Optimation, Dumont announce merger

P>System integrators Dumont Associates and Optimation Technology Inc. recently announced plans to merge. The two firms report that Dumont will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Optimation. The companies are completing the due diligence process, and expect to complete a final agreement soon.

By Control Engineering Staff September 4, 2003

System integrators Dumont Associates and Optimation Technology Inc . recently announced plans to merge. The two firms report that Dumont will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Optimation. The companies are completing the due diligence process, and expect to complete a final agreement soon.

Bill Pollock, Optimation’s president, envisions that the merged company will have many strong groups in diverse geographical locations around the United States. ”This will enable us to support large corporate clients with many remote operations more easily. In addition, Optimation and Dumont have strategic relationships with large vendors; having multiple locations and more diverse technical skills will make the combined firm a more valued business partner,” says Pollock. ”Dumont Associates adds exciting new talent and geographic presence. We know the combined firm will be better able to succeed than either standing alone.”

Dumont has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, an area in which Optimation would like to grow. Optimation will bring to Dumont an array of engineering and programming skills. In addition, Optimation has invested heavily in a fully integrated, browser-based software solution—Vision developed by Deltek—which is specifically for professional services and project businesses. Deltek’s Vision will help both companies better serve clients, and leverage resources of both more effectively and competitively.

In addition, both companies already have a similar culture and business methodologies, which means clients will see very little change in how Dumont does business. Dumont will continue to operate under the same name and existing personnel. Mike Dumont adds that, ”Dumont Associates has many large clients headquartered here in New England that have operations scattered throughout North America. This merger will provide us both the bandwidth and closer proximity to the end-user to capture a significantly larger share of their business ”.

Mike and Carol Dumont, as shareholders of Optimation, will also be employees and managers of Dumont Associates. Dumont’s engineering staff is expected to grow, in addition to being augmented by Optimation’s resources.

This merger is part of an overall plan of strategic growth by Optimation. During the past year Optimation acquired Klug Systems (Rochester, NY) and Omnia Technology (Houston, TX), and formed a partnership with Quantum Automation (Detroit, MI).

—Jim Montague, news editor, Control Engineering, jmontague@reedbusiness.com