Speedwing - Press Releases

	Press Releases

	Kale Acquires Software Assets from Speedwing Kale Consultants Limited (KCL), a leading provider and developer of enterprise application software products for Airlines and Banking today announced a strategic acquisition of some important software assets from Speedwing, the independent operating division of British Airways. The contract will transfer the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and marketing rights for three Cargo systems: Cargo Systems Partnership (CSP), Amber Cargo Revenue Accounting and Mercury Operations. It will also transfer the support, maintenance and exclusive marketing rights of the COPS, the world's most widely used Passenger Revenue Accounting proration system to KCL. The combination of KCL's existing proration product APEX and COPS will make Kale the undisputed market leader for proration systems in the world. The acquisition has been facilitated by a change in both British Airways' and Speedwing's business strategy. British Airway's decision to outsource its TPF (reservations and DCS) systems and Speedwing's hosted reservations service to Amadeus, means that maintaining the software development business is no longer a focus area for Speedwing. Speedwing is now concentrating on its existing consulting and mobile communications businesses and is growing its increasingly successful outsourcing operation, WorldWide Working. Kale is also focusing on consolidating it's position in the airline software business having created a suite of successful products for Passenger Revenue Accounting software. The addition of cargo products will widen its product portfolio as well as provide cross-selling opportunities of Kale's products and services to the customers acquired worldwide. Speedwing's MD Steve Dunning said "We feel that the interests of customers of these products are best served by transferring ownership of the software to a specialist company, who is able to invest in further development. We chose KCL because they combined an exciting vision with the determination to become a leading provider of advanced passenger and cargo systems. We have worked with KCL for over 5 years and believe that they also have a strong commitment to customer service." KCL already enjoys a leadership position in the Airlines Passenger Revenue Accounting Solutions segment. This acquisition will enable it to expand and consolidate its market share through Cargo suite products and double its existing client base. The acquisition will add 20 international airlines - 9 clients in Europe,5 in Asia Pacific,2 in the US and 4 in ME&Africa. to Kale's client base. Speaking on the occasion Mr. Vipul Jain, Managing Director, Kale Consultants Ltd. said that, "We are very excited by the opportunity that this represents for both our customers as well as ourselves. We are buying a suite of "best of breed" products that incorporate the latest technology and best practices. This allows Kale to provide a wide range of "client-centric " solutions from our products portfolio We plan to invest further into product development as well as in creating a global customer support infrastructure. Our vision is to be the # 1 provider of choice in our chosen businesses and this is an important step forward." Both companies believe that their customers' interests are best served by this acquisition. For Speedwing it would mean that its clients' interests are in safe hands, given Kale's increased commitment to the airline industry. For Kale, its ability to address a larger segment of the airline industry with a wider suite of products will enable it to strengthen its marketing network as well as support teams worldwide and thus support both its existing customers as well as those who come on board now more efficiently. The agreement requires KCL to meet current service levels that Speedwing has already contracted with its clients. There will be a three months transition period during which Speedwing will continue to support their clients to enable smooth transition to KCL. On its part KCL is in the process of setting up European operations with a base in London to enable this and ensure that the clients operations are not affected during this transition.

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