New Zealand Post Group has sold its wholly owned subsidiary Converga to Canon Australia for an undisclosed sum.
Canon Australia says Converga will remain a stand-alone business, with the same management team and structure, retaining its independence and management autonomy, while benefitting from Canon’s investment, brand, leadership and product suite.
Craig Manson, director at Canon Business Services, says, “The acquisition of Converga enables us to expand our capability in managed service and business process outsourcing, strengthening our end-to-end offering to our customers. Together Canon, Converga and Harbour IT can now offer market leading business process as a service capability, enabling our customers to achieve more.”
With its head office in Sydney, Converga offers business process outsourcing focusing on digital document solutions. It employs some 1300 staff with offices in New Zealand, Australia, Asia, and the United States. Paul Bellette, chief executive at Converga, says, “We’re excited to be joining the Canon family. This is the right direction for our business and customers as we continue towards our goal of being a partner of choice. At Converga, we’re driven to innovate with the best people, processes and technology to deliver solutions to our customers – this move will ensure those needs for customers continue to be met.”
NZ Post, two years into a five-year transformation plan, took a stake in Converga in 2004, when it was known as Outsource Australia, before taking full control in 2007. The state owned enterprise will now concentrate on its core business. Brian Roche, chief executive at New Zealand Post Group, says, “New Zealand Post is focused on its parcels, mail and financial services businesses in New Zealand. Converga’s strategic fit within the Group was reassessed and we indicated we were looking to sell the company earlier this year. For Converga’s staff, customers and suppliers, it will be business as usual. We anticipate a smooth transition of ownership to Canon Australia.”
Canon says that this acquisition, its fourth in four years, reflects that it will achieve robust growth through diversification. The company adds that the move solidifies Canon as a key player in business process outsourcing, IT Managed Services, digitisation and forms automation and print management.
Yusuke Mizoguchi, managing director Canon Oceania says, “At Canon our vision is to be recognised for customer-focused solutions and market leading technology and services. Converga is a fantastic company that we see growing and complementing our group long into the future.”
