US software firm buys up Memex

MEMEX, the East Kilbride-based technology firm that lists the Los Angeles Police Department and the British Transport Police among its clients, has been snapped up by US software heavyweight SAS for an undisclosed sum.

The Scottish firm, which last year turned over about 8 million, will retain its 90 staff in the UK and will keep its R&D site in Scotland.

Chief executive David Carrick said about 20 managers and employees at Memex stood to benefit.

Carrick said the business would act as an independent division of SAS and he was looking forward to selling the company's products into the 118 markets in which SAS operates. He expects to package SAS's data analysis systems alongside Memex's existing software, which brings together information for police departments and other security agencies.