Australian information and communication technology business AWA has been sold to Cabrini Health, a not-for-profit, Catholic healthcare provider. The sale will preserve 130 of the 250 jobs put at risk when the business went into administration in February 2014.
Administrators from PPB Advisory entered the business on 25 February and have today announced the sale will, “secure the future of an iconic 105 year old Australian brand.” At the time AWA employed 250 people and also subcontracted work to a network of service agents in more than 700 locations across Australia.
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PPB Advisory said the sales process attracted significant local and international interest.
Alan Walker, one of the administrators appointed to AWA said the sale was a great outcome for all stakeholders of the business. “It is particularly pleasing that the sale has led to the retention of approximately 130 employees. The sales process generated interest from a number of local and offshore parties and we are delighted to have secured the future of an iconic and long-standing Australian brand.”
AWA will be integrated into a new group called Cabrini Technology Services, but will continue to trade under the AWA name and brand.
Dr Michael Walsh, Chief Executive of Cabrini Health, said the organisation was delighted to have acquired AWA and is confident of a positive future for the business.
“We are committed to continuing to maintain the AWA brand and reputation as a specialist in information technology services. We will retain all existing contracts and strive to build on existing relationships and services. AWA’s management has been exploring many new opportunities. These, together with new ideas from Cabrini will see AWA prosper,” Walsh said.
Formerly known as Amalgamated Wireless Australasia, AWA has a 105-year history in Australia, first as an agent of German telegraph company Telefunken and spanning radio and TV broadcasting. According to the company’s website today it is “a totally independent technology services only company and leading provider of Australia wide field technology services to the major enterprise and government organisations, vendors, service providers, integrators and distributors.”