Deloitte eyes Eclipse

By Alicia Camphuisen

Global consulting group Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu has marked its entry into the local e-commerce and software market by taking a 20 per cent stake in Internet solutions firm Eclipse Group.

Deloitte intends the investment to increase its access to Australian business, as the two companies have signed a strategic agreement to develop e-commerce solutions.

"We believe that the two cultures will combine to create Australia's leading e-commerce consultancy," said Deloitte Growth Solutions partner Michael Kean.

The companies would not disclose the financial details of the deal, but the acquisition involved Deloitte purchasing stock from shareholders of Melbourne-based Eclipse, an unlisted public company.

As part of the deal, Deloitte has also acquired the exclusive right to use Eclipse's e-business solution e-Hive. Deloitte intends to incorporate e-Hive into its consulting solutions package, and push its e-business consulting growth.

e-Hive is composed of hundreds of pre-built software applications, and is used as a consultant's tool in planning projects. Eclipse also develops Web site and intranet solutions, as well as strategic and e-commerce consulting.

Deloitte will concentrate on providing Eclipse's technology for the Australian market at the moment, with a view to rolling out its combined solution to international markets, Mr Kean said.