Melbourne IT Acquires InfoReady for $15.4 Million
Announcement posted by Melbourne IT 16 Mar 2016
Melbourne IT extends its leadership in the digital transformation market in Australia
Melbourne, 16 March, 2016 - Melbourne IT (ASX:MLB) has today announced it will acquire InfoReady, a leading data and analytics provider for the enterprise and government market, for $15.4 million. The InfoReady data analytics capability will substantially complete Melbourne IT’s Enterprise Services strategy as the leading end to end provider of digital solutions for the corporate and government market, and sit alongside the company’s cloud, mobile, security, managed services and cloud application development capabilities.
InfoReady are experts in designing and implementing data platforms, which combine, manage and analyse data, providing valuable and actionable insights. Founded in 2008, the company has 88 employees and offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Major customers include Optus, NAB, Telstra, Origin Energy, IAG and Tennis Australia.
Melbourne IT also announced it will dispose of its International Domain Name Registration Business for a sale consideration expected in the range of $8.1M to $8.5M, and unveiled a plan to raise $15 million of new equity via an underwritten institutional placement.
The transactions announced today aim to accelerate the company’s transformation into the leading provider of digital solutions, and will also strengthen the Melbourne IT business, both operationally and financially.
According to Martin Mercer, Managing Director of Melbourne IT, the deals underline Melbourne IT’s ability to successfully execute its digital solutions strategy and demonstrates an effective capital allocation across the Group.
“This package of transactions is earnings accretive and substantially completes our investment in acquiring capability for the Enterprise Solutions business. While the sale of the international reseller business removes a significant drag on SMB growth and allows us to focus on its digital solutions strategy in Australia.”
The strategic acquisition now enables Melbourne IT to deliver complete digital solution for corporate and government organisations. Melbourne IT and InfoReady already work together on a number of joint accounts and view the partnership as a natural step to provide more co-ordinated and extensive solutions for both existing and new customers.
Peter Wright, Executive General Manager, Enterprise Services, said, “The strong data and analytics capabilities of InfoReady presents a compelling strategic fit with our enterprise strategy. It perfectly complements our cloud, mobile, security and applications capabilities to deliver a comprehensive and compelling value proposition to the market. We are delighted to announce this acquisition, and making this significant data analytics capability available to our customers.”
InfoReady will retain its branding as part of the Melbourne IT Group while also operating as the Data and Analytics practice within Melbourne IT Enterprise Services business.
InfoReady Director Justin Parcell will lead the Data and Analytics practice while the company’s Managing Director and founder Tristan Sternson will take on a senior leadership role in Melbourne IT’s Enterprise Services division.
Tristan Sternson, InfoReady Managing Director commented “We are excited to be able to combine our data and analytics capabilities with Melbourne IT to form the leading Digital services provider. We have been looking for a partner to help us achieve our next phase of growth for some time and found Melbourne IT to be the perfect match for us. Our combined capabilities, shared values, and strong culture enable us to deliver high value, extensive digital solutions to our customers and manage change on an ongoing basis. By putting our analysis and insights together with Melbourne IT’s cloud, mobile and security capabilities we can deliver a real competitive advantage to our combined customers”.
The initial purchase consideration for InfoReady is $15.4M in cash and represents a multiple of 4.4 times InfoReady’s forecast CY2016 EBITDA.
The InfoReady deal follows the acquisition of Outware Mobile in 2015 and the partnership with US based 2nd Watch to deliver a range of data centre migration services to the cloud in Australia and New Zealand.
ENDS
About Melbourne IT
Melbourne IT Group is a publicly listed company with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Wellington, Auckland and Canberra. Melbourne IT’s purpose is to “Fuel our customers’ success through the smart use of technology”. By 2020 we aim to have fuelled the success of over one million businesses. Our customers will love us, our people will be our most passionate advocates, and our investors will be rewarded.
Melbourne IT has approximately 450 staff and operates two businesses marketed under 6 brands.
The Small and Medium Business Division (SMB) is Australia’s largest domains and hosting business with revenues of approximately $110m and 210 staff. The SMB business operates under the Melbourne IT, WebCentral, Netregistry brands and TPP brands.
The Enterprise Services Business (ES) is Australia’s leading cloud enabled software and services business with revenues of approximately $40m and 200 staff. ES is based in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and has a blue chip customer base. It operates under two brands, Melbourne IT and Outware Systems.
Visit: www.melbourneit.com.au
Media Contacts
Corrie McLeod/Katie Pickford
Espresso Communications for Melbourne IT
+61 8016 2200
melbourneit@espressocomms.com.au
InfoReady are experts in designing and implementing data platforms, which combine, manage and analyse data, providing valuable and actionable insights. Founded in 2008, the company has 88 employees and offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Major customers include Optus, NAB, Telstra, Origin Energy, IAG and Tennis Australia.
Melbourne IT also announced it will dispose of its International Domain Name Registration Business for a sale consideration expected in the range of $8.1M to $8.5M, and unveiled a plan to raise $15 million of new equity via an underwritten institutional placement.
The transactions announced today aim to accelerate the company’s transformation into the leading provider of digital solutions, and will also strengthen the Melbourne IT business, both operationally and financially.
According to Martin Mercer, Managing Director of Melbourne IT, the deals underline Melbourne IT’s ability to successfully execute its digital solutions strategy and demonstrates an effective capital allocation across the Group.
“This package of transactions is earnings accretive and substantially completes our investment in acquiring capability for the Enterprise Solutions business. While the sale of the international reseller business removes a significant drag on SMB growth and allows us to focus on its digital solutions strategy in Australia.”
The strategic acquisition now enables Melbourne IT to deliver complete digital solution for corporate and government organisations. Melbourne IT and InfoReady already work together on a number of joint accounts and view the partnership as a natural step to provide more co-ordinated and extensive solutions for both existing and new customers.
Peter Wright, Executive General Manager, Enterprise Services, said, “The strong data and analytics capabilities of InfoReady presents a compelling strategic fit with our enterprise strategy. It perfectly complements our cloud, mobile, security and applications capabilities to deliver a comprehensive and compelling value proposition to the market. We are delighted to announce this acquisition, and making this significant data analytics capability available to our customers.”
InfoReady will retain its branding as part of the Melbourne IT Group while also operating as the Data and Analytics practice within Melbourne IT Enterprise Services business.
InfoReady Director Justin Parcell will lead the Data and Analytics practice while the company’s Managing Director and founder Tristan Sternson will take on a senior leadership role in Melbourne IT’s Enterprise Services division.
Tristan Sternson, InfoReady Managing Director commented “We are excited to be able to combine our data and analytics capabilities with Melbourne IT to form the leading Digital services provider. We have been looking for a partner to help us achieve our next phase of growth for some time and found Melbourne IT to be the perfect match for us. Our combined capabilities, shared values, and strong culture enable us to deliver high value, extensive digital solutions to our customers and manage change on an ongoing basis. By putting our analysis and insights together with Melbourne IT’s cloud, mobile and security capabilities we can deliver a real competitive advantage to our combined customers”.
The initial purchase consideration for InfoReady is $15.4M in cash and represents a multiple of 4.4 times InfoReady’s forecast CY2016 EBITDA.
The InfoReady deal follows the acquisition of Outware Mobile in 2015 and the partnership with US based 2nd Watch to deliver a range of data centre migration services to the cloud in Australia and New Zealand.
ENDS
About Melbourne IT
Melbourne IT Group is a publicly listed company with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Wellington, Auckland and Canberra. Melbourne IT’s purpose is to “Fuel our customers’ success through the smart use of technology”. By 2020 we aim to have fuelled the success of over one million businesses. Our customers will love us, our people will be our most passionate advocates, and our investors will be rewarded.
Melbourne IT has approximately 450 staff and operates two businesses marketed under 6 brands.
The Small and Medium Business Division (SMB) is Australia’s largest domains and hosting business with revenues of approximately $110m and 210 staff. The SMB business operates under the Melbourne IT, WebCentral, Netregistry brands and TPP brands.
The Enterprise Services Business (ES) is Australia’s leading cloud enabled software and services business with revenues of approximately $40m and 200 staff. ES is based in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and has a blue chip customer base. It operates under two brands, Melbourne IT and Outware Systems.
Visit: www.melbourneit.com.au
Media Contacts
Corrie McLeod/Katie Pickford
Espresso Communications for Melbourne IT
+61 8016 2200
melbourneit@espressocomms.com.au