Pentafour's health & transport SW packages soon

Pentafour Software and Exports, with revenue of Rs 500
crore plus, is in the process of developing healthcare and transportation software
packages to be released in the second half of 2000-2001 fiscal.

The new products will feature extensive multimedia special
effects to make it `interactive information systems', the future technology, according to
the company's Chairman and Managing Director, V Chandrasekaran.

The company is also foraying into the Japanese, Australian
and European markets. To have the `local flavor' for better penetration into the markets,
Pentafour, is currently shopping for potential companies in these markets. "It
becomes essential to have an established local presence for issues such as language, trust
and confidence. This is very important for clients in the Government, Banking and
Financial sectors.

The associate partners will also focus on marketing our
enterprise solutions packages and services," said Chandrasekaran. It has earmarked an
investment of US $60 million for acquisitions and mergers. This is also expected to
increase upto US $100 million. To raise the fund, it has listed the company in the London
Stock exchange and is prepared for listing in the Nasdaq as well, if necessary.

With the multimedia division's order book presently valued
at US $ 160 million, Pentafour is planning to set up a production cum residential unit in
the Hollywood City of Los Angeles. With an investment of US $ 25 million, the 50,000 to
60,000 sq ft unit is expected to house 200 multimedia developers. It is expected to start
its operations by December 2000. A blue screen studio, hi-tech labs for 2D/3D and special
effects development, motion capture equipment and a full-fledged studio are some of the
features of the unit. While Sinbad is preparing for its premier on 15 August, Mr Right and
Alibaba are in the production stages.

While the CD manufacturing plant is being shifted to Dubai,
the content development of its CD Titles will still remain in Kelambakkam. In this regard
the company will work along with Anna University to develop interactive contents on school
subjects. It is already negotiating with the Malaysian and Singapore governments to render
its service in this segment. The company is also planning to develop interactive games CDs
to be marketed in the American and Japanese markets.