CAIRO: Global Knowledge, a provider of training and enterprise learning services for information technology (IT) and management professionals, recently announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Synergy Professional Services (SPS). SPS, a privately owned business headquartered in Dubai, provides professional and technical IT skills training, consulting, and services in the Middle East and Africa. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close by month's end. The company will continue to operate under the Synergy brand for an undetermined period. With offices in United Arab of Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, SPS offers a range of certification training programs, including those from Cisco, Oracle, Microsoft, Nortel, and International Standard for Information Security throughout the region. Like Global Knowledge, the company is a fully accredited Cisco Learning Solutions Partner (CLSP) and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Learning Solutions (CPLS). Joseph W. Cece, CEO and president of Global Knowledge, said, "As Global Knowledge searched for the right vehicle to enter the rapidly growing and strategically important markets of the Middle East and Africa, we quickly focused on Synergy. Melad Ghabrial, SPS president and CEO, and his team have built Synergy into the most highly respected and well positioned provider of IT technical and professional skills in the region. I am delighted to welcome them to the Global Knowledge family. Richard Pryor-Jones added, "Global Knowledge and Synergy are an excellent fit in every respect. We have a similar business culture and approach to our customers; both companies occupy the leading positions in their respective markets and we have both established significant relationships with leading IT vendors, particularly Cisco, Microsoft, and Nortel.
