Hitachi Data Systems, the IT arm of Japanese technology and services giant Hitachi, has put in an offer to buy SA’s Shoden Data Systems. The value of the offer has not been disclosed and is subject to approval by the Competition Commission and other relevant competition authorities in the African markets in which Shoden and Hitachi operate.
Shoden represents Hitachi Data Systems — which is a direct competitor of EMC, which already has a direct presence in SA — in sub-Saharan Africa and is a provider of data centre technology products and services.
The two companies say they will share more details about the terms of the deal once they received the necessary regulatory approvals.
Unlisted Shoden, which operates in the enterprise storage market, has been a partner of Hitachi Data Systems for the past 11 years. Headquartered in Johannesburg, it also has operations in the UK, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
The proposed acquisition will form a key element of Hitachi Data Systems’ growth strategy throughout Africa, the company says. It has promised to continue Shoden’s “relationship” with Tactical Software Systems, it black empowerment partner. “Hitachi Data Systems … is committed to building on the company’s adoption of the broad-based black economic empowerment framework should the competition authorities approve the proposed acquisition,” it says in a statement.
Hitachi Data Systems is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and employs about 4 200 people worldwide. — Staff reporter, TechCentral
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