Global Knowledge Acquires Synergy Professional Services
|
Acquisition provides
expansion into the growing markets of Middle East and
Africa
Cary, N.C. and Wokingham, UK – September
4, 2007
Global Knowledge, the largest privately held provider
of training and enterprise learning services for information
technology (IT) and management professionals, announced today that
it has reached an agreement to acquire Synergy Professional
Services (SPS). SPS, a privately owned business headquartered
in Dubai, provides professional and technical IT skills training,
consulting, and services
in the Middle East and Africa. Financial terms of the transaction
were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by month’s
end. The company will continue to operate under the Synergy brand
for
an undetermined period and will report into the EMEA division of
Global Knowledge, as led by Richard
Pryor-Jones, President EMEA.
With offices in United Arab of Emirates, Saudi
Arabia, and Egypt, SPS offers a range of certification training
programs, including those from Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft, Nortel,
and International Standard for Information Security throughout the
region. Like Global Knowledge, the company is a fully accredited
Cisco Learning Solutions Partner (CLSP) and Microsoft Gold
Certified Partner for Learning Solutions (CPLS).
Joseph W. Cece, Chief Executive Officer and
President of Global Knowledge, said, “As Global
Knowledge searched for the right vehicle to enter the rapidly
growing and strategically important markets of the Middle East and
Africa, we quickly focused on Synergy. Melad Ghabrial, SPS
President and CEO, and his team have built Synergy into the most
highly respected and well positioned provider of IT technical and
professional skills in the region. I am delighted to welcome them
to the Global Knowledge family.”
Richard Pryor-Jones added, “Global Knowledge
and Synergy are an excellent fit in every respect.
We have a similar business culture and approach to our customers;
both companies occupy the leading positions in their respective
markets and we have both established significant relationships with
leading IT vendors, particularly Cisco, Microsoft, and Nortel.”
“I’m delighted with the prospect of the
Synergy team joining us. They’ll be an important asset to our
company and our customers. In particular, I believe that Melad will
bring immense experience to the EMEA Operating Board which will
help us in all aspects of the new Global Knowledge EMEA
organisation. Our key vendor partners have been aware of our
discussions and are extremely supportive of the transaction,“ added
Pryor-Jones.
“The acquisition by Global Knowledge is a very
exciting development for both SPS and its customers.
It will enable us to make further investments in facilities and
resources and deliver more choice and an even higher level of
quality and professionalism to our customers all over the Middle
East and Africa.
It will also allow SPS to share resources with Global Knowledge
globally,” said Ghabrial.
SPS already provides IT training through
partners in countries in which it does not have a permanent
location. SPS employees and management will continue running the
business as usual. Global Knowledge and SPS will be looking to make
further investments in the company both to establish
a presence in more countries within the region and to provide
additional resources and support to existing locations, partners,
and customers. The two companies will also seek to share best
practices in IT training and develop a consistent curriculum of
courses designed to meet the needs of the dynamic and
rapidly-expanding markets in the Middle East and Africa.
About Global
Knowledge
Global Knowledge is the largest
privately held provider of training and enterprise learning
services for information technology (IT) and management
professionals. The company offers a broad array of hands-on IT,
project management, professional skills, and business process
training featuring proprietary core and custom curriculum,
as well as content from leading companies, including Cisco,
Microsoft, Nortel, and Red Hat. Delivered in classrooms,
at private facilities, or over the Internet, Global Knowledge has
helped Fortune 500 companies, organizations, and government
agencies leverage learning to turn knowledge into productivity for
employees, customers, and channel partners. Founded in 1995, Global
Knowledge employs more than 1,100 people worldwide and is
headquartered in
Cary, N.C. The company is owned by New York-based investment firm
Welsh, Carson, Anderson, and Stowe.
For more information visit http://www.globalknowledge.com/.
About Synergy Professional
Services
SPS is based in Dubai Knowledge
Village in the United Arab of Emirates with offices in Saudi Arabia
and Egypt, in addition to a group of appointed Sponsored
Organizations spanned across the Middle East and Africa. SPS is
focused
on meeting the growing need for Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) expertise in both global and local markets through
providing its clients with Consultancy, Training and Education and
Technical Support Services thus enabling its clients to accelerate
their business growth through more effective use of ICT in their
respective industry. SPS boasts the largest remote lab and training
facility in the Africa/Middle East region with more than 4 million
US$ worth of equipment. Hosted at Dubai Knowledge
Village, the facility has the capacity to run over 30
advanced
Cisco Labs/courses in parallel per week and support all SPS
branches and international affiliates.
The company has been recognized by
top technology vendors: “Cisco Channel Customer Satisfaction
Excellence –
2006 and 2007”, “Microsoft Worldwide Partner of the Year for
Technology Innovation in Learning Solutions – 2005”,
“Most Valuable Microsoft Certified Partner for Learning Solutions –
2005” in Egypt and “Best Microsoft Certified
Partner for Learning Solutions - 2003 and 2004” in Egypt. Learn
more at http://www.synergyps.org/.
Pressekontakt
Rickard
Hagenstam
Nordisk markedssjef Global Knowledge
Tel: +46 70 579 16 62
e-post: rickard.hagenstam@globalknowledge.se