Feb/Mar 2008

Masternaut Three X, the high-profile telematics and mobile job management specialist, has made one of its biggest acquisitions to date, taking over FibreCity, a long-established business-to-business Web hosting and Internet services provider. The deal is valued at £6 million. Both companies are based in the Leeds area.

Masternaut says the acquisition of FibreCity enables it to provide more extended hosted back-office solutions that are fully integrated with its telematics and mobile software. Managing director Martin Port describes it as 'a significant development', adding: 'It allows us to provide É secure fully-managed hosting in our own state-of-the-art data centres.'

FiberCity was already providing Masternaut Three X with hosting services, and has numerous other established customers including AGA Rayburn, BAE Systems, Fired Earth and NASA.

In a separate development, Masternaut has set up Irish headquarters at the Innovation Centre in Northern Ireland's Science Park, Belfast. The company already has an established customer base in Ireland, including Strabane District Council, Chambers Coach Hire and Hyster Fork Lift Trucks. The new operation is headed by Michael Hall, who has joined from O2.