Information technology investment group Zelix Corp Ltd of Cwmbran, Gwent in Wales has recently restructured, and now considers itself firmly focused on open systems. The restructuring programme followed an aggressive acquisition drive, which has brought in 10 new businesses over the last 18 months, the most recent of which was IBM AS/400 agent AS People Plc for an undisclosed sum. The Bristol-based distributor, which has nine employees and turned over UKP600,000 last year, is to be merged with Zelix’ existing AS/400 agent, Newgate Group Ltd, under one management team – there will be no redundancies. The merger of the two AS/400 businesses, says Zelix managing director Chris Davis, will provide the products and critical mass needed to stay profitable in the currently struggling market for the IBM open mid-range system. The Newgate Group, which without AS People had a staff of 18, last year turned over UKP2.5m. AS People specialises in local government, social services and fire and rescue systems. To reflect its open systems strategy, Zelix has now established four specialist divisions – AS People, which will cover the combined AS/400 business in government, commercial and manufacturing markets; OS People, an IBM RS/6000 reseller specialising in the same markets; a Fire and Rescue division, specialising in fire brigade systems; and Community Systems, focusing on marketing, developing and implementing systems for the Social Services & Health. The new applications-based divisions, says Zelix, complement the company’s AIX specialist, AnIX Computers and Unix specialist Zelix Systems, which, between them, will provide the core Unix-based systems for OS People.
