Solution Provider Bridgenext Expands Presence In Latin America With Folcode Buy

Bridgenext, formed earlier this month when its private equity partner combined Emtec, Emtec Digital, Wave6 and Definition 6, has acquired Folcode, an Argentina-based digital engineering services provider as a way to gain a foothold in Latin America and be more flexible in working with its worldwide customer base.

Bridgenext, a solution provider focused on digital consulting services, has expanded its presence in Latin America with the acquisition of Folcode, a San Juan, Argentina-based digital engineering services provider.

The acquisition, for which no dollar value was provided, gives Bridgenext the ability to expand its services capabilities while providing a footprint to expand its Latin America operations, said John Castleman, CEO of the Jacksonville, Fla.-based company.

Bridgenext was founded earlier this month when its private equity majority owner, Kelso & Company, combined the operations of Emtec; Emtec Digital; Athens, Ala.-based Wave6; and Atlanta-based Definition 6.

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Folcode provides software engineering, data engineering and design services primarily for customers in Latin America, Castleman told CRN.

Folcode does not bring any new technology capabilities, but instead brings a team of 60 people who are in the same time zone as the U.S. to Bridgenext, which already had teams in the U.S. and Canada, he said. The company’s biggest group of developers is in India, he said.

“Some of our projects follow the sun,” he said. “Having a larger team in the Americas makes this easier for us. And for projects here, we won’t need to get our people in India up to speed. So this gives us the ability to staff up for projects more easily.”

For Bridgenext, Latin America is also an emerging market for the company’s product development and engineering expertise, Castleman said.

“We felt it was important for us to be in that market as well,” he said.

All three partners of Folcode will be staying with Bridgenext, Castleman said.

Bridgenext will look to expand its original business and that of Folcode to take advantage of new opportunities, he said.

“We’re focused on growing both organically and inorganically,” he said. “We’re looking at acquisitions to add capabilities and flexibility. You can expect to see us make more acquisitions going forward. We also expect to grow the Folcode workforce faster on a percentage basis than the entire company.”