ZETES COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF PEAK TECHNOLOGIES EUROPE

Leveraging on the broadest pan-European support network and solutions portfolio in the Auto-ID market

The acquisition of PEAK Europe from PEAK Technologies Inc. has now been completed by Zetes, a leading pan-European systems integrator in the Automatic Identification industry for goods and people identification.

The addition of PEAKs European operations substantially reinforces the Companys presence in the UK, Germany and The Netherlands, and gives Zetes an operating base in Switzerland. Both companys customer base will also benefit from Zetes and PEAKs very complementary solution set.

Stronger pan-European and UK presence

Headquartered in Brussels, the Zetes Group has subsidiaries in 10 countries, with more than 450 employees, and generated consolidated revenues of 139.5 million Euros in 2005.

The acquisition of PEAK Europes four operating companies, with an annual turnover of 42 million dollars (in 2005), represents an investment of 7.7 million Euros.

Zetes is now integrating PEAKs direct operations and 115 staff, to maximise the Companys ability to continue to serve customers and build upon its leading market position. Although Zetes has existing subsidiaries in three of the four PEAK countries, the Company states that the locations and direct operations are all highly complementary.

In the UK, Zetes has an established base in the Manchester area, and PEAKs offices are located in Ascot, Berkshire. This, says the Company, greatly reinforces its ability to further increase its market share whilst better serving its large and established UK customer base.

Zetes UK operations will be co-managed by former PEAKs and Zetes UK managers, James Hannay and Peter Beacham.

A unique set of solutions and services

Although the base technologies that Zetes and PEAK use are very similar, PEAK is particularly strong in SAP-connected solutions for Manufacturing and in mobile in store solutions for Retail (where PEAK has a traditional stronghold with Nucleus IS Stock Audit and Nucleus IS - In Store software). Whereas, Zetes is the European market leader for Voice-directed solutions, an area that is still greenfield for PEAK Europes customer base.

The combination of both companys products and integration expertise and services, means that it is virtually unrivalled in its ability to serve all needs for Automatic Identification solutions, including voice recognition and RFID technologies, high performance products (such as IND vehicle terminals and Powersys Printers-Applicators), SAP Enterprise systems integration, and solutions aimed at vertical markets such as Manufacturing, Warehousing, Transport & Logistics and Retail.
These solutions can be made available to both companys customer base through the mechanism of Zetes international 3i Competence Centres, focusing on specific business domains and enabling technologies.

A major benefit for international customers

The acquisition of PEAK Europe fits perfectly with our ambition to extend our platform throughout Europe, with strong positions in the main countries such as the UK, where PEAK Europe generates 50% of its revenues said Alain Wirtz, CEO, Zetes Group.
This acquisition also adds value for all our customers, who are increasingly demanding even more extensive coverage throughout the EU, adds Alain Wirtz. Both PEAK Europes and Zetes customers can now rely on an organisation, with the most comprehensive pan-European market coverage available from a single-source Auto-ID provider and partner. We can now put more than 550 employees in 11 countries at the disposal of several thousands of users.

In addition, given the relationship that we have built up with PEAK Technologies, Inc., and with leading market positions in Europe and the US respectively, it will now be much easier for us to provide consistent support for trans-Atlantic customers.

About Zetes

Zetes (Euronext Brussels:ZTS), established in 1984, is a leading pan-European system integrator offering value-added solutions in the automatic Identification Industry (Auto-ID) for Goods ID and People ID. These solutions use both emerging and mature technologies (barcode, voice recognition, RFID, smartcards, biometrics) to optimize the business performance of any private and public customers in many market segments.

Zetes solutions are implemented in various sectors of activity: industry, transportation, logistics, distribution, healthcare, finance, telecommunications, government and public services. The Zetes Group has its headquarters in Brussels, with subsidiaries in Belgium, Germany, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.