Hayes, Middlesex-based Data Dynamics Ltd has acquired Jarogate Ltd of Surbiton, Surrey from receivership for an undisclosed sum. Data Dynamics was founded in 1966 and is celebrating its silver jubilee this year – it manufactures single-user and multi-user computer systems under the SigNet brand name, as well as acting as a distributor for companies such as Mannesmann Tally and NCR’s ADDS terminals. It staged a buy-out that left management holding 51% in April 1986, when its primary thrust was as a printer distributor (CI No 417). It had previously gone into receivership in 1981, when it was acquired and subsequently wholly-owned by venture capital group Innotech until the buyout. It has a UKP4m turnover – it had set UKP4.5m as its target for 1986 – and has approximately the same size installed user base as Jarogate, which means that post-merger Data Dynamics has a user-base of around 8,000. Data’s managing director Ken Rathborne said Jarogate was an attractive proposition because it means that the company can now offer larger multi-user systems than hitherto, and the acquisition also takes the company into Unix for the first time with Jarogate’s Sprint range – at present Sig/Net uses the Concurrent DOS operating system as do some of Jarogate’s systems. Ten people have been transferred over from Jarogate to Data Dynamics’ offices and Jarogate founder Robin Tracey has become sales director for the enlarged company. The Jarogate name will disappear as the company becomes integrated within Data Dynamics but the Sprite range will continue to be sold and supported under its brand name. Jarogate, founded in 1979, ran into difficulties that were insurmountable last year when trying to service its UKP750,000 debt (CI No 1,557).
