Highland industrial analytics firm C3global is now under US ownership after being snapped up by Pennsylvania-based software giant Bentley Systems.
C3global, which has its headquarters in Dingwall and also operates through offices in Aberdeen, Sale in Cheshire and Australia, provides specialist software which helps companies boost their operational performance by improving analysis and decision-making.
Its propriety AssetWise Amulet product is used as a predictive tool by blue-chip firms including Babcock, BP, Chevron, Danfoss and National Grid, providing crucial insight into their business operations and infrastructure.
The business was founded in 1996 by two of its directors, Neil Rothwell and Pete Kelly.
Chief executive David Smith joined them in 2008 from Fujitsu, where he was managing director of public services.
The management trio are staying on following the firm’s takeover by Bentley, which was for an undisclosed sum.
C3global will keep its name and continue to operate from Dingwall Business Park, where it employs 25 people.
The firm has another seven staff in its Sale office and eight overseas.
It said yesterday it had “aspirations for local business expansion” and plans to scale up C3global internationally.
Mr Smith added: “All of us at C3global look forward to working side by side with our new colleagues at Bentley to further advance just-in-time data analysis for improved decision-making and, ultimately, enhanced asset performance and owner-operator value.
“Joining with Bentley to introduce asset performance modeling for industrial-scale infrastructure was absolutely compelling.
“Bentley’s comprehensive portfolio of software for sustaining infrastructure will offer new and exciting opportunities to more broadly apply AssetWise Amulet’s operational analytics capabilities.”
Bentley, founded in 1984, produces software to aid the design, construction and operation of infrastructure. It has in excess of 3,000 employees in more than 50 countries, with £394million-plus in annual revenue. Since 2006, it has invested more than £650million in research, development and acquisitions.