Bechtle : Acquires Specialist in Academic IT.

Neckarsulm/Villingen-Schwenningen, 11 May 2017 - Bechtle has acquired Comformatik AG, founded in 1991 and based in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany. The company specialises in IT for schools and industry and currently employs a staff of 28. Its current management board members, Rainer Rättig, Michael Schill and Matthias Birkefeld, will continue to hold senior positions at Bechtle.

Comformatik serves midsize companies as well as public-sector customers, in particular academic institutions. In addition to traditional system integration services, its portfolio includes consulting and design services for academic IT. It also covers media planning, including the installation and initial startup of the required data networks. This acquisition strengthens Bechtle's position as a comprehensive IT solutions provider-including in digital education.

'We are pleased to have gained, through our acquisition of Comformatik, an excellent team of specialists in the key field of school IT. Their expertise is a fitting addition to Bechtle's offering, allowing us to advise and support schools and education authorities even better than before,' states Martin Seeger, Managing Director of the Bechtle IT System House Constance, which also has branch offices in Radolfzell and Villingen-Schwenningen.

'The expertise of our newest team in the region of Baden will also benefit public-sector colleagues throughout the Bechtle Group. Since [German] federal education minister Johanna Wanka announced the so-called 'Digital Pact' last October, we've noted an increase in requests for information by schools,' says Alfred Neidhard, Executive Vice President at Bechtle. The Digital Pact includes plans to earmark EUR 5bn over the next five years for digital education throughout Germany.

'Strong, high-performing and future-oriented partnerships are in the best interest of schools and school authorities, given the complex challenges involved in planning, implementing and operating school networks. By joining forces with Bechtle, Comformatik AG is able to expand and supplement its current capabilities, allowing us to continue our successful project track record,' explains Rainer Rättig, member of the management board and head of academic IT development at Comformatik AG.

Comformatik will be fully merged with the Bechtle IT system house. Both partners have agreed to keep the acquisition price confidential. In 2016, Comformatik generated EUR 3.1m in revenue.