DATS India mergers with Europlex

DATS India Limited, a Chennai-based security, safety and building automation system integrator, has merged with Europlex Technologies to form a new entity called iMetrex Technologies Limited.

The merger brings about a single shareholding among the two companies, with iMetrex being the single legal entity. DATS and Ireland-based Europlex will become subsidiaries of iMetrex.

The new arrangement will have DATS and Europlex functioning as separate brands, with DATS responsible for all system integration and Europlex focusing on all design, development, manufacturing and distribution activities.

The combined share capital now employed will be around Rs 74 crore, with 70 per cent being the contribution of DATS and the rest attributed to Europlex.

"There is a huge synergy between the two operations. The strategy is to address the entire value chain from product development, manufacturing, distribution and system integration. DATS will be free to deliver solutions to customers using third party products other than that manufactured by Europlex," said Anand Mecheri, executive director, iMetrex Group.

iMetrex will launch DATS solution partner model to offer end-to-end system integration services for the security, safety and building automation industry in the European and Middle East market.

"In Europe everybody offers specialised solutions. We will offer end-to-end solutions that will range from product sales to system integration," Mike Brosnan, MD of Europlex.

Europlex will take over the manufacturing operations of DATS in Pondicherry, where it was manufacturing equipment in the security, safety and building automation industry under licence from Europlex.

"We have already shipped three batches of equipment for Europlex for the European market. We shall also set up a 70,000 sq ft global resource centre in Siruseri (Chennai) with an investment between Rs 12-15 crore that will be funded partly from debt and partly from equity," added Mecheri.

The Siruseri facility is scheduled to be operational in March, 2006.