Tops augments Global ePoint's Perpetual line

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.--Global ePoint, a manufacturer of digital video surveillance solutions under the Perpetual and Sequent product lines, has agreed to acquire Tops Digital Security, a provider of high-end enterprise surveillance systems based in Ontario, Calif. Tops will receive 625,000 shares of Global stock, valued at $4 per share, for a total purchase price of $2.5 million. Tops has the potential to earn additional shares by meeting earning goals. Currently, Tops projects $8 million in revenues for 2006. "What attracted us was their products and solutions," said Stuart Unger, director of sales for Global ePoint. He said Tops' high-end video surveillance solutions "are at the highest level," allowing Global ePoint to enter markets such as casino gaming and government. Global ePoint didn't previously have the capability to service enterprise-level solutions. Now it can provide a solution capable of handling "hundreds or thousands" of cameras, with scalability all at the highest quality levels. "Unlike some competitors," said Allen Yung, Tops executive vice president of sales, "who take consumer grade and modify, we designed strictly for gaming, knowing that if we got inside gaming, our detail was there to take it to market in just about any other arena. No one demands higher quality than casinos." Rafael Hong, vice president of strategy and product development at Tops, noted that the Tops video management system's scalability was also particularly suitable for retail environments. That will be particularly helpful "as we grow our integration channel," said Unger. "We want to position ourselves with integrators who have national footprints." He also hopes to attract integrators with training methods that involve web casting and on-site visits, marketing collateral and possibly scheduled symposiums. Tops has an internal certification program, as well, that has certified the security directors at six gaming locations and one integrator. In an indication that this strategy is paying off, Global announced in mid-April an order for 500 Perpetual Digital cameras to service a surveillance system at Florida's largest liquor store chain.