JSE-listed global ICT solutions provider, Datatec, on Tuesday said Logicalis Group (Logicalis), its wholly-owned subsidiary, had bought 51 percent stake in ituma GmbH, a Germany-based software developer, for an undisclosed sum.

In terms of the deal, Logicalis will have special rights to ituma’s proprietary software based Wi-Fi platform.

The technology allows businesses to distribute Wi-Fi-enabled services such as 3D in-location navigation, product and service offerings access, product promotions and omni-channel retail ordering to their customers, Datatec said.

Jens Montanana, Datatec’s CEO, said the Wi-Fi-enabled service is a thrilling section of the growing international wireless data market.

“Our investment in ituma provides Logicalis with access to a new complementary solution that has the potential to support increases in annuity, services and infrastructure revenues across multiple territories in which Logicalis operates,” Montanana said.

Started as a start-up firm in 2010, ituma has highly-specialised skills and a unique offering.

This transaction gives a critical break for Logicalis to increase ituma’s licence revenues exponentially and grow infrastructure revenues internationally through its own sales organisation.

Earlier this year, Datatec said it had continued to grow revenues during the year to February this year and gross margins remained steady.

During the period under review the firm posted annual revenues which gained 8 percent to $5.6 billion from $5.2 billion in the previous reporting period. Gross profit moved up 8 percent to $841.4 million from $780.3 million.

“We remain confident in the sustainability of our long-term growth strategy and have maintained our capital distribution at the same level as the previous year. The secular trends in our industry remain favourable,” CEO Jens Montanana said at the time.

Elsewhere on Ventures

Triangle arrow