Through the acquisition of B4U, Merit Globe has realised its European strategy for growth. Shortly before this, the Norwegian company also assumed a strong position in the Nordic region by acquiring the Danish company next-move AS.

B4U was established in Basel in Switzerland in 2007, and the German branch was a reality the following year. The company employs 14 people, who all bring valuable competence to the Merit table.

“We have assessed the German market, and a collaboration with B4U came natural. People working in the company are highly experienced and have great knowledge about one of our main products, Lawson M3. This acquisition gives us access to an enormous market in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and allows us to serve it with local offices,” says CEO of Merit Globe, Erik Outzen.  

The collaboration came equally natural to the CEO of B4U, Markus Tronich.
“Merit Globe is the largest partner within Lawson M3, and we are very familiar with the company. To us, this acquisition represents a positive direction, and our employees in Switzerland and Germany are looking forward to be working under the well-renowned Merit management,” says Tronich.
 
New opportunities for customers
The B4U customers also stand to benefit from the acquisition, as they will have access to the well-developed infrastructure and support of Merit Globe. So far B4u is serving around 40 Lawson M3 customers, mainly in Central Europe, but as well in other European countries as well as the US.
“This provides our customers with high levels of security. Through our 170 employees, customers will be able to enjoy a new resource access in addition to the high competence offered by our personnel,” says Outzen.
 
Merit – fact and background
Merit Globe is a leading supplier of business solutions and the world’s largest Lawson Software partner. Merit sells and implements Lawson M3 as well as their proprietary solution, Merit Portal, which supports business processes within purchase, sales and logistics. In addition, Merit offers the concept Merit Platform Partner, which provides hardware support for customers in terms of operation, administration and safety.
 
Merit primarily focuses on mid-sized to large companies that operate within manufacture, retail, distribution, furniture, textile and the food processing industry in all of Northern and Central Europe. The company has approximately 180 customers and a total of 20,000 users on a daily basis. Merit employs a total of 170 people, located in the Ålesund headquarters along with five other Norwegian cities, and in subsidiaries in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, UK, Germany and Switzerland, allowing the company to have roots in local communities and a close relationship with its clients. Merit Globe had a 2009 turnover of NOK 133 million, compared to NOK 77.5 million in 2008.

For further information, please contact:
Erik Outzen, Merit Globe CEO, telephone + 47 951 98 999