Unihold has long maintained a low profile. Other than the occasional announcement of acquisitions and the ongoing NATH lawsuit, Unihold has been noticeable by its absence in the news.
No longer.
CEO Gary Harlow and his management team presented their new-look, streamlined and refocused group for the public's approval in late August.
The company has refocused into a convergence technology group through a series of acquisitions and disposals over the last two years. Placing e-business solutions at the core of its business model, Unihold is working on the motto: From Sensor to Boardroom.
Mike Struthers, MD of Unihold Business Solutions, describes the transition as having consisted of three phases: building capacity, aligning strategy and creating value for Unihold's customers and stakeholders. "The acquisition of businesses to form the key building blocks of a viable IT and communications group was a priority in the first phase."
Harlow says the group is on track to deliver 20% growth for this financial year, (results are expected in September) with a forecast group turnover of upwards of R800 million for the 1999/2000 year. The forecast operating profit margin for the same year is 8% and the company expects to have R50 million available for investment.
Unihold will be looking for further acquisitions in the coming year, both locally and internationally. Harlow was full of praise for the group's acquisition of UK-based Access and said it was a company that Unihold would be looking to grow and expand on. The London Stock Exchange listing mentioned in a previous ITWeb article was hinted at again, but no timeframe was given for this move.
Mike Struthers emphasised that the group sees its employers as one of its biggest assets. He said the company is on a recruitment drive and is hiring on average 15 new employees a month.
Source: ITWeb
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