Acquisition boosts SAS’ goal of security market leadership

Business analytics software and services company SAS has acquired Memex, a provider of intelligence management solutions with a strong presence in the law enforcement and homeland security markets.

Financial arrangements between the two private companies were not released.

With the acquisition SAS intends to carve out a global leadership position in the law enforcement and security market, CEO Jim Goodnight said today in a statement announcing the acquisition.

“The Memex acquisition is a key element of our global initiative to enhance our law enforcement, criminal justice, homeland security and intelligence offerings,” he said. “I want SAS to be the first company public security organizations call to help them apply analytics to solve crime and protect citizens.”

SAS intends to grow the business globally under the existing executive management team, the announcement said.

Memex is led by CEO David Carrick. Ian Manocha, managing director of SAS UK and Ireland, will serve as Memex chairman.

With the acquisition, SAS will also be able to target the emerging market for fusion centers, which combine the resources of multiple law enforcement agencies. Several U.S. states and major cities already have fusion centers that use Memex technology, SAS said.

The move is consistent with SAS’ strategy of acquiring companies with crucial technologies that enhance or extend SAS’ own product line, the announcement stated.

The acquisition will enable SAS to form the key element of an international business to sell both SAS and Memex solutions to the national security, intelligence and law enforcement communities, it added.

Based in Glasgow, Scotland, Memex has global clients in the law enforcement community that include the state police of Delaware, Michigan, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; the Kansas City Terrorism Early Warning Group; the Los Angeles and Philadelphia police departments; the Central California Intelligence Center; and the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime.