RAP Group beats retreat from hardware

Troubled hardware distributor RAP Group is switching to ERP and ecommerce software products and will change its name to K3 Business Technology.

The company has sold off its hardware business and raised £3.8m from its shareholders. It plans to use the money to buy and provide capital for K3 - which RAP shareholder Peter Gyllenhammar bought from Kewill last December. K3 will maintain the 1,600 former Kewill ERP customers and continue to develop the software and extend its internet compatibility. Andrew Makeham, who joined RAP from Kewill as marketing director of ecommerce, will become CEO of the new company.