Alphameric Plc has followed up November’s acquisition of PC Communications Ltd (CI No 821) with an agreement to purchase Tantus Microsystems Ltd for around UKP3m, subject to Tantus meeting certain profit targets. Tantus specialises in custom-built very rapid data entry systems for foreign exchange and equity traders and looks to fit in well with Alphameric’s dealing room activities. Its current shareholders include Basil and Adrian de Ferranti. The deal is conditional on Tantus showing retained earnings of at least UKP100,000 for calendar 1987. If it does, Alphameric will buy its shares in two tranches, in June 1989 and June 1990, for approximately UKP3m. In 1986, Tantus made UKP100,000 pre-tax on turnover of UKP556,000. Executive directors Derek Eldridge and Geoff Newell have long-term agreements tying them to Tantus irrespective of the takeover.