Ultra Electronics Acquires Privately-held AmigaOne X-1000 maker Varisys - Quick Facts

[SysAdmin]

http://www.rttnews.com/2131234/ultra-electronics-acquires-privately-held-varisys-quick-facts.aspx

6/6/2013 2:15 AM ET

Ultra Electronics Holdings Plc. (ULE.L) Thursday said it has acquired privately-held Varisys Limited for an initial cash consideration of 16 million pounds. Additional payments of up to 2 million pounds will be payable, based on performance over the next two years.

Varisys is a designer and manufacturer of products for high performance embedded computing applications. Its products and services portfolio include bespoke solutions for customers operating in the aerospace, defence, telecommunications, and industrial sectors.

The acquisition will give Ultra an organic capability in this niche area, allowing group businesses to meet customer requirements more quickly and cost-effectively.

Varisys is a British company based in High Wycombe, UK. It was acquired from its founders Paul Gentle and Adam Barnes, both of whom would remain with the business under Ultra ownership.

[billt]

Interesting. I wonder if this will affect the relationship with A-Eon, and anything they might be working on that we have not yet heard about.

While we probably won't be told, I'm curious who owns the rights to the X1000 and any unfinished products. Does A-Eon own the design, and thus can move it to another vendor if needed, or does Varisys/Ultra own it, and thus they may all vanish under new managment?

There will likely be some change in culture and people as a result. But these are contractor companies, so perhaps it won't be a huge affect on things we're interested in as long as there is money in it for them, and surely that's how A-Eon got Varisys's attention in the first place.

[ElPolloDiabl]

Are you sure this wasn't the game all along? To make some quick cash and move on?
I wish we had of kept only the people who would stick with the platform at great sacrifice.

[spirantho]

Trevor has more than proven his love of the Amiga with the amount of sacrifice he's made already, believe me!

[Rob]

Are you sure this wasn't the game all along? To make some quick cash and move on?
I wish we had of kept only the people who would stick with the platform at great sacrifice.

Nothing in the release implies that the internal structure of Varisys has in anyway changed.  They simply now a subsidiary of Ultra.

[orb85750]

Are you sure this wasn't the game all along? To make some quick cash and move on?
I wish we had of kept only the people who would stick with the platform at great sacrifice.

Make some quick cash??

[Rob]

Make some quick cash??

I think he assumed that the founders have left.  I think that it was probably more of an opportunity to grow the business.

edit

Hi Rose

No super secret information here or claimed as such.  What damage is there to control BTW.

[utri007]

Are you sure this wasn't the game all along? To make some quick cash and move on?
I wish we had of kept only the people who would stick with the platform at great sacrifice.

Best joke for very long time :-D

[haywirepc]

If any of you truly believe some parent company one look at something like x1000 as a waste of resources or a no profit product that costs more to produce than the profit it generates, a waste of resources and time, sucking cash from their bottom line your all on drugs.

Business people don't care about anything but profits. They won't allow a subsidiary of theirs to dump time, money or r+d into non profitable projects.

[Rob]

If any of you truly believe some parent company one look at something like x1000 as a waste of resources or a no profit product that costs more to produce than the profit it generates, a waste of resources and time, sucking cash from their bottom line your all on drugs.

Business people don't care about anything but profits. They won't allow a subsidiary of theirs to dump time, money or r+d into non profitable projects.

You are even crazier if you somehow believed that A-EON had some kind of special privilege with Varisys.  Fact is that he (Trevor) paid them the going rate for a service and they provided the service, simples.  Parent company won't give a flying duck what they do so long as it's profitable and they get their share.

[Seiya]

i presume that in the future, some problems could be arrive...

[klx300r]

i presume that in the future, some problems could be arrive...

@thread

A-EON has issued a press release on the matter. from their facebook page:

Quote:     Following the news that Varisys, our hardware partners and designers of  the Nemo motherboard, had been acquired by Ultra Electronics, we have  been in close communication with regards current and ongoing development  projects. Adam Barnes, Technical Director commented: "We are looking  forward to continuing our relationship with A-EON and the Amiga  community. We always hoped to develop IP for embedded applications  through the A-EON projects, and that has not changed one bit." Paul  Gentle, General Manager added: "Adam and I are staying with the  business, and are excited by the future prospects and opportunities that  will arise." A-EON Technology Director Matthew Leaman commented, "We  wish to congratulate Varisys on their acquisition by Ultra Electronics  and look forward to strengthening our close working relationship".

it appears it's business as usual for A-Eon & Varisys

[commodorejohn]

That's good to hear.