Madrid, Spain: Amadeus, the leading global distribution system (GDS) and technology provider and 30% shareholder in Optims, last night agreed to buy an additional 35% of the capital of Optims, giving it a 65% shareholding in the leading European supplier of IT services to the hospitality industry. Amadeus has agreed to pay €3.90 per share to Optims’ founders and financial investors. The transaction is still subject to clearance from the competition authorities. If the transaction proceeds, Amadeus will file a tender offer with the French stock market authorities to the remaining Optims shareholders, at the same cash price of €3.90 per share.
About Optims - With 12 global offices worldwide and an important presence in Europe – mainly France, Germany and Spain - settled in Singapore and the US, Optims serves over 6,500 customers in more than 70 countries. With 25 years experience, Optims develops and implements Information Technology solutions dedicated to optimising management methods and revenues. Optims has been serving the Hospitality, Tourism, Catering, Transport and Travel Industries through three complementary technologies. These include Property Management Systems (PMS), Yield Management Solutions known as Revenue Management Systems (RMS) and Central Reservation Systems (CRS). Optims issued its Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the Paris Stock Exchange’s Nouveau Marché in June 2000 (ISIN: FR0004165975; mnemo: OPT; SICOVAM code: 007652) Further information about Optims is available at .
Amadeus Global Travel Distribution - (MAD: AMS) Amadeus is the leading global distribution system (GDS) and technology provider, serving the marketing, sales and distribution needs of the world's travel and tourism industries. Its comprehensive GDS data processing centre serves over 64,000 travel agency locations and more than 16,000 airline sales offices, totalling around 360,000 points of sale located in over 210 markets worldwide. Through the Amadeus GDS, travel agencies and airline offices can make bookings on 95 per cent of the world's scheduled airline seats. The system also provides access to 51,000 hotel properties, some 50 car rental companies serving over 26,000 locations, as well as ferry, rail, cruise, tour operators and insurance companies. Amadeus is a leading IT solutions provider to the airline industry. Over 140 airlines use Amadeus’ Altéa Sell as the sales and reservation system in their offices, to provide passengers with superior and seamless service at optimal cost. Amadeus’ new generation Customer Management Solutions include Altéa Plan (inventory management system) and Altéa Fly (departure control system). British Airways, Qantas and Finnair are the first customers to implement these solutions. e-Travel, Amadeus’ e-commerce business unit, is the global leader in online travel technology and corporate travel management solutions. It services travel agencies in 90 countries, and powers the websites of over 260 corporations and more than 60 airlines and hotels. Amadeus is headquartered in Madrid, Spain and quoted on the Madrid, Paris and Frankfurt stock exchanges. For the year ended 31 December 2003, the company reported revenues of EUR 1,929m and net income excluding special items of EUR 158.4m. The Amadeus data centre is in Erding (near Munich), Germany and its principal development offices are located in Sophia Antipolis (near Nice), France. The company has 5,000 employees worldwide. More information about Amadeus is available at: .
Dominique Sacrez
Marketing & Communication Manager
