IBM partners Certus, Software Traction merge

IBM software and services partner Certus Solutions has bought IBM software specialist Software Traction (2010 CRN Fast50 No.2).

Founded three years ago by Stu Garrow, Software Traction has quickly grown to achieve annual revenues in excess of $9 million.

In the last financial year Software Traction grew 233.71 percent and was awarded the second fastest growing reseller in the CRN Fast50. In 2009 the company was the ninth fastest growing reseller.

Certus’ chief executive Brian Allen said the buy was “strategic for Certus” and would take Certus’s income forecast to $50 million and its headcount over 100.

“Software Traction has market-leading expertise in IBM’s Rational and Tivoli software applications along with around 80 solid customers in the corporate and government sectors.

“The Certus ‘pure play’ strategy is to provide depth and breadth of services across all of IBM’s software brands, with a total focus on IBM products,” Allen said.

“Certus is on a strong growth track. We are looking at further expansion within Australia."

However, with 27 people at offices around Australia some redundancies were "unavoidable".

“Particularly with regard to administrative functions. However, customer-facing roles would not be affected,” Allen said.

Software Traction’s founder Garrow would join Certus and play a key role in the combined company, he said.

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