Motorola Solutions® To Buy Psion®

Consolidation in the automated identification and data collection (AIDC) space continues. On 15 June 2012, Motorola Solutions Inc.®, the AIDC market leader, announced that it is buying rival Psion Plc.®, which makes handheld and forklift-mounted mobile computers for industrial use. Motorola Solutions has an estimated mobile computer market share of greater than 40%; Psion has an estimated share of about 3%.

The Psion headquarters is in London, but the firm's primary operation is in Mississauga, just outside Toronto, Canada. Psion has been a leader in mobile computing solutions since 1980. The firm has over 800 employees and customers in over 50 countries. 2011 revenues were approximately US$273 million. The purchase price is 88 pence (US$1.36) per share, or around US$200 million.

Greg Brown, the chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions, said that Psion's ruggedized handheld and forklift-mounted computers will "deepen" the Motorola Solutions "presence" in various global markets. Traditionally, Psion has done well in distribution and warehousing, especially in Europe. Upon completion of the acquisition, Psion will be merged into the Motorola Solutions Enterprise Mobile Computing business, reporting to Girish Rishi.