Microsoft sells shares back to Celenia

Celenia Software a/s founder Henrik Kristiansen has bought back Microsoft’s share in Celenia after the Danish firm’s best fiscal year ever. Microsoft’s purchase of Navision in 2002 included Navision’s 35 per cent shareholding in Celenia and the portfolio was retained to ensure Celenia’s growth as a strong and soundly-based partner in Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS).

“It has never been a part of the Microsoft strategy to own their partners. So now that Celenia Software a/s has grown into a big and strong company, we only find it natural to sell the shares back to Henrik Kristiansen”, says Niels Bo Theilgaard, General Manager at Microsoft Business Solutions. He emphasizes that the deal will not have any influence on Microsoft’s commitment to Celenia.

Microsoft has handed a rising number of development assignments to the Navision and Axapta specialists at Celenia Software a/s in Denmark and Ukraine over the last couple of years – with more to come.

“Our close partnership had nothing to do with our holding shares in Celenia Software a/s. The partnership is based on contracts with Celenia and this will not be different in the future”, Theilgaard emphasizes.

“The return to full ownership gives us new opportunities, but it does not change our strategy”, says Henrik Kristiansen, who again holds all of the shares in the company.

Kristiansen also emphasizes that he is not on the market for new investors in
Celenia Software a/s.

Source: www.celenia.com