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.