Granada Computer Services International, formed last year by an 89m pound management buyout of Granada Group’s IT support operations, has changed its name to Synstar Computer Services International as it moves to complete its first year as an independent organization – and heads for an IPO. The company will be reporting first year’s figures in October with revenues now approaching 200m pounds from rapidly expanding operations across Europe. It has just acquired the European Systems Integration Services SIS division of Control Data Services for an undisclosed price. SIS is particularly strong in Spain and Germany and has total revenues of around $37m and a workforce of around 160. Privately-owned Control Data, from Arden Hills, Minnesota, are tight-lipped about details of the deal which Synstar says was financed by internal resources. European marketing director George Williams says that Synstar, which now has a 2,300-strong workforce, has met all their financial objectives for the first year. On the timing of the IPO, he would only say: It will be in the longer term.
