Dimension Data is eyeing a number of acquisitions and other investment opportunities in conjunction with its new parent, Japan’s Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) Corp.
Didata executive chairman Jeremy Ord says the two companies are eyeing acquisition opportunities “in different parts of the world” and investing in technology start-ups. Ord was speaking to TechCentral shortly before the group took the wraps off its new brand identity on Tuesday morning.
NTT acquired Didata in November 2010 in a R24,4bn all-cash deal that resulted in the Johannesburg-headquartered group delisting from the London Stock Exchange and the JSE. Didata had been the largest IT company listed on the SA bourse prior its delisting.
Ord says the NTT acquisition has already led to new business opportunities for Didata. “We have got good business done out of Japan,” he says. “There are good deals we have done together.”
He says Didata will continue to publish its financial results, despite its no longer being listed. It’s expected to announce its results for the six months to 31 March in mid-June, when NTT publishes quarterly results.
Meanwhile, Didata has unveiled a refreshed brand identity, with a corporate logo that tweaks and softens its familiar green triangle. It has also rebranded its Asian subsidiary, Datacraft, to Dimension Data.
“It really came out of Dimension Data across the globe wanting to have one brand and identity,” says Ord.
The refreshed brand makes no reference to NTT. “They didn’t have any requirements regarding the logo.”
In fact, NTT has been careful not to impose its corporate culture on Didata, Ord says. NTT has three representatives on Didata’s board, but he says the Japanese company has taken a hands-off approach.
“They haven’t interfered with the running of the business at all [and] are encouraging us to do more and more within the Dimension Data identity.” — Duncan McLeod, TechCentral
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