NZ-owned Fronde acquires Aussie OnlineOne

IT services company Frond has acquired OnlineOne, a privately held Australian-based cloud design and integration business specialising in NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions.

Acquiring 100% of the business, the New Zealand owned firm refused to disclose the sum but says the deal will allow the leverage of NetSuite capability into the New Zealand market, particularly in the areas of ERP and Financial Planning.

While also enhancing Fronde's cloud integration offering for Australasian enterprises, CEO Ian Clarke, is positive about the impact this will have on the company's three-year-old Australian business.

“As well as expanding our footprint into Victoria and Queensland, this acquisition will increase Fronde’s NetSuite capability in Australasia and will enhance our ability to accelerate our clients’ business goals through cloud integration,” he says.

Clarke says Fronde has enjoyed a long relationship with OnlineOne - initially as the implementer of Fronde’s internal NetSuite ERP system - and together share a joint vision of transforming customers’ businesses through cloud technology.

As part of the acquisition, OnlineOne co-founders, Don McLean and Craig Traub, have given long-term commitments to Fronde and will report directly to Clarke.

McLean has been appointed GM of Sales Australia, with Craig Traub appointed GM of Operations Australia.

McLean says that there will be no change for OnlineOne clients who will continue to enjoy their existing relationships with the same OnlineOne staff, with the same level of service, and who will immediately benefit from a broader offering of cloud products and services.

“We recognised that Fronde and OnlineOne share a common vision in delivering cloud-based solutions to our customers," he says.

"With similar culture and values, together we will be better positioned to deliver a new industry standard for business cloud systems in all areas of service, quality, delivery and support."

OnlineOne employees and contractors will continue to be based in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland, expanding Fronde’s team to over 320 people with potential to further grow technology jobs.

Clarke also confirmed the transaction has no relationship to the advice from the board to shareholders on April 11, advising that they not sell their shares.