Management buy-out secures Fujitsu's Belfast R&D operation

A management buy-out at the Belfast-based research and development operation of Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe has placed the operation in local hands.

The buy-out deal brings the leading-edge software development resource into local ownership under an eight-man management team under the Asidua banner.

The existing workforce of 55 will be retained and Asidua will continue as a Fujitsu strategic partner, progressing work under contract in connection with Fujitsu's latest telecommunications solutions. As a strategic partner, Asidua becomes a Tier 1 supplier of Fujitsu's outsourced software development and validation functions in Europe and the company will also take over existing outsource contracts held by Fujitsu in Belfast.

Asidua's Chief Executive, Dr Steve Brankin, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for everyone in the new company, and we are delighted to bring this operation into local ownership, while at the same time having the commitment and support of Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe behind us.

"We have a team of highly qualified, skilled and experienced engineers, which is well-matched to the contracts we already have in place. With Fujitsu's financial investment as strategic partners, we are in a very strong position and are confident about our future growth and development. As well as supplying an important contract resource, we forecast that Asidua will work in partnership with Fujitsu to develop new intellectual property, in the form of products and IT solutions, thereby building higher value for both companies.”

Prior to the formation of Asidua, development teams worked on a range of some of Fujitsu's most significant products and services. These included scalable network management systems, written entirely in Java, and a wide range of leading edge embedded platforms for Fujitsu broadband products that the former parent company will continue to use.

Recently, Fujitsu had the Belfast division diversify into the wider market for Internet based Web Services.

Mr Shigeyuki Unagami, Managing Director of Fujitsu Telecommunications Europe, said he had "immense confidence" in the skills and expertise available within the Belfast operation and looked forward not only to the continuation of this success but also to a long and successful relationship with Asidua.

(SP)