Seeing potential for rapid growth, Logical Networks Plc has gone back to the venture capital source that first helped set it up, investment capital group, 3i Plc. Some UKP500,000 in equity capital is to be supplied from 3i’s Thames Valley office to strengthen Logical Networks’ balance sheet. The aim is to support the company’s growth in a network market that is forecast to grow by 30% per annum. The Slough-based firm provides large companies and financial institutions with enterprise-wide networking facilities and is forecasting a 60% growth in turnover for the 1992 fiscal year, with sales exceeding UKP10m. While currently sourcing products from such names as Santa Clara, California-based SynOptics Communications Inc, Westborough, Massachusetts-based Proteon Inc, Santa Monica, California-based Retix Inc, Bedford, Massachusetts-based Wellfleet Communications Inc, AT&T Co and Novell Inc, Logical Networks also recently launched a new range of client-server products and services, using Sun Microsystems Inc and Compaq Computer Corp hardware. The first application to be introduced is a messaging server, providing facsimile, telex, electronic mail and X400 integration. The extended product range is expected to increase revenue by a further 40% over the next few years and is seen by managing director John Cavill as a natural extension: he sees the network becoming the cornerstone of information technology due to the increasing use of distributed applications, and sees Unix and personal computer server environments as the way ahead.
