Here is the press release for the recent merger of Knowledge Computing Corporation and i2 Ltd. I was part of KCC’s lead investor group and served as Chairman of the Board until the merger:
Tucson, Ariz., July 17 — Knowledge Computing Corporation (KCC), KCC, the premier provider of crime-fighting solutions to leading edge law enforcement agencies nationwide, and makers of the award winning COPLINK Solution Suite®, announced today that it has completed its merger with i2, the premier provider of visual analysis software. “This is a historic event in the company’s evolution” said Robert Griffin former President/CEO of KCC and CEO of newly merged companies, “together; our ability to provide our clients a complete lifecycle solution from the tactical officer through the intelligence community and beyond is unsurpassed in the market. As to what this means for Tucson, KCC plans to retain its operations here and continue to expand them.”
“Our key decision was to focus on the law enforcement market,” CEO Griffin said, “which was struggling with outdated technology that was preventing vital information from getting to the right people in a timely manner. Our mission from day one was to become the leader in providing investigative assistance from the field officer to the command staff with the goal of helping them solve crimes with maximum speed and efficiency.”
Since 2003, KCC’s lead investor has been an affiliate of Tucson real estate and investment firm Diamond Ventures, Inc. “We’re always on the lookout for promising local software and technology companies with the potential to become world-class competitors,” said Tucson business lawyer Robert Fortuno, who oversees technology investments for Diamond Ventures and served as Chairman of KCC’s Board of Directors before the merger. “KCC was a perfect fit—innovative software addressing the critical needs of a market of vital importance to all of us, and a strong, experienced management team capable of achieving results.” Fortuno went on to say, “With new ventures like KCC emerging on the local scene every day, there are lots of interesting companies germinating in our back yard.”
With more than 220,000 law enforcement users, the COPLINK Solution Suite is rapidly becoming the standard for tactical lead generation and analysis in the law enforcement world. With i2’s proven track record of delivering intelligence analysis and visualization solutions to public safety, military, national security and commercial organizations, the newly combined firm is ideally positioned to meet the growing demand for solutions that address an increasingly complex global threat environment.
The new company will have 350 global employees—with 100 of them in Tucson—and support a combined 4,500 public and private sector clients in 149 countries. Under terms of the merger agreement, the new entity will be called i2 and continue to have primary operations in the United States (McLean, VA and Tucson, AZ) and in the United Kingdom (Cambridge).
About KCC
Since its formation in 1998, Knowledge Computing Corp. has provided technology-based crime-fighting solutions to leading edge law enforcement agencies nationwide. COPLINK supports over 3,000 jurisdictions nationwide. Spanning across 20 states, and including four of the nation’s five largest cities, COPLINK is helping law enforcement officers fight crime, thwart terrorism and improve community safety through comprehensive information sharing.
About i2
Founded in 1990, i2 is the leading provider of intelligence and investigation management software for public safety, military, national security and commercial organizations. The Intelligence-led Operations Platform launched in May, enables analysts and investigators to quickly understand complex scenarios and volumes of seemingly unrelated data, perform analysis and communicate the results. More than 2,000 organizations in over 115 countries rely on i2 road-tested technology to prevent crime and terrorism by uncovering hidden connections faster and making the right decision at the right time.
About Diamond Ventures
Diamond Ventures, Inc., one of the leading real estate development and investment companies in Arizona, works with residential, office, retail and build-to-suit projects and investments in a variety of independent businesses across the state. Since opening in 1988, Diamond Ventures continues to engage in high quality real estate investments and business ventures that create value for its partners and customers, with careful consideration for the community, neighbors and the environment.
Robert A. Fortuno, P.C. 