GE Swells Ranks of its Euro Army

Acquisitive mood takes GE to Austria for purchase of systems integrator

US giant GE Capital IT Solutions is continuing its acquisitive march through Europe after buying a leading systems integrator in Austria.

Last week GE bought Management Data Systemhaus, a subsidiary of Creditanstalt, for an undisclosed sum, after its parent company decided to pull out of computer dealerships. Management Data has a turnover of $65 million with 180 staff and specialises in providing banking software for financial houses.

GE?s exisiting Austrian existing operation ? which it gained through its earlier acquisition of Ameridata ? will be merged with Management Data.

Herbert Sobotka, general manager of Management Data, said: ?The investment of GE Capital in the Austrian IT market means for us ? above all ? reinforced growth. Beyond that it underlines the increasing opening and the growing business importance of our country in Europe and the world.?

Commenting on GE?s growing European presence, Jost Stollman, president of GE Europe, said: ?Customers are demanding integrated solutions delivered on a global basis. We are unique in the market as the only global vendor-independent solutions provider.

?We are creating a new type of company, developing a worldwide homogenous core offering and building seamless processes across countries, languages and currencies.?

The Austrian acquisition comes days after GE bought Brighton-based Systems International (SI) for an unspecified amount. SI has a turnover of about #45 million and will merge with other GE operations to create a #110 million division (PC Dealer, 11 June).

As part of its aim to dominate the reseller market worldwide, GE Capital has also bought IVIX sistemas Abertos de Informatica, a reseller and systems integrator of IBM RS/ 6000s. The reseller achieved a turnover in excess of $100 million in 1996.