Perth-based custom software developer, Beacon Technology, has been bought by global IT management consulting firm The Birchman Group, marking the group’s first acquisition in Australia and in the Asia-Pacific region.
The acquisition will combine Birchman’s consulting operations in the Asia Pacific with the software capabilities of Beacon to offer a broader range of services to clients throughout the region.
Beacon will retain its name and branding in Western Australia, but will form part of Birchman Solutions outside of WA.
Frank Early, founding partner of Birchman Asia Pacific, is the managing director of the combined group.
Beacon founder and managing director Mark O’Donoghue said the merger of the two businesses, which already had a close working relationship, would allow Beacon to fast-track its expansion plans and provide exposure to international markets.
“We’ve been working together for some time and this was the obvious next step,” Mr O’Donoghue said.
“We needed to extend our service lines and geography and this helps both of those agendas.”
Mr O’Donoghue said both sides were positive about the merger, with all staff and management from the businesses to be retained.
He said the merger received strong support from all Beacon shareholders. “We’ve been competing very successfully with other larger companies, and collectively will be even stronger,” he said.
Birchman has been operating in Perth for more than two years, co-located with Beacon at its Howard Street office, and has an office in Sydney. It employs more than 125 staff across its entire Asia Pacific division.
Mr O’Donoghue co-founded Beacon in 1995. The company has about 65 staff operating in WA, offering services including application development, software integration, and software architecture consulting.
Beacon covers banking, bulk materials handling and logistics, property and funds management, hospitality and transportation.
