Maidenhead, Berkshire-based software distributor Sphinx Ltd, now part of Pegasus Group Plc, has agreed a marketing deal with Colnbrook, Berkshire-based Pancom Ltd for distribution and support of an integrated facsimile and office automation suite. Under the arrangement, Sphinx and Pancom will offer Pancom resellers a bundle of software, hardware and supporting services, including SCO Xenix 386 and a text editor – either the fully integrated Uniplex Business Software Suite or WordPerfect word processor. Sphinx will also include the Chase Research Intelligent Fax Card – Fax4 – which can manage simultaneous operation of up to four facsimile machines, and communications software from Link Solutions, supporting acces to facsimile, telex, X25 and other communications networks. Pancom will supply the Panasonic Systemfax 250 facsimile machine, which will connect directly into a computer via the RS-232 port; no prices were given. Paris-based Metrologie International SA is consolidating its position in the UK market and has established Metrologie Plc as the holding company for Rapid Recall and Trinitec Plc. Metrologie SA bought the Rapid Recall group from Unitech at the begining of last year (CI No 1,190) for UKP45m, having acquired 20% of Trinitec in January 1988 (CI No 856). The balance of Trinitec’s shares are now in French ownership, bought for a combination of cash and shares in Metrologie Plc. The new company will be 85% owned by Metrologie SA and the remaining 15% will go to former Trinitec shareholders. Metrologie Plc is valued at over UKP20m, and Trinitec has been estimated at UKP7m, although the companies are still finalising financial details and advocate caution over valuations. The holding company will be responsible for strategic planning, but both Rapid Recall and Trinitec will continue to trade separately. They stress that spin-offs such as Pro Apta, Rapid Recall’s networking division (CI No 1,257), and Rapid Premiere, which sells Hewlett-Packard’s Unix-based Vectra systems (CI No 1,303), should not be affected by the restructure. However, supplier relationships and product access – all three companies distribute products for Intel Corp – will be discussed at some point in the future. Roger Haddad, president and founder of Metrologie International, is to become chairman of Metrologie Plc. Robert Mountain and Tim Curtis, chief executives of Trinitec and Rapid Recall respectively, will be joint managing directors. The combined turnovers of Trinitec and Rapid Recall would have been some UKP60m in 1989, and that figure is forecast to climb to around UKP80m this year.
