GKI takeover confirms Fast Lane interest into the Italian market

Fast Lane Group takes control of GKI S.r.l, former Global Knowledge Italy.

Hamburg, Berlin, Milan May 10, 2010 --- Fast Lane, a globally active IT training and consulting services provider, recently awarded as “Cisco European Learning Partner of the Year”, has completed the takeover of GKI S.r.l., an Italian company active in high-end education and consulting.

The process started in July 2009 with a first acquisition of GKI shares. It produced substantial investments in expert certification, namely in technologies like Cisco Data Center, Nexus, UCS (Unified Computing System) and NetApp. Marketing actions and processes were also aligned.

After today agreement, the education portfolio of both companies will be 100% aligned, by that allowing an immediate expansion of current offer to customers. GKI name will also change in Fast Lane – GKI S.r.l., in order to reflect GKI full integration into Fast Lane Group.

Renzo Silvestri, GKI M.D., says: “The completion of the takeover process has happened tanks to the high value of the cooperation between GKI and Fast Lane during last year. What GKI has recently proposed to the Italian market has been possible because of this cooperation. Now we will continue even more into this strategy, offering to our customers the highest know how about latest technologies.”

“GKI takeover confirms Fast Lane interest into the Italian market and completes Fast Lane Western Europe market coverage. I expect that Fast Lane – GKI will now continue its organic growth, expanding and deepening its relationship with its Partners”, comments Torsten Poels, CEO & Chairman of the Board, General Manager EMEA, Americas & AsiaPac/Japan, Fast Lane.

Fast Lane has again this year received the “Cisco European Learning Partner of the Year” by Cisco and is active in Europe with the largest Cisco education partner network. Fast Lane delivers its services worldwide directly in 26 different countries and in 65 countries more by its partners. Thierry Drilhon, Vice President, Worldwide Partner Organization, Europe, Cisco says: „Fast Lane is one of the leading Learning Partners in Europe and globally. With an impressive remote lab infrastructure, based on Green DC solutions, Fast Lane is able to deliver training in nearly all Advanced and Emerging technologies.”

About Fast Lane

Specializing in high-end IT projects and the development of professional IT qualifications, Fast Lane is there for you in more than 65 countries across all continents. Fast Lane has developed its own training programs and partnered with leading technology vendors such as Cisco, NetApp, VMware, HP and more to offer you a comprehensive training solution. The training program encompasses core technologies as well as special training in the areas of data center, virtualization, unified communications, collaboration, security, and wireless technologies. Fast Lane also provides consulting - advising companies on the selection of future-focused IT solutions and providing support throughout the development phases.

Additional information:

Fast Lane Institute for Knowledge Transfer GmbH

Gasstraße 4a, Otto-von-Bahren Park
D-22761 Hamburg

Contact:
Barbara Jansen
bjansen@flane.de
Tel. +49 (0) 40 25 33 46 - 10
Fax +49 (0) 40 23 53 77 - 20
www.flane.de

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Contact:
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olaf.heckmann@sup-pr.de
Tel. +49 (0) 26 61 9 12 60 - 0
Fax +49 (0) 26 61 91 12 60 - 29
www.sup-pr.de