Ovum, Outsourcing, Consultancy, Orbys, Advisory

Ovum buys outsourcing consultancy Orbys

Ovum plc, a leading provider of research, advisory and consulting services in the global Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) sector, announced the acquisition of "Orbys Consulting Ltd", a specialist advisory firm in outsourcing.

Orbys is the second acquisition made by Ovum in the six months since its IPO in March 2006. It is in line with the Group's stated growth strategy to expand the business through the acquisition of specialist, high quality businesses as well as through organic growth.

Established in 1993 and headquartered in the UK, Orbys has an impressive client base of blue-chip, multinational companies including Boots, Deutsche Bank, Metropolitan Police Service, Northern Foods, Sainsbury's, Syngenta, and Thorntons. It advises these organizations about their sourcing strategy and helps them with supplier evaluation and selection, contract negotiation and supplier management.

The acquisition of Orbys is an important strategic move for Ovum and signals an acceleration of Ovum's move into the advisory market for large user organizations. Orbys's expertise at the most complex level of sourcing, combined with Ovum's in-depth understanding of the suppliers, establishes a unique base for providing user organizations with pragmatic and relevant advice about their sourcing strategy, supplier selection and contract negotiation and management. Ovum intends to invest in this area, bringing to bear its expertise in both IT Services and Telecoms, and it will look to acquire other specialist companies to strengthen this area further.

Chris Dines, CEO of Ovum, said:
"Orbys is a European leader in outsourcing with a reputation for pragmatic advice and a first class client list. This acquisition provides excellent synergies and sets us on the path of establishing Ovum as a key advisor at the critical juncture between vendors and buyers. The outsourcing market is set for further growth and its counter-cyclical nature means it is an excellent acquisition for the Group."