IT consultancy GFT buys Habber Tec's Brazilian wing

The Brazilian operations of international business process management firm Habber Tec have been purchased by Stuttgart-based IT consultancy GFT. The deal means that over 100 Habber Tec staff spread across three cities in Brazil will be integrated into GFT Brazil. The addition will boost GFT's Brazilian wing to around 560 professionals. The transaction was completed earlier this month.

Habber Tec specializes in business process management (BPM), analytics, and digital transformation. The firm was founded in 1997 and has a global footprint of more than 4,000 employees across offices in twelve countries, generating revenue of €374 million last year. In 2000, the company moved into Brazil, and in the years since has grown to generate revenues of BRL 22.4 million (approximately €5.4 million) annually and employs over 100 professionals. The majority of the firm's clientele in Brazil are banks, insurers and other members of the financial services industry. However, as part of Habber Tec’s international strategy, its management team has decided to divest its Brazilian business and focus instead on its Europe operations.

Habber Tec brought in London-based M&A firm Equiteq as a financial advisor to support the sale. Following a due diligence on the shortlist of potential buyers, the English dealmaker began negotiations with interested parties, after which an agreement was reached with business change and tech consultancy GFT.

The move will enable GFT to diversify its Brazilian service offerings, providing a broader suite of complementary services and adding new capabilities to its inventory. The CEO of GFT, Ulrich Dietz, commented, “Habber Tec Brazil adds further expertise in BPM integration and mobile solutions, especially in the fields of credit and digital banking applications. With this acquisition, the GFT Group will strengthen its Brazilian client base by adding renowned banks and further insurance companies.”

With the acquisition of Habber Tec, GFT hopes to capitalize on the growing demand in Brazil for process management optimization services. According to GFT COO Marika Lulay, there is a need for improved efficiency within internal operations. Since Habber Tec Brazil serves as one of IBM’s larger local partners for BPM products and services, this deal will allow them to service this gap in the market.

Fernando Arencibia Darias, one of the shareholders of Habber Tec Brazil and Habber Tec International Group, was pleased with the deal process. “We are very pleased with the outcome of the transaction and Equiteq’s support throughout. Their professionalism and expertise was instrumental in structuring, negotiating and completing the deal.” Darias believes that the transaction is a “very important step for the Group's strategy.” Habber Tec’s current focus area now lies in Europe, where it has offices in Spain, Portugal and the UK. 

Equiteq’s Director and lead deal advisor Gabriela Silvestris said she found it an “absolute pleasure” to work with the shareholders of Habber Tec Brazil. “Their strong market position is underpinned by their key competencies in BPM, analytics and mobile solutions which address some of the major challenges banks are facing in the context of digital transformation.”