Visma Asa News

Effective January 1, 2002, Xantic MPC (former SpecTec MPC) was sold to the management backed by a group of investors. The new owners are: Øystein Moan, CEO Visma ASA, former owner of the SpecTec Group, former CEO of the Cinet Group and chairman of the SpecTec Group; Tore Bjerkan, CFO Visma ASA; Thomas Falck; Partner Four Seasons Venture AS, former CEO of the SpecTec Group and former chairman of Xantic MPC; Allen Amos, Sales Director CCT; Tore Kirkedam, Managing Director CCT . Xantic BV decided to sell the hardware division as part of a strategy to focus more on its core business, airtime and software. The new owners will continue operations, focusing on development, production and sale of specialized, class approved computer equipment.

Last month marked the debut of one of the marine industry’s more exciting new e-commerce offerings — www.MaritimeJobs.com — which, as its name suggests, is positioned to provide all marine industry companies with a venue to find and hire the best talent available. As the world, and particularly the U.S., economy continues to surge, it has become increasingly difficult for companies to hire and retain talented individuals, both onboard and shoreside. Couple with that the continued movement of younger workers from traditional industrial positions to the technology sector, and the result is a projected worker shortage, which is already starting to take hold.

The satellite communications sector of the marine market has not been immune from the corporate consolidations that have swept all other corners of the industry, and while this particular niche has been widely regarded as fragmented, it is yet to be seen what the end effect will be for the communication users. However, it can be assumed that competition is still keen, and the name of the communication game continues to center on quality, reliability and capabilities. With an increasing emphasis on the transmission of data rather than traditional voice or fax, it can be assumed that continued efforts will center on widening the information "pipeline" between vessel and shore.

Station 12, the Netherlands-based mobile satellite communications company, has signed an agreement with Visma ASA for the acquisition of its marine division, SpecTec. The price for SpecTec is $75.4 million in cash plus the assumption of net inter-company debt of $893,000. SpecTec is a leading supplier of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software, which has been designed to improve efficiency on board vessels. The company has 230 employees and is represented in 30 countries through its own subsidiaries and agents. In 1999, SpecTec increased net sales by 19 percent to $19.8 million, while operating profits increased by 83 percent to $2.6 million. SpecTec is the market leader with a 40 percent share of the market with systems installed on some 6,000 vessels worldwide.

Norwegian software supplier Visma ASA signed an agreement of intent with Hong Kong-based Arena to deliver e-commerce solutions to the shipping industry. Arena, which has Hutchison Whampoa and Electronic Data Systems Corp. as main shareholders, has established an electronic handling system to be used by shipping firms and shipping equipment suppliers. Visma officials said the agreement with Arena included a close integration between Visma's AMOS purchase software and Arena's handling system. More than 500 shipping firms already use AMOS software to manage purchases, officials said.