Control Instruments OmniBridge, parent company of Tripmaster Corp., announced Thursday, May 3, that it has added significant substance to its global presence through a two-part transaction with longstanding partner, Siemens VDO.
Control Instruments has exclusively represented Siemens VDO Automotive in sub-Saharan Africa for more than 60 years. In addition, since 1997, CI OmniBridge has been the sole and exclusive developers of the Siemens VDO Fleet Manager range of products and services. This product range, in turn, has been sold throughout the Siemens VDO distribution network in more than 40 countries worldwide.
In terms of this contract, both companies agreed that CI OmniBridge will take over global distribution of the Siemens VDO Fleet Manager product range. CI OmniBridge will sell the products through the existing Siemens VDO channel partners, as well as its own network. The products will continue to be branded VDO for the next two years.
Furthermore, CI OmniBridge has purchased the Datatrak, Fleet Telematics and One Stop Shop business from Siemens VDO Automotive’s United Kingdom trading subsidiary. About 80 employees from the United Kingdom business will transfer to CI OmniBridge Ltd, the newly formed United Kingdom entity that subsequently will become the United Kingdom and European headquarters for CI OmniBridge.
This part of the transaction will result in CI OmniBridge increasing its market share and subscriber base in the United Kingdom and Europe significantly, the company says. CI OmniBridge will open a branch office in Germany in order to service its European client base; this office will be staffed by key former Siemens VDO employees.
This transaction, terms of which were not announced, will increase CI OmniBridge’s global presence and provide the company with direct distribution networks in Europe, the Middle East, Australasia and South America, along with its existing networks in the United States, sub-Saharan Africa and Brazil.
“This transaction will see customers enjoying a continuity of service, improved access to the products and direct service through a more efficient value chain,” says Charles Tasker, managing director of CI OmniBridge. “This transaction logically follows our Tripmaster acquisition in the U.S. last year and supports our globalization strategy.”
