SSI buys Notability’s SAP business

Chelford, ERP developer SSI’s holding company, has bought Frimley-based Notability Solutions’ SAP practice, Cleves Solutions for an undisclosed sum. The firm says it’s part of its strategy “to build a broadly-based, vertically-focused, supply chain solutions business”. Notability’s operation was SAP Reseller of the Year in 1999 and 2000, and is one of the three largest UK SAP VARs, with names like Ryanair, luxury goods producer Bourjois-Chanel and pharmaceutical group Abbot Laboratories to its credit. It’s an interesting acquisition. SSI has built a good business in manufacturing business management software for the process industries and engineering project-orientated sectors with its Tropos ERP system. Having bought some e-business add-on companies and tried its hand at an Oracle practice, but with lacklustre success, this new move catapults it into the SAP mid league. And Cleves Solutions is a good match, being largely also process manufacturing-centric, notably in sectors like food and drink, textiles and pharmaceuticals. Among its clients is Edrington Group, with seven malt distilleries and a half share in the North British distillery in Edinburgh, one of the largest producers of Scotch Whisky and owner of Macallan, Famous Grouse and Highland Park, and grain malt producer Muntons – an excellent SAP reference site. SSI’s whisky interests include producers Morrison Bowmore and Burn Stewart and distiller G&J Greenall. Now to be known as Chelford’s SAP Division, the firm will be headed up by former Compaq UK and AltaVista Europe financial director Howard Rosen. “We are delighted to welcome the SAP Division to the Chelford Group,” says William Birkett, the Chelford Chairman. “The SAP Division acquisition increases our annual turnover to in excess of £10m. The enlarged group creates an excellent platform for growth through new business sales and sales into a substantially enlarged customer base.” Trevor Lewis, Chelford CEO, adds: “With SAP solutions and services complementing the existing Chelford portfolio, we have significant new opportunities for developing the Group… Chelford’s vertical market focus is strengthened by the expertise residing in the SAP Division and our expertise in managed services, systems integration, automatic data capture and e-business.”