Two of Canada’s largest solution providers, Metafore LP and Microserv, announced merger plans that will see the new Metafore compete with rivals SoftChoice Corp. and Compugen Inc. to be the largest solution provider in the country, with over 1000 employees.
Both companies are regulars on CDN’s Top 100 Solution Providers list, and both were in the top 10 for 2008. Metafore ranked 7th with $200-$250 million in revenue, while Microserv ranked 10th with $150-$175 million. Combined, the combined would be in the $350-$425m range, ahead of 2nd place Compugen and just behind the Top Solution Provider of 2008, Softchoice.
The merger, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010, will see the merged company operate as Metafore. It will be governed by an office of the president that will include Bryant Jackson, now president of Mississauga, Ont.-based Metafore, Michel Lacasse, now vice-president and general manager of Montreal-based Microserv, and Metafore’s David Kelly. The three will share overall leadership responsibility for managing customer relationships and achieving profitable growth.
The new Metafore’s structure will including three regions, as well as divisions focused on the SMB and IT services. Additionally, Jackson will take responsibility for Western Canada, Kelly for Central Canada and Lacasse for Eastern Canada.
“The merger of Metafore and Microserv, two highly complementary companies, accelerates our leadership position and business strategy by offering enhanced value to customers and business partners,” said Jackson in a statement. “The merger will reinforce our company’s leadership position amongst IT solution providers across Canada.”
“Customers will benefit from the tremendous breadth and depth of products and services available from the merged company’s team of over 1,000 IT professionals,” said Lacasse in a statement. “We aspire to be recognized by our customers, business partners, and associates as Canada’s foremost full-service IT solution provider.”
Both Metafore and Microserv are divisions of Hartco Inc. (TSX: HCI).
Stay tuned to CDN for more reaction and analysis on this developing story.