will be known simply as Dimension Data.
DiData intends increasing the contribution from i-Commerce, which aims to provide solutions to make cost-effective the electronic interaction of organisations with customers, suppliers and stakeholders.
It says the Asian operations are rapidly gearing up to roll out the i-Commerce offerings while a similar strategy is being planned for Europe, the UK and the US.
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