09/17/2008 15h32
Omnilink plans expansion in Latin American markets
Gazeta Mercantil - 09/17/2008
One year after the merger with Rodosis, which operates in the market of independent truck drivers and small-sized carriers, and ControlLoc, Omnilink gets ready to new challenges. The company, which is a provider of tracking systems for cars and cargo, is evaluating its internationalization. The president of Omnilink, Cilineu Nunes, said the emerging markets, mainly Latin America, are being evaluated by the company. "With the merger with Zatics, we may have access to new markets, since it already operates internationally", said Nunes. According to him, it is still an incipient project, but the purpose of the company is to offer tracking solutions in other countries. The process of reorganization of the company initiated on October 1, 2007 with the association with Patria Investimentos and the implementation of the strategic plan of consolidation of the car tracking market by means of organic growth and acquisition of companies and concurrent technologies - HAL-9000, Rodosis, ControlLoc and CData. In the first seven months of the year, the company already sold 45% more than what was registered during the whole year of 2007. Regarding the number of tracking devices, the company doubled its installed base, and the perspective, according to Cileneu Nunes, is to increase by 175% the number of tracking systems until the end of 2008, reaching the mark of 50 thousand systems. "From 2002 to 2007 we grew 630%, from 2.5 thousand tracking devices installed to 18.2 thousand pieces of equipment. It is a relevant growth, but it is still lower than the goal traced for this year, which is to reach 50 thousand tracking devices". Nunes adds that, regarding the gross income, the increase followed the same rates, thus registering an increase of 640% in the period from 2002 to 2007, reaching the mark of R$ 52 million (US$ 26.9 million), in 2007. The executive emphasized that since they joined Patria Investimentos, all the profit Omnilink had is reinvested in the very company. "That guarantees us energy for such growth. And we do not rule out the acquisition of other companies. We are in the market ", said Nunes. Omnilink, however, does not evaluate the initial public offer of shares in the short term. According to the officer, this alternative for capitalization is not yet required.
