Update: Datacraft has released a detailed FAQ about the recently-announced merger.

The major business announcement Datacraft promised yesterday has been revealed at a press conference in Auckland.

Global system integrator Datacraft is set to acquire 100% of Integral-Axon. The deal will be completed by November 1st. Further acquisitions in the Asia Pacific region, including New Zealand, weren't ruled out.

Integral Axon's Founder and Chairman, David Sutherland, said, “The global footprint and resources, financial stability, and access to the combined expertise of Datacraft and Dimension Data – and NTT in the future -  will be invaluable to our employees and clients.

Datacraft expects its turnover to double following the deal. Terms of the acquisition are being kept confidential and no loss of jobs are expected from the mega-merger.

Datacraft CEO, Bill Padfield, said, "What's also very exciting is the move by many of our clients to managed infrastructure services and cloud computing. Integral Axon has already invested significantly in private cloud-based Software-as-a-Service offerings. This represents a compelling cloud proposition for our clients, and rapidly accelerates the execution of Datacraft's medium and long-term strategy in this space.

A restructure of the company will be announced this afternoon and in 2011 all companies involved will be re-branded Dimension Data. For the moment Integral-Axon will carry the subtitle 'A Dimension Data Company'.

Rumours of Datacraft buying the then single-entity Axon first did the rounds earlier this year, in February.

On May 4th it was then announced that Integral Technology Group had acquired 100% of Axon Computer Systems.

At the time Integral's Executive Chairman, David Sutherland, said the Integral / Axon merger would create New Zealand's largest privately-owned ICT services company.