Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed ICT firm Reunert has acquired majority interests in two businesses, which it says will augment the group’s strategic focus on innovation and diversification.
The first purchase sees Reunert take a 51 per cent stake in turnkey energy engineering solutions provider Terra Firma Solutions, while the second deal is the acquisition of a 74,9 per cent stake in robotics designer and manufacturer Ryonic Robotics.
Terra Firma, founded in 2012, has installed numerous large rooftop photovoltaic (solar) energy systems and has over 800 sites under remote energy and water management through its in-house developed smart software.
Ryonic Robotics was founded in 2014 and develops state of the art robotic systems for various industries and applications. Its breakthrough was the local design and manufacturing of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) used for pipeline and other confined and dangerous space inspections by the pipeline, construction, industrial, energy, mining and local government sectors.
Reunert said the purchase of Terra Firma positioned it to take advantage of the shift towards renewable energy and independent power production, while it said it views the robotics and automation market as having exciting growth trajectories worldwide.
“These bolt-on acquisitions fit well with Reunert’s growth strategy into new emerging technologies that complement our existing electronics and electrical engineering expertise,” said Reunert chief executive Alan Dickson.