Acquisition of Solcara
FOR RELEASE
7.00AM
05 NOVEMBER 2008
ACCESS INTELLIGENCE PLC
("Access Intelligence plc" or "the Group")
(Software and computer services business)
Acquisition of Solcara Limited for £750,000
The Board of Access Intelligence Plc is pleased to announce the acquisition of
Solcara Limited ("Solcara") from ArgentVive Plc for a total cash consideration
of £750,000. Ray Jackson, who has resigned as Managing Director of ArgentVive
Plc, has today been appointed as a Non Executive Director of Access
Intelligence.
Solcara is a major UK search and information management company that has
developed core technologies that enable the development of software
applications, which address the need to search, identify and analyse ever
expanding volumes of information. Solcara currently has four product offerings,
covering legal and professional firms, information access, media relations and
crisis management.
Solcara's unaudited turnover for the year ended 31 March 2008 was approximately
£1.6m (2007: £1.33m), generating a profit before interest and tax of £135,000
(2007: £85,000). On completion of the acquisition Solcara is estimated to have
net liabilities of approximately £250,000.
To date, sales have been won primarily from the direct sales operation focused
on markets such as professional services, government, pharmaceuticals and media
sectors.
Michael Jackson, Access Intelligence's Executive Chairman, commented:
"Solcara has a blue chip client base covering law firms, leading industrial
companies, Government Departments, Local Authorities and Police Forces across
the UK including such companies and organisations as: DEFRA, VISA Europe,
Clifford Chance, AstraZeneca, United Utilities and Thomas Cook."
"The acquisition is in line with our plans to focus Access Intelligence on
`software as a service'. Solcara fits in well with our existing businesses and
we see a number of cross - selling opportunities with other Group companies."
For further information:
Access Intelligence plc 01904 520 840
Michael Jackson (Executive Chairman) 020 7831 5088
Jeremy Hamer (Non Executive Director) 07977 234 614
Blue Oar Securities 020 7448 4400
Shane Gallwey / Matt Marchant
Cubitt Consulting 020 7367 5100
Brian Coleman-Smith / James Verstringhe / Nicola Krafft
Background Note Solcara
Solcara provides software that connects people to information that matters,
when it matters most. It streamlines access to critical business content,
ensuring that it delivers an exceptional and timely service.
Product offerings include:
* Solcara SolSearch is a search tool that provides organisations with easy
and efficient access to information that resides in multiple locations,
databases and formats. SolSearch connects to target resources and searches
the existing indexes in real time. The target resources include online
subscription services, Free internet resources and search engines, Document
Management Systems and Library Systems, Intranets and file systems, Lotus
Notes, SQL Server and other databases.
* Solcara ControlPoint provides organisations with an emergency operations
centre that enables the accurate, easy recording and distribution of
information in a crisis. ControlPoint enables teams, irrespective of
location, to log and `publish' information pertaining to an incident. It
provides managers with a framework to quickly review the facts and react to
them in a timely and managed fashion.
* Solcara Spotlight is a subscription based Media Relations Management
solution that helps organisations of all sizes build stronger relationships
with the press, analysts and other key audiences. Spotlight connects the
different facets of Corporate Communications; encompassing Media Relations,
Investor Relations, Analyst Relations, PR, Marketing, Government Affairs
and Internal Communications. Spotlight has been pre-tailored to reflect the
unique needs of different sectors, and its Enterprise, Professional and
Team Editions service different sized organisations.
* Solcara Know How is designed to complement the functionality delivered by
common document management systems. It achieves this by enabling the core
high value documents to be extracted, profiled, indexed and searched
without the need to duplicate the content. It speeds up access to documents
to ensure a consistent, timely and quality service is delivered.
Background Note on Access Intelligence
Access Intelligence is based in York with subsidiaries in York, Stockport,
Greater Manchester, Chorley, Lancashire and Newcastle upon Tyne and employs 47
staff. The Group operating companies are listed below:
Due North
Due North, based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, develops supply chain software
solutions. Its principle focus is on e-procurement software, which is widely
used in the public sector. The product suite enables organisations to manage
the complete customer/supplier relationship from initial expression of
interest, through tender evaluation and post-tender negotiation to contract
award and life cycle management. It also offers a reverse auction facility.
Over the last 6 years it has become the leading supplier of e-procurement
solutions to the emergency services (police and fire and rescue) and local
authorities and is a growing supplier to the NHS, Housing Associations and the
Transport Authorities. These solutions are offered as a hosted service.
MS2M
MS2M, based in York, is a developer of compliance software for the financial
services industry. Its core software products are "Track Record" and "Virtual
Compliance Officer". These applications monitor individuals' activities within
an organisation in real time, and identify their risk profile from a compliance
perspective. Individuals are graded via a traffic light system in accordance
with key performance indicators. In the case of risk identification, remedial
advice is offered. Clients include RBS Group, National Australia Group,
Liverpool Victoria, AXA and St James's Place. These solutions are offered both
as a desktop and a hosted service.
Willow Starcom Ltd
Willow Starcom supplies data storage, retrieval and network solutions to
mid-sized corporate businesses. It sells its services through a reseller
channel which enables it to grow revenues with a minimum increase in headcount.
The company operates a 24-hour support centre from its base in Chorley,
Lancashire. Included within Willow Starcom is Backup and Running which provides
offsite online data storage and retrieval to small and medium sized
enterprises.
Wired Gov
Wired Gov provides, under license from the cabinet office, government news
alerts from more than 100 departments and agencies. Subscribers can register
their preferences by agency, department, key words and phrases. They can
determine the frequency of the alerts from immediate to daily or weekly.
Typical subscribers in the private sector are financial services organisations
and professions.