Cybex Computer Products Corporation, a provider of network hardware used to manage servers and data centres, and Apex Inc., which specialises in server console management and switching technology, have announced an agreement to combine in a merger valued at about $2 billion (€2.07 billion).

The international operations of the new organisation will be based in Shannon. Cybex currently employs more than 100 people here and is moving to a greenfield site as it expects to double in size within a short time.

Until now, Apex Inc. was Cybex's main competitor globally. The new organisation will be the main provider of solutions for managing data centres and Internet hosting sites.