Systems Team Housing joins major German Group

Systems Team, part of the Maxima Group, announces that the trade and assets of Systems Team Limited have been transferred to a new operating company, Depfa IT Services UK Ltd. This will place the company as one of the operating companies of DePfa IT Services AG, part of the DePfa Group.

DePfa IT Services is Europe's leading provider of software and IT services for property management. The division provides comprehensive services for all workflows relating to the administration and management of property for over 3,000 existing clients. In addition to IT services, the division also offers services for consultancy, solutions and e-business. DePfa IT Services is part of the DePfa Group, which has seen a tenfold increase in its stock market value in the last nine years to a current market capitalisation of over €4 billion.

Stephen Makin, formerly Managing Director of Systems Team, who now becomes the General Manager of DePfa IT Services UK Ltd, commented, "We are obviously very pleased to be part of Europe's leading housing software supplier. During our discussions with DePfa it became apparent that Systems Team and DePfa were following the same strategy, albeit on different scales. It is clear that the acquisition of Systems Team strengthens both the services and support that we can provide to our existing customers. It also strengthens the product portfolio that DePfa can offer in the UK with the addition of our products QL Housing and The Simdell Housing Environment. This places the UK into a similar position to the other European countries within DePfa's framework, in being offered a choice of in-house or out-sourced computer solutions. Once again this mirrors Systems Team's strategy of offering a variety of products according to housing organisational type. Both companies also believe that electronic and Internet business will have a major impact upon the housing sector in the near future. Combining the two organisations is therefore the next logical step."

Maxima Group Divests Health Business to VC backed Management Team

3i backs healthcare software house in multi-million MBO

3i, Europe's leading venture capital company, today announced a £1.5 million investment into the community care software division of Systems Team, to fund a management buy-out totalling £3 million, backed by the Royal Bank of Scotland. The move, which sees the company change its name to In4tek, is considered to secure the long-term future of the company.

Based in Halesowen, West Midlands and Altrincham, Cheshire, In4tek software underpins the delivery of person centred care in the community for both the NHS and Social Services, and uniquely facilitates the integration of information between the Services. The deal was led by managing director, Tom Nawojczyk, John Hopkins, commercial director, and Michael Bird, financial director, and untethers the division from Systems Team and its parent company, Maxima Information Group plc.

Commenting on the MBO, Mr Nawojczyk said, "The buy-out allows In4tek to concentrate on further developing its core software solutions, Comwise and PARIS, products that support the Government's policy of closer integrated delivery of health and social care in the community. Key to our plans was gaining funding to support both organic growth and an ambitious build and buy strategy. We have now secured the necessary resources for continued investment to keep us at the forefront of the community and social care sector."

"We believe," said Mr Nawojczyk, "that In4tek commences operations with innovative and technically superior solutions. As an Application Provider with core browser enabled product, from the health and social care professionals to the GP desktop, we are well placed to benefit from emerging trends in both the UK and worldwide health markets."

Commenting on the deal, James Arrowsmith, at 3i Birmingham said: "In4tek, has an excellent track-record, and their newly developed software solutions are reaching the market at a time when there is a growing need for such products. In enabling more effective integrated patient and social care across a whole range of services they open up a market with enormous growth potential. We are backing an excellent management team and products which are being constantly developed and updated to match the needs of the Health Service and Social Services."

Top Tech Acquisition of Maxima Information Group's SIMDELL EDMS Leads to Expansion and More Jobs

25 May 1999 - Top Info Technology Holdings Ltd. (Top-Tech) has recently acquired the Coventry-based electronic document management division, Simdell EDMS.

Top-Tech, which listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in March 1998, is the successful leading provider of electronic document management systems to the public and private sectors in South Africa.

This latest acquisition follows Top-Tech's rapid international expansion over the past year, which has seen this Group establish major footholds throughout Sourthern Africa, as well as in the United States and India (through the Hinduja Gorup).

Simdell EDMS was a trading division of Systems Team plc, under the Maxima Information Group plc, and specialises primarily in providing electronic document management systems to UK local authorities.

All employees of Simdel EDMS will automatically transfer to Top-Tech guaranteeing continuity of both current implementations and the on-going support of existing customers.

Pargan Singh and Simon Logan who are managing UK operations said: "We are delighted with the move. All of our customers will also see the benefits from the investment and back-up from a company which is not only 100% committed to document management, but which has a successful track record and its own technologically advanced document management software products".

Top-Tech expects the business to expand quickly, leading to increased employment, both in South Africa and the UK. Simdell EDMS, now called Top Info Technologies Limited (Top-Tech UK), is already planning to move to the new high tech premises in Coventry, the 'Technocentre', to accommodate the expected growth.

We have been looking to invest in and create new markets for our proven and successful imaging and workflow software in the UK. Simdell EDMS fits in very well with our markets and business strategies", comments Justin Adriaanse, Chairman and CEO of Top-Tech. "In South Africa, the group's main focus includes healthcare, financial and insurance industries, as well as governmental and provincial markets. We intend exploiting similar markets in the USA, UK, and India."