Terralink Stays In New Zealand Ownership

NZ Aerial Mapping Ltd (“NZAM”) and Animation Research Ltd (“ARL”) are pleased to announce the acquisition of the business of Terralink Ltd.

The new company will be known as Terralink International Ltd (“TIL”), effective from 1 June 2001.

Managing Directors of the acquiring companies, Ian Taylor (ARL) and Craig Atchison (NZAM which also incorporates the business of eMAP) say there are obvious synergies between the three companies.

“The new company will combine the strengths of three organisations which are all specialists in their fields,” says Mr Atchison.

“Terralink is a great New Zealand institution that’s breaking new ground in land data, mapping and GIS (Geographic Information Systems), utilising advanced technological solutions while NZAM (incorporating eMAP) provides high quality aerial surveying and digital mapping services and ARL is an innovative software developer in 3D visualisation,” says Mr Atchison.

ARL is probably best known for its involvement in Virtual Spectator, which saw the America’s Cup brought alive on television screens around the world and the Bluebird skiing penguin and the Air New Zealand flying birds in tv advertisements.

“It became apparent to us that the work being undertaken by Terralink closely matched our vision going forward and we’re very excited about purchasing an exceptional New Zealand company and keeping the ownership within New Zealand,” says Mr Taylor.

The new company will build on a combined customer base that includes both local and international organisations.

Terralink Ltd recently added 55 new staff to its Palmerston North office to meet the needs of an American customer. NZ Aerial Mapping has a strong New Zealand and Australian customer base and also flies its planes around the country and the world to capture aerial data on behalf of its clients. Animation Research has recently completed a project on behalf of Discovery Channel, which included 3D mapping of the South Island terrain for the Southern Traverse.

“It’s great to be able to utilise the expertise that exists within these three companies. As we build on our complementary knowledge and experience, new products and service solutions will become available to the local and offshore markets,” says Mr Atchison.

“The new company’s comprehensive product and service offerings combined with its world class capabilities has the potential to make it a significant contributor to New Zealand’s reputation as a leader in this field,” says Mr Atchison.

“The ability to utilise the skills and experience of all three companies and offer the best products and services from a New Zealand base, provides an unique opportunity for a brain gain, rather than a brain drain,” says Mr Taylor.
Ends

About New Zealand Aerial Mapping

Established in 1936 in Hastings, New Zealand, by Piet van Asch, NZAM is New Zealand’s leading provider of high-quality aerial surveying and mapping. NZAM purchased Aeroplan (NZ) Ltd in February 1995 resulting in the combination of aerial imagery capabilities with digital land datasets and services. NZAM and eMAP employ a total of 65 staff, with offices in Auckland, Wellington and Hastings. In 2000, NZAM formed eMAP Limited, the premier supplier of geographic information system (GIS) services in New Zealand. eMAP systems produce highly accurate latitude, longitudinal and height data, down to decimetre level accuracy, which is used to create computer generated imagery for a wide variety of applications, from entertainment and recreation, to broadcast television sports coverage and documentary productions, to infrastructure planning, to emergency services deployment and coordination. Visit NZAM at www.nzam.com.

About Animation Research Limited

Dunedin based Animation Research Ltd (ARL) is one of Australasia's leading 3D computer animation and visualisation companies. Formed in 1989, ARL has won numerous awards for its work in 3D computer animations for television commercials as well as awards for its innovative software solutions. Recognised internationally for its groundbreaking sports graphics, particularly The America’s Cup graphics, ARL has also been at the forefront of 3D terrain modelling and visualisation.
Last year ARL transferred all of its sporting technologies to a new company, Virtual Spectator, set up with a number of investors from New Zealand, Australia and the United States. Since then the company has been concentrating on new initiatives such as the 3D terrain modelling it developed for its golf graphics application as well as a new Court Evidentiary Display System which was used for the first time at the Bouwer depositions hearing in Dunedin.
Additional capital was raised earlier this year when ARL sold off 12.5% of the company to a group Dunedin businessmen.

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