Destiny in motion: Auckland software company sells to US giant
Pledges to keep staff in NZ | Reveals how the deal came together.
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US software giant Citrix today said this morning it has bought EMS-Cortex, part of Auckland's Enprise group.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Citrix has a market cap of around $US13 billion, and 10,000 staff spread across 100 companies.
EMS-Cortex founder Mark Loveys told NBR the deal first came together then his company was partnering with Germany giant SAP and Canada's Telus on a large North American project.
The New Zealand company brought in Citrix to help out on the deal and, from there a relationship developed that culminated in takeover talks.
All 21 Enprise staff working on EMS-Cortex would remain employed, and remain in the company's West Auckland office, Mr Loveys said.
With Citrix's scale and financial muscle, he saw the deal as providing career growth for current staff, and a stong possibility of new hires.
Based in the inner West Auckland suburb of Avondale and employing around 30 staff, EMS-Cortex makes "control panel" software that makes it easier for cloud computer service providers to provide a menu of easy-to-setup services, then resell them under their own brand.
Microsoft has been a key partner as the company has expanded worldwide over the past 18 months.
EMS-Cortex was founded by Mark Loveys, one half of 80s pop duo Satellite Spies, who enjoyed the hit single Destiny in Motion, and a support slot on Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms tour.
After hanging up his mic, Mr Loveys co-founded online accounting company Exo-net with PC Direct alumni Maurice Bryham.
After Exo-net was sold to MYOB, Mr Loveys founded Enprise, which picked up IP assets from the failed EDS-Microsoft-Telecom dot.com era hosted services joint venture which, after some retooling, became EMS-Cortex (Telecom became a foundation customer). Canadian phone company Telus, Germany's SAP and South Afican telco Vodacom have been other key customers, and partners.
Below: Yes, by law we do have to bring it up again - Destiny in Motion:
Chris Keall
Wed, 23 Feb 2011
Wed, 23 Feb 2011
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Destiny in motion: Auckland software company sells to US giant
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