Dec 06/Jan 07

Zetes, one of Europe's biggest data capture and auto-identification specialists, has acquired the European operations of Peak Technologies, the US-based Platinum Equity subsidiary.

Zetes says the acquisition brings a variety of complementary resources to the group. For instance, it points out that Peak is particularly strong in SAP-connected solutions for manufacturing environments and in mobile in-store solutions for retail, while Zetes for its part is the European market leader for voice-directed solutions.

Brussels-based Zetes already has subsidiaries in Germany, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK, and employs 455 staff. Peak, with 115 staff, adds Switzerland to that network, as well as giving Zetes a stronger presence in the UK, where half of Peak's European revenue is generated.

Zetes' latest turnover figure was just under 140 million euros, while Peak Europe's was 33 million euros.