Möbius divests IT-subsidiaries LoQutus and Ground lion to AXI

Western European consulting firm Möbius has sold two of its subsidiaries – LoQutus and Ground lion – to AXI, an IT company with offices in Belgium and the Netherlands. The deal sees around 75 employees based in Sint-Denijs-Westrem and Gent transfer to the Benelux IT services firm.

Founded in 2002, LoQutus helps clients with enterprise application integration, ICT architecture, data analytics and information management. After working closely with Möbius in its early years, LoQutus joined the international consulting firm in 2004. Today, the company has around 60 employees on its payroll, serving clients including Bebat (a recycler of used batteries), the Federation of Socialist Mutualities for Brabant (a provider of healthcare services), BekaertDeslee (a textile producer) and North Sea Port (the parent of Zeeland Seaports and The Port of Ghent). 

Ground lion has its roots in LoQutus. In 2014 the firm, which provides solutions and services for adaptive case management (ACM), continued as an independent company following a spin-off. The team currently counts 15 professionals, working for clients such as Alten (a French technology consulting and engineering company), INEOS Styrolution (a styrenics supplier) and Waternet (a Dutch water utilities company).

For AXI, the acquisition of both companies is a “logical next step in our strategy” and “fully aligns with our growth ambitions,” said Paul Peeters, CEO at AXI. “By joining forces, we can better serve our customers – LoQutus and Ground Lion offer high-quality products and services.” From a services perspective, the bolt-on will enhance AXI's footprint in the government, healthcare and retail sectors, and allow the company to grow its market share in Belgium’s Ghent region. 

Peeters added that the cultures or both parties are a close match. “From the first discussions we concluded that the market approach within both organisations fits in nicely with AXI's customer intimacy approach. It was also very important to observe that the company culture within LoQutus and Ground lion resonates closely with AXI’s culture.”

Joachim Vanden Brande, CEO of LoQutus and Ground lion, will remain in charge of the two parties after the takeover. He sees plenty of opportunities on the back of the integration into the larger IT group. “AXI’s footprint will enable us to strengthen our range of services with integrated technology services and infrastructural products, which will enable us to offer our customers a more end-to-end offering. This will also give us access to a larger customer base.” 

Möbius, meanwhile, has approximately 120 management consultants and project managers across offices in Belgium, the Netherlands and France.