Certus launches in Australia

For immediate release

Certus launches in Australia following record growth and new IBM partner opportunities

AUCKLAND, 23 April 2009: Certus Solutions, New Zealand's largest specialist IBM software and services provider, is bucking the recessionary trend and expanding into Australia to take advantage of IBM's new business partner channel arrangements.

Certus Managing Director, Brian Allen, says the company has experienced strong revenue growth over the last two years, servicing an increasing demand for IBM solutions in the New Zealand enterprise space.

"Recent changes in the IBM model for software and services delivery have seen stronger emphasis on partners, creating new opportunities for us in the mid-tier market, both in New Zealand and Australia," said Allen.

"We will be identifying IBM customers who wish to extract the best value from their solution framework, but lack an experienced and knowledgeable services partner to guide them."

Certus has established an office in Melbourne and will offer enterprise asset management, content management and underlying infrastructure technology expertise to companies across a range of different business sectors.

Certus grew revenues over 46% last year, and it expects to continue to grow in excess of 30% this year, Allen says. "This has given us a strong position from which to launch into Australia. I believe few companies will be able to offer the depth of specialist IBM product expertise that we can."

IBM's Mid-market & Channel Marketing Manager - Australia/New Zealand, Ginger Kidd, says Certus' expansion into the Australian market will provide IBM customers with more choice when it comes to selecting expert services partners.

"Each new IBM partner brings a different set of skills to the market. Certus provides implementation services for complex enterprise software projects, with a strong track record in IBM Maximo asset management solutions."

As the only IBM-certified Maximo sales and support organisation in New Zealand, Certus has the expertise to attack the Australian market, delivering full service enterprise asset management, says Allen.

Last year, Certus merged its operations with UtilityAP creating New Zealand's largest specialist IBM software and service partner, with over 50 staff located in key centres throughout the country.

Certus is locally owned and managed and has been an IBM Premier Business Partner since 2002. The company offers depth and breadth of IBM software service and support, being certified to supply and support all five IBM software brands: WebSphere, Information Management, Tivoli, Rational and Lotus.

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