By making their marriage formal, two PC makers are giving birth to the largest Canadian-owned and operated computer manufacturer.
Seanix Technology (Canada) Inc. of Richmond, B.C. and Cybernetique technologie of Quebec City have merged their operations, and will now operate under the name of Seanix Technology. Cybernetique will be known CyberSeanix and operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Seanix. The new combined company will employ 300 people.
Paul Girard, president and CEO of Seanix, said merging the two entities Seanix’s marketshare to six per cent and makes it the fifth largest computer manufacturer – at least in terms of size — currently operating in Canada.
The deal caps a previous relationship between the two companies — Girard had earlier invested in Cybernetique and was acting as co-owner along with that company’s president and CEO Real Proulx. Proulx will become president and COO of the new company’s eastern division.
He projected the new company will enjoy roughly $200 million in combined sales, a 14 per cent jump over Seanix’s 2000 results. He said no job losses are expected as a result of the move.
The merger will also lead to smoother and more efficient internal operations, said Gerard, and give Seanix a more national presence. “We’ve always been a formidable competitor, and we’re more formidable now,” Girard said.
Given their close history, Girard said merging the two companies seemed like a natural progression. “You become more comfortable together, and you realize it’s a bit foolish to have two significant operating centres two hours from each other,” he said.
Michelle Warren, market analyst at Toronto-based Evans Research Corp., said the similarities between the two companies bode well for Seanix’s future prospects. “It’s a fast way for Seanix to extend its reach across the country,” she said.
Warren attributed Seanix’s growth in a PC market currently in the midst of its worst slump to date to its one-country and vertical industry focus. “They don’t have to worry about promoting brand names,” she said. “They’re able to get the job done.”
Founded by Girard in 1986, Seanix targets niche markets, particularly education and public sector industries. Its customer roster includes the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and departments in the federal government. Most of its business is done through its network of value-added resellers.
Seanix Technology in Richmond, B.C. is at http://www.seanix.com.
Evans Research in Toronto is at http://www.evansresearch.com/.