CGI acquires German IT and business consultancy ckc AG
Montreal-based technology consulting firm CGI has expanded its presence in Northern Germany with the acquisition of IT and business consultancy ckc AG. The deals expands CGI’s German operations to 17 offices and 3,300 professionals.
Founded in 1989 and based in Brunswick, Germany, ckc AG is an IT consultancy with particular expertise in the provision of agile software development and management services to automotive sector clients. Ckc AG also supports clients in the banking, insurance, retail, and transport sectors. The consulting firm’s full service portfolio includes offerings in the areas of IT strategy, architecture, change management, security, and mobile and app development.
The German firm has now been acquired by multinational technology consulting giant CGI. The firm’s 74,000 global employees provide end-to-end services, ranging from IT and business consulting to systems integration, outsourcing, and intellectual property solutions. The Montreal-based company works with clients through a local client proximity model, augmented by a global delivery network.
CGI will strengthen its local presence in Germany with new locations in Brunswick and Halle, along with the addition of 300 high skilled consultants. The firm currently has a network of 3,000 professionals across 15 locations in Germany.
Christian Krentel, 64 – the founder, shareholder, and CEO of ckc AG – commented on the deal: "There was no successor option in my family. My children have taken different career paths or are far too young to run a medium-sized business.”
“In searching for a new shareholder for ckc AG, several goals guided me,” Krentel continued. “On the one hand, it was important to me that my employees – who have helped shape the successful market position of ckc over many years of highly committed work – have access to a secure future. And I was looking for a company that matches our culture. Of course, I also had the goal that the new shareholder offers added value to our customers through their expertise. All goals could be realized by partnering with CGI.”
Subject to regulatory approval, the transaction is expected to close before the end of the 2018. The value of the deal was not disclosed at this time.
"IT modernization and digital transformation are at the top of our clients' agendas," remarked CGI's Torsten Strass, President, Central & Eastern Europe. "Together with ckc, we will offer more innovative services and solutions to our clients as they design and execute their enterprise-wide digital strategies. I would like to welcome ckc's highly skilled professionals to the CGI family.”
In other CGI news, the firm recently signed an alliance agreement with GE to build and implement electric grid software for utilities clients in North America. The partnership’s solutions will have a strong emphasis on robust cybersecurity.
