Ottawa saw yet another buyout of a local company this week, albeit on a much smaller scale, as two international business developers announced Tuesday that they have teamed up to acquire high-tech outsourcing firm Workshift Systems Corp. for $1.4 million.

The investment partnership of Jacqueline Gilna and John Turton said they had bought Workshift as one step in a merger-and-acquisition strategy to consolidate a sector "they believe is ripe for such a move."

"Workshift is a well-branded premium service provider within the National Capital Region. We recognized the solid management team and highly qualified staff, who have won a verifiable reputation of providing consistently high standards of technical performance and customer service," said Mr. Turton in a statement.

As part of the sale, Workshift founder Chris Ellsay will retire from the company's CEO position and be succeeded by former Symbium Corp. CEO Ben Robitaille.

"This is an arena I know well, and Workshift has been a well-managed operation with a sterling reputation, making it an attractive opportunity," said Mr. Robitaille. "Workshift's customers will continue to experience the expertise and dedication to customer service that has long distinguished this company."

Mr. Robitaille told the OBJ that the company's new management had no plans to downsize, and in fact had plans to double its 20-person workforce in order to support similar revenue growth within the next three to five years.

"We were looking for growth opportunities and we found this opportunity at Workshift," said Mr. Robitaille. "From Chris Ellsay's perspective it was a good fit, he was looking for partners to continue what was started and not disrupt it. For us, we saw some consolidation and growth potential for Ottawa, and right now we are targeting mostly Ottawa and the surrounding areas, and we will continue and make it more predominant."

Mr. Robitaille, who will be concentrating on sales and internal growth while Mr. Turton and Ms. Gilna work on business development, said the company is looking at potential acquisitions to increase Workshift's product and service portfolio along with consolidating the industry.

"A lot of small IT outsourcers out there are less organized one-man companies, so we thought this was a good opportunity to go out and get these people in and augment our customer base," he said, noting that Workshift is the "first piece of a larger puzzle" as more aspects of tech in business processes become outsourced.

"We're trying to improve the efficiencies and bottom line of our customers and trying to increase profits for small- and medium-sized companies in Ottawa and make them strive and more competitive in this challenging market right now, especially with the rising loonie," he added.

Mr. Robitaille said Mr. Ellsay was taking some time to spend with his family and "planning on taking it easy and coming back to Ottawa after a while," and had chosen the three partners after several other offers.

"We were joking that we'd grow the company for him while he was gone," he said.

Despite the change in management, Mr. Robitaille stressed that it's business as usual at Workshift, with a few new hirings as the only other development.

"We're not changing anything, not the people, or the name or the service, we're just looking to grow and improve our services and increase personnel," he said. "All that's changed is that there's a new guy in the top seat."

Mr. Ellsay will stay on at Workshift for a few months to aid with the transition.