Compudyne to focus on multimedia

By S. Varadharajan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 4. Compudyne Winfosystems (CWL), a listed company based in Bangalore and engaged in customised software development and services, system integration and networking, consultancy and multimedia, will focus on emerging technologies such as broadband, convergence, media, CAD/CAM/CAE and re-engineering.

The core areas of competency of the company are equally divided into two divisions. The Winfonet division concentrates on software development and services and the Digital Art Media (DAM) on multimedia services.

Mr. Avishkar Dahiya, President of the company, told this correspondent that considering the slowdown in information technology, particularly in the field of e-commerce and internet applications, the management had decided to scale up the multimedia division to overcome the effects of slowdown. In that process, the company had been able to successfully clinch a deal in June this year for acquiring assets of the Los Angeles based Vision Art Studios for providing 3D character animation and special effects to movies and TV serials. This unit has been renamed as Digital Art Media.

Further, the company has also acquired multimedia assets of Santa Monica Studio of Los Angeles for a total consideration of $ 4 million against the issue of 5.68 lakh equity shares of Rs. 10 each at a premium of Rs. 155.

CWL has also established a wholly-owned subsidiary in France, on the invitation of the French Government, to enhance the market share in European countries. It has now overseas offices in California, Florida, New Jersey in the U.S. and Softopia and Tokyo in Japan and France and Germany in Europe.

Mr. Dahiya said 2000-01 was a successful year with the revenue growing four-fold to Rs. 26.26 crores from Rs. 6.43 crores and the net profit to Rs. 6.48 crores from Rs. 1.93 crores.

Mr. Marc Kolbe, President of Digital Art Media (formerly Vision Art, a wholly owned subsidiary of the U.S.-based Santa Monica Studios), said this unit had provided VFX support to every major Hollywood studio.

Mr. Marc Kolbe said DAM would play a greater role in changing the perception and teach the film community how to work with computer animation and computer effects. DAM would train the industry's professionals the proper procedures so that they could have the best work, without spending high costs.

He said Vision Art had created special effects for many feature films such as Godzilla, Independence Day, Men in Black and Dr. Dolittle.

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