UXC acquires Queensland metering outfit

ASX-listed integrator, UXC Group (ASX:UXC), has acquired IT outfit, Datec Queensland, for an undisclosed sum.

Datec provides metering and billing solutions and has a range of meter data management and utility billing products called Toht. As part of the aquisition UXC has also brought the intellectual property for the products.

UXC executive chairman, Geoff Lord, said the deal came about when Datec's parent company, Datec Investments, changed hands.

"We were interested in it because it fits in with our metering technology business," Lord said. "It also lends significant support to what we call embedded metering, where you have a general meter and it allocates costs within the building. "It's not a big business. They work with utilities in Queensland and we intend to try and make them national."

Lord said the company will also help build UXC's engineering solutions capability.

All 12 Datec staff will be retained including its management team. The business will be integrated into the UXC Engineering Solutions division, which is run by general manager energy, Ian Marshal.

Most of Datec's Queensland utilities customers were already UXC clients, Lord said.

"This acquisition will really strengthen our relationship with them," he said.

Earlier this year UXC acquired Sydney-based Lucid IT and Getronics, to help boost its managed services game.