Cegeka has acquired 67 percent of the shares in Liège-based ICT service provider NSI IT Software & Services. This acquisition gives Cegeka more customers in the French-speaking part of the country and fits within the three-year plan Cegeka adopted in 2007 to become one of the country´s largest independent IT service providers. At the same time, the group is striving to achieve a turnover of 250 million euros, with the Benelux as its primary market. Over the medium term Cegeka hopes to secure new customers in Luxembourg and France via NSI.

 

Cegeka currently has a staff of 1,450, and this majority interest will give it another 250 employees. NSI specialises in software and infrastructure services and realises an annual turnover of 25 million euros. The other 33% of NSI shares will remain in the hands of Liège-based investment company Meusinvest.

 

"With this acquisition we are continuing to work on our planned growth", says André Knaepen, Managing Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Cegeka Group. "Thanks to the employees of NSI, we´ll be able to offer faster local support to our Walloon and Brussels customers. From now on Cegeka and NSI will also be stronger in federal calls for tenders."

 

NSI, which was founded in 1993, will be retaining its name. The company will bear independent responsibility for strategic development on the French-language markets. "We´ll now be getting access to extra resources which also benefit our customers, such as Cegeka´s services for health care, its data centre and helpdesk. We´re convinced that being part of a larger group will increase the number of our customers. For 2010 our goal is to increase turnover by 20 percent and make new hires in the region", says Jean-Louis Rampen, managing director of NSI. "Firstly we´re shooting for IT projects in our own country, particularly in Brussels. Later we want to gain market share in Luxembourg and Northern France. In this way, after the Netherlands, the Cegeka Group will also have a presence in two more neighbouring countries."

 

Cegeka´s new subsidiary is primarily active in the sectors of industry and government. For example, Cegeka´ customers include the Walloon Region, the European Schools and ArcelorMittal. NSI also has major customers in the services sector, such as Belgacom, and the distribution sector. NSI is headquartered in Liège and has offices in Brussels and Namur.

 

Over the past five years, Cegeka has combined strong organic growth with successful acquisitions which in each case have increased the Group´s turnover, profit, staff and profitability. The takeover of Ardatis in 2006 expanded the personnel by 260 people. In the same year, the acquisition of the Dutch Databalk provided for structured expansion abroad. Cegeka also picked up the Belgian companies HostIT, Cortex, IT Omni and MSP. Each time, solid service provision and a careful human resources policy strengthened the confidence of customers and employees in the Group.

 

NSI will also be assisted by Meusinvest, which is maintaining its minority interest. "Meusinvest isn´t just a financial partner, we´re also accompanying NSI in its strategic choices and growth", says Freddy Meurs, Assistant General Manager of Meusinvest. "The two shareholders share the same vision of company management, which is why we were able to reach an agreement so quickly."

Gert Diels marketing manager e.: gert.diels@cegeka.be