A company that predicts impending disasters has been sold for an undisclosed sum, thought to run into millions of pounds.

Wire, which operates from the Sussex Innovations Centre, was set up in 1994 to gather statistics on the type of data insurance companies find invaluable.

It uses robots to scour the internet for facts about weather patterns or high incidents of arson across the globe, which are then passed on to the insurance brokers.

With these kind of tip-offs, the brokers are able go some way to predicting the number of claims they may receive, enabling them to set their premiums accordingly.

It also helps law firms dealing with personal injury cases by calling up information about the outcome of similar cases.

Wire has been bought by the Willis Group, which has its headquarters in London.

It is one of only three major risk management and insurance inter-mediaries that operate worldwide.

Rowan Douglas, Wire founder and managing director, said: "We have been waiting for some time to find the right deal to take us to the next stage of our expansion. It was an opportunity we could not resist."

Michael Herd, executive director of the Innovations Centre and Sussex Businessman Of The Year, said he was delighted to see another business take off and be replaced by a new venture.

He said: "Wire is another successful exit from the centre which means all the original companies have moved on and up.

"The team are specialists in information that forecasts earthquakes and similar events, so insurance companies can set their premiums early.

"The firm's ideas guaranteed it was sure to attract attention from a big player like Willis."

"We have had a number of high-profile success stories which proves how well the centre works."

Taking the place of Wire is silicon chip design company iS3 which deals with everything from the initial idea for a chip to delivering the finished parts.

The company, which moved from London, is optimistic it will find the kind of people it wants to recruit in Sussex.

Andy Howarth, design systems director, said: "Both universities turn out high calibre graduates.

"A lot of people think design is just a mechanical process but it's quite artistic in a way and Brighton is a good place to find talented and conscientious workers."