MapInfo Users Group of New Zealand

In a major milestone for the management of the nation's geospatial information resources, Cabinet has approved the New Zealand Geospatial Strategy.

Geospatial information - which describes the location and names of features on, above and below the earth's surface - is integral to practically all human activity. Emergency services, national defence, utilities, resource management, biosecurity, environmental protection, economic development, elections, land transactions, social services, Treaty of Waitangi settlements - the list of activities underpinned by accurate geospatial information in modern society is seemingly endless.

New Zealanders can be proud of the work that has been done to develop our geospatial information resources, from the efforts of our pioneering surveyors in the 19th Century through to the sophisticated digital databases of today. But there has been a lack of coordination and direction in the way these resources are developed and managed. There has also been duplication of effort, and sets of data collected by different agencies have not always been compatible. It is deficiencies like these that the Geospatial Strategy sets out to address.

This update and FAQ is designed to assist agencies in assessing how the proposed all of government purchase of aerial imagery may add value to their business needs and also to answer some initial technical questions.

The draft set of guidelines have been released, and are available from the members download area.

Private equity firms wanted to buy MapInfo Corp. as far back as the fall of 2005, leading to a frenzy of interest that ended with Pitney Bowes Inc.'s offer to buy the local software company last week for $408 million.
   
Details of the fast-paced negotiations, revealed this week in Securities and Exchange Commission filings, show that MapInfo's investment bankers contacted more than 30 potential buyers in December at the behest of a special committee made up of independent members of its board.

That small committee was created in October to look into the possible sale of the North Greenbush-based company, which sells mapping software and data used by businesses and government.

Executives from MapInfo Corp. are poised to make millions of dollars from the company's acquisition by Pitney Bowes Inc.
   
MapInfo CEO Mark Cattini stands to make roughly $5.6 million from the deal, which is expected to close in the next couple of months.

Cattini and other MapInfo executives hold options to purchase MapInfo stock that they received as part of their compensation packages.

To Our Valued Customers:

On March 15, 2007, Pitney Bowes announced that it has entered into a merger agreement to acquire MapInfo Corporation.

I firmly believe, as does our management team and Board of Directors, that this is the right move, at the right time, with the right partner – Pitney Bowes. This is all about creating a better future for our customers, our employees, and our partners. For MapInfo, it will always be about Customer First. This is first among our core values and is a priority shared by Pitney Bowes.

Even though we've just made the announcement, the merger is expected to close in the next two months. Upon closing, it is anticipated that MapInfo will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Pitney Bowes within its software segment. As a combined entity, we will be delivering better products and services.

In the interim, this merger will not affect your relationship with MapInfo or MapInfo's Business Partners. Our current offerings will continue to be supported. Your MapInfo and Partner contacts will all remain the same. They will be contacting you with new information as available.

We sincerely appreciate your business. I will continue to lead MapInfo and will personally ensure our unwavering commitment to your continued success.

Kind regards,



Mark Cattini
President and Chief Executive Officer

Some commentry on this letter. 

- I received the e-mail on Monday, 19/3. The deal was announced last Thursday, 15/3. I know these things are complex, but we suspected management was pretty out of the loop and maybe didn't get a heads up to get this out earlier?

- The deal is referred to as a "merger" not an acquisition. Business people tell me that's normal.

- The e-mail confirms the customer focus: "For MapInfo, it will always be about Customer First." That didn't come up with such force in our conversations with Pitney Bowes and MapInfo execs, especially when I asked about support/plans for non-business users, like those in government.

- And, it's business as usual. Business people tell me that's what they all say, at least at first. Then there's change!