Lenton plc is a privately held company based in Cambridge that provides Business Intelligence and Business Process Management consultancy to blue-chip and SME organisations. Founded in 1992 and with a staff of 25 in the UK, Lenton is a highly respected player in the retail, banking and financial services markets. The company has a number of key business partners including Business Objects, Microsoft (Gold Partner) and Panorama. Customer clients include D&B Europe, London Energy, Marks & Spencer, MTV, Reckitt Benckiser, Royal Bank of Scotland and Waterstones.

For fiscal year 2002/2003 (ended 30 June 2003), Lenton reported revenue of £2.2 million with a gross profit of £405K.

The combined entity will strengthen Business & Decision's presence in the UK, with offices in St Albans, Chester, Edinburgh and now Cambridge.

According to Huckle "The business intelligence market is set to grow significantly over the next few years as more and more companies are realising the potential business benefits they can obtain from interpreting and using their data in a strategic fashion."

According to Nick Mead, CEO of Lenton, "Business & Decision and Lenton are a great match for today's IT market and each other. Companies need to operate as efficiently as possible and they often need to utilise external business intelligence and business process management expertise. Together we can offer our customers those specialist services they require."

This acquisition is being paid for in cash and with Business & Decision's shares. The payment depends predominately on growth and profitability during the next three years.

About Business & Decision

Business & Decision specialise in providing solutions and related consultancy in Business Intelligence, Customer Intelligence, Management Consulting and e-Business. Founded in 1992 and listed on the Euronext Nouveau Marché (ISIN code FR 00000 7895 8), the group has a reputation for its functional and technological expertise and has forged partnerships with the key technology vendors. Business & Decision currently employ over 700 consultants throughout the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain and have implemented over 900 projects at 750 client sites including the NHS, Scottish Widows, Barclaycard, HBOS plc, AXA, Unilever, Aviva, MBNA, Orange and AMP Pearl.

Press Contact

Marketing Executive

Tel: 01727 838088

Email: aruttens@businessdecision.co.uk