Comparex Africa to adopt Business Connexion brand

Issued by Fleishman Hillard SA for Business Connexion
Johannesburg, 19 Mar 2004

The Comparex group is pleased to announce that its merger of Comparex Africa and Business Connexion is progressing well and it has decided to take the company forward under the brand of "Business Connexion".

The new name will come into effect on 28 April 2004 when the official launch is scheduled to take place.

According to Peter Watt, CEO of the new Business Connexion, the decision to adopt the name of its black empowerment partner reaffirms management`s commitment to embrace transformation. At a recent executive committee meeting, management voted unanimously to adopt the new identity. "The name has existing brand equity in the IT industry and is highly regarded in both the private and public sectors," he says.

Watt says the merger has shown early signs of enhancing stakeholder value and is expected to continue to do so. "The company has been awarded several multimillion-rand deals in the public and the private sectors as a result of the merger," he says.

"At the same time, service levels to our existing clients have been maintained and our offering has been enhanced through the additional Microsoft competency."

Benjamin Mophatlane serves as deputy CEO of the new entity. Watt and Mophatlane will be supported by the original executive committee of Comparex Africa and three additional new members: Bridgman Sithole, Isaac Mophatlane and Matthew Blewett, all of whom served on the management team of the former Business Connexion.

Benjamin Mophatlane is excited about the company`s decision to adopt the name. "The brand is credible in the IT industry, has commercial viability and is synonymous with empowerment," he says. "The new entity will continue to strive for excellence through transformation and embracing diversity."

A structured seven-point transformation and BEE programme that the group embarked on over five years ago is closely aligned with the recently published draft of the ICT charter.

The new Business Connexion will advance as a truly South African, full service ICT solutions provider, with a strong client-centric philosophy. Management will continue to build on its track record of delivering world-class services and solutions to Africa`s most successful corporates and public sector clients.

The new Business Connexion

The new Business Connexion, which will be launched on 28 April 2004, is a subsidiary of JSE-listed Comparex Holdings. The organisation, which is one of the founding companies of the Proudly South African campaign, is a leading provider of ICT-based business solutions to the public and private sector.

The new Business Connexion will continue to help clients maximise their return on investment from technology by designing, building and managing solutions, which unleash business value. The organisation delivers technological business solutions from a range of competencies including the Microsoft competency, which was introduced with the merger of Comparex Africa and Business Connexion. This competency is the leading Certified Microsoft Solutions Provider in Africa.

The organisation creates and delivers ICT solutions that align clients` strategic and operational business needs. The client-centric structure stems from its Solutions Integration Model that allows for flexibility and close client relationships. The new Business Connexion services organisations within the corporate and large enterprise, government and parastatal markets as well as within the medium enterprise sector in all vertical markets.

Business Connexion is a truly South African company, and believes in Africa and the capacity of Africans to fashion their own solutions and build their own future.

For more information, visit us at www.comparexafrica.co.za and www.bcx.co.za.

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