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Investment fund takes stage in Emizon’s future

The Emizon Group has received a significant boost from a regional investment fund to supports its ambitions of becoming a global provider of secure, managed messaging services specifically for any current or future IP/broadband networks.

The South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF), a private and public sector investment vehicle specialising in high-tech businesses, has invested £500,000 for a 6.5% stake in the Emizon Group - an injection of cash that will go towards a rapid acceleration of the roll-out of the Group's Emizon 21 service both in the UK and Ireland.

Emizon will also now be seeking to aggressively expand operations in the US, and confirm plans for the forthcoming launch of its service in Europe, Australia and South Africa.

Chris Fitzsimmons, Investment Manager at South Yorkshire Investment Fund, says:  "We recognise that Emizon is about the practical application of leading edge technology to every day business. It has a technology without boundaries, and with truly global potential, we are delighted to invest in its future.

"Emizon is already working collaboratively across the security industry with alarm panel manufacturers, alarm receiving centres (ARCs) and installers, to ensure that the industry harnesses the potential of monitoring over current and future network technologies, whilst protecting the security needs of customers for the long term.  This investment will help underpin the work that has already been done in the UK, and accelerate the speed with which the our service can be delivered internationally"

Since its launch at IFSEC in May 2007, Emizon has sold in excess of 2,500 units and is fast becoming the largest IP signalling service in the UK.  Connections in the Republic of Ireland are growing steadily and in excess of 50 installers are now active users of the service.

"The ability to properly and safely ‘manage' the signal ‘end-to-end' - i.e. between an alarm panel and the ARC - has been a key requirement since the concept of security monitoring over an IP network was first mooted," explains Geoff Girdler, Chief Executive of the Emizon Group.

"What our service does ensure that any interference to the signal can be detected, whether that interference is malicious or accidental, and a second ‘path' (hence the term ‘dual-path' technology similarly used in ‘traditional' non-IP-based communications) ensures the alarm message is transmitted even if the first ‘path' is down.

"This is crucial in any security application, but especially for banks and building societies where the implications of an alarm being activated but not received by the monitoring station could be catastrophic.  South Yorkshire Investment Fund has seen the potential for this service and their investment will enable us to expedite our plan."

South Yorkshire Investment Fund provides seedcorn, loan and equity linked investments, ranging from £15k to £2.5m, and specifically to help small and medium businesses meet the gaps in funding they need for growth and development.