Maxnet Acquires DataLock
Acclipse Partnership

22 March 2010

Maxnet Acquires DataLock for Online Backup

Data centre services provider Maxnet announced today that it will acquire DataLock, New Zealand's largest online backup network, to bolster its range of backup services.

The DataLock's online backup solution was developed in New Zealand by a team led by DataLock CEO Andrew Schick, and Directors Israel Cooper and Nick Patterson, and the company first launched in 2008. Together the team have taken DataLock from a start-up to a successful business with over 120 resellers across Australasia in just two years.

The addition of DataLock's online backup service to Maxnet's existing enterprise-level backup solutions will enable Maxnet to offer the most comprehensive and cost-effective backup offering in New Zealand, says John Hanna, Maxnet's CEO.

"As a data centre and internet service provider, being able to provide a sophisticated backup solution is a highly-complementary offering to the other services we provide," he says. "We've been hosting DataLock's backup services in our data-centre for a couple of years now, and we've seen the rapid growth that DataLock has achieved. So it made absolute sense to look at acquiring the business to supplement the range of services that we already provide."

The DataLock service is hosted at Maxnet's high availability Auckland data centre, and offers sophisticated enterprise-level backup features such as continuous online backup, a user-friendly web-based interface to allow customers to configure backup and restore options; and comprehensive reporting. It provides backup for Windows, Mac, Unix, Linux, Solaris, Netware and NAS devices, as well as backup for specific applications such as Microsoft Exchange and SQL Server, Lotus Domino, Oracle and MySQL.

DataLock was designed from the ground-up to serve the needs of resellers looking for a backup solution they can provide to their customers, and allows resellers to rebrand the service under their own brand. It provides a range of tools - including a full API (Application Programming Interface) - that enables resellers to provide and monitor the backup services they offer to their customers.

Mr Hanna says that Maxnet will continue with the DataLock brand name. "DataLock has managed to build up significant momentum in the market since it launched, and the DataLock name is both well known and well-regarded in the industry so it makes sense for us to continue building the brand," he says.

Under the terms of the acquisition, former DataLock CEO Andrew Schick, will move to Maxnet to manage the company's business continuity wholesale service.

"I'm excited about the opportunities to grow this part of the business", says Schick. "We've achieved amazing growth with DataLock, and I'm confident that with the additional complementary services Maxnet can provide we've got a really strong business continuity offering that will be attractive to a wide range of businesses."

The acquisition will take effect on April 1. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DataLock and Acclipse Redefine Data Security for Accountants

Auckland, New Zealand - July 19, 2009 - DataLock, New Zealand's largest online backup provider, has partnered with Acclipse, a leading supplier of accounting software in Australasia, to provide unprecedented data security for the accounting industry.

The partnership will seamlessly integrate DataLock's online data backup solution with Acclipse's web-based practice management and tax software.

Traditionally there has been a costly manual process for accountants and their clients to backup and retain critical data. The new online solution performs automatic backups with no effort from users, providing significant gains in efficiency and security.

DataLock CEO Andrew Schick calls it an exciting development for the future of the accounting industry. "Acclipse shares our vision of making it easier for businesses to be successful," says Schick. "They must be free to focus on the needs of their customers, and they can only do this if they are confident in the reliability and security of their systems."

Acclipse CEO Mike Chisholm and Chairman David Brown are delighted to be working with DataLock. "We've always known the next generation of services will be online," says Chisholm. "Online backup will free accountants from legacy backup systems and allow them to focus on what they do best."

The new service will be available to Acclipse's existing customers immediately, and will be rolled out progressively to other end customers throughout the year.

About Acclipse

Acclipse was founded in 2002 by shareholders and staff who had earlier created CA-Systems (practice management, tax and client accounting software), which was acquired by MYOB in 1999 along with the Accountants' Office suite of software. The Acclipse product range for accountants includes full workflow driven practice management, web management, document management, tax (planned release 09), value-add client accounting (cashflow budgeting and benchmarking), outsourcing and fee financing. Acclipse has more than 1,000 accounting practices and 8,000 users of its solutions across New Zealand and Australia.

Visit www.acclipse.co.nz for more.

About DataLock

DataLock is a privately owned New Zealand company that has developed the world's easiest and most reliable online backup solution for businesses. Founded in 2007, DataLock has become the clear leader in backup delivered over the internet and its innovative solutions are being used by hundreds of businesses in New Zealand and Australia.

Visit www.datalock.co.nz for more.