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Telematics – an intelligent future, like it or not
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Masternaut UK acquired by Masternaut International
Masternaut Three X has been acquired by the parent company of Masternaut International, the French-based business that spurred its launch back in 2002. The enlarged organisation is said to be the biggest vehicle tracking company in Europe. Although sharing the brand identity and some technology with Masternaut International, the UK operation has always been a separate company. It was founded by Martin Port, a British businessman who had previously worked in the UK telematics sector. In 2006 it acquired Three X Communication, which was owned by GE and had latterly been known as GE Mobile Solutions. The combined Masternaut Three X business subsequently adopted the joint identity that it retains to this day. Later it acquired internet service provider Fibre City and software company ICM Business Solutions. It also has a minority stake in Sanef Tolling in the UK. Masternaut UK now employs 150 people at four UK sites (Leeds, Skipton, Hull and Belfast), and has a stake in Masternaut Australia. 
Martin Port, who remains managing director of the UK company, was Ernst & Young Technology Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008, and the business has been ranked in the Tech Track 100 league table for the last three years. It also gained a place this year in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA. The French company was acquired only this year from Sanef, a leading European toll road technology company, by Hub télécom, a specialist telecom division of Aéroports de Paris (said to be Europe's second-biggest airport operator). Aéroports de Paris is listed on the Euronext exchange. Frederic Dupeyron, deputy chairman of Masternaut International, becomes chairman of Masternaut Three X. He describes the deal as 'a fantastic opportunity', and talks of sharing 'a vast pool of human resources, technological and managerial expertise'. Among these, he mentions making use of Three X's mobility solutions on the wider European stage. Martin Port says the deal is 'a milestone for the business', and predicts further international growth for the group. * Masternaut International and Ortec, the scheduling optimisation specialist, have reached an agreement to 'interface and integrate' their solutions. They say the partnership will enable both companies to offer a wider range of products to customers.
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