RedPrairie to Acquire Alta A/S to Provide Advanced ''Build to Order'' Capabilities for the Automotive Industry.WAUKESHA, Wis. -- RedPrairie's Sequencing Capabilities Enable Auto Manufacturers to Respond to Increasing Consumer Demand for Customized Vehicles RedPrairie Corporation, a global leader in supply chain technology solutions that enable business process transformation, announced today that, it has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire Alta A/S, a leading provider of Manufacturing Event Management solutions for automotive suppliers. Through the acquisition, RedPrairie will offer the most advanced technology to assist the automotive industry The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles. In 2006, more than 69 million motor vehicles, including cars and commercial vehicles were produced worldwide. with "Build to Order" manufacturing and respond to consumer demand for customized vehicle options. RedPrairie will provide Alta's standard software solution PowerB2O(TM) and related professional services (job) professional services - A department of a supplier providing consultancy and programming manpower for the supplier's products. . Says RedPrairie Company Leader John Jazwiec, "'Build to Order' is fast becoming the only viable way the automotive industry can economically manufacture vehicles. Consumers today expect to purchase cars and trucks to their exact specification. In an industry with enormous opportunity for modifications and variations, automotive manufacturers require software that enables them to exactly sequence the customer specified parts required to assemble a vehicle. Through this acquisition, RedPrairie will offer the most robust 'build to order' software capabilities for the automotive market." RedPrairie's Build to Order (B2O) solution provides a unique process flow control application that uses icons to pictorially illustrate the parts and sequencing process required for each customized end product. Once the business processes have been defined, the tool automatically plans the most advantageous and efficient process to dramatically reduce throughput times and allow significant flexibility to change the process should the manufacturing line require. The B2O solution has a proven track record with major Tier-1 component suppliers to the automotive industry. Fifty operational sites in Northern Europe, Eastern Europe Eastern Europe The countries of eastern Europe, especially those that were allied with the USSR in the Warsaw Pact, which was established in 1955 and dissolved in 1991. , Southern Europe, United States, South America and China currently use the technology. Comments Jazwiec, "The Automotive sector is an extremely important market to RedPrairie. We already help many Automotive companies such as Volkswagen, Volvo Trucks, Mann Trucks, Skoda, General Motors and Honda manage their spare parts distribution. Our new sequencing capabilities will enable us to better serve these customers. Also, because this functionality will be integrated to our comprehensive supply chain solution suite, RedPrairie will provide expanded functionality for Logistics Service Providers who serve the Automotive industry." Adds Martin Hiscox, RedPrairie EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) Refers to that region of the world. For example, one might see products packaged differently for the UK, EMEA and Asia Pacific markets. leader, "The acquisition of Alta is a strategic one for us geographically, as well. The Kiev, Ukraine-based development office opens up opportunity for RedPrairie to expand its customer sites within the Eastern European marketplace. In addition, Alta provides a further bridgehead bridge·head n. 1. a. A fortified position from which troops defend the end of a bridge nearest the enemy. b. A forward position seized by advancing troops in enemy territory as a foothold for further advance. for RedPrairie into the Nordic region, where we have experienced success with such organizations as IKEA IKEA Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd (Swedish home furnishings retailer founder's initials and location) , DFDS DFDS Data Facility Device Support (IBM) DFDS Data File Distribution System DFDS Deck Forward Deck Switch and Volvo, amongst others. RedPrairie's global scale, size and market position will assist further market penetration of Alta products on a global basis." Ulrik Jorring, Investment Director from Danish investor Vaekstfonden, says, "ALTA has developed over the last several years from an embryonic start-up in Denmark to become a very successful and respected organization. At this point in the company's development, it makes sense to partner with a global organization to meet the demands of a global marketplace. We are delighted that Alta will become part of RedPrairie. Both companies share similar professional philosophies and complementary cultures that focus on customer satisfaction. We wish them the best in the future." Alta Chairman Ian Shepherd says, "On behalf of Alta's major shareholders 3i and Peter Solbeck, we are all delighted that Alta will be joining forces with RedPrairie. After investing in Alta over the last few years to develop a world leading 'Build to Order' manufacturing software suite, this change will provide greatly enhanced capabilities and worldwide support for our customers into the future." RedPrairie's comprehensive, integrated solutions suite includes: warehouse management; transportation management; workforce performance management; event management; slotting; visibility; performance measurement; home delivery from retail stores; customs, duty management and International Trade Logistics (ITL ITL The ISO 4217 currency code for the Italian Lira. ); and RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) A data collection technology that uses electronic tags for storing data. The tag, also known as an "electronic label," "transponder" or "code plate," is made up of an RFID chip attached to an antenna. for EPC (1) (Entertainment PC) See HTPC. (2) (Electronic Product Code) A standard code for RFID tags administered by EPCglobal Inc. (www.epcglobalinc.org). / ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. compliance and mobile resource management. About Vaekstfonden With a capital base of EUR EUR In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the Euro. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 300 million Vaekstfonden is one of the largest Danish VC players. The company offers compelling value propositions for companies and investors. Vaekstfonden is a state backed investment company that provides funding to fast-growing Danish companies and acts as a fund-of-funds investor in the private equity sector in the Nordic region. Vaekstfonden invests in early stage ventures mainly focusing on Life Science/Med Tech and High Tech, and provides mezzanine financing Mezzanine Financing A hybrid of debt and equity financing. Mezzanine financing is typically used to finance the expansion of existing companies, and it is basically debt capital that gives the lender the rights to convert to an ownership or equity interest in the company if the to a broad range of industries. It is part of Vaekstfonden's strategic objectives to work actively to facilitate access to international venture capital and drive the development of an internationally competitive private equity environment in Denmark. www.vf.dk/ukforside About 3i 3i is a world leader in private equity and venture capital. We focus on Buyouts, Growth Capital and Venture Capital and invest across Europe, in the United States and in Asia Pacific. Our competitive advantage comes from our international network and the strength and breadth of our relationships in business. These underpin the value that we deliver to our portfolio and to our shareholders. In the year to March 31, 2005, 3i invested GBP GBP In currencies, this is the abbreviation for the British Pound. Notes: The currency market, also known as the Foreign Exchange market, is the largest financial market in the world, with a daily average volume of over US $1 trillion. 962m, including co-investment funds. 3i's Venture Capital business invested GBP 144m in the year to March 31, 2005 in early stage technology companies globally across four specialist sectors: communications, software, healthcare and electronics, semiconductors and advanced technologies ("ESAT ESAT Employee Satisfaction ESAT Electrician's Self-Assessment Tool ESAT Emergency Services Assistance Team "). www.3i.com About RedPrairie Corporation For over 30 years RedPrairie has enabled leading global companies to create competitive advantage through supply chain excellence. RedPrairie's comprehensive technology solutions provide rapid and sustainable return on investment by optimizing the performance of people, places and processes. RedPrairie's industry differentiator is its Extended Supply Chain Execution (eSCE(TM)) suite, which uniquely provides end-to-end resource optimization, from the start of the manufacturing process, through the entire distribution chain, including the presentation to the consumer. RedPrairie provides industry-tailored solutions for diverse markets, including consumer goods consumer goods Any tangible commodity purchased by households to satisfy their wants and needs. Consumer goods may be durable or nondurable. Durable goods (e.g., autos, furniture, and appliances) have a significant life span, often defined as three years or more, and , direct to consumer and traditional retail, food and beverage F&B is a common abbreviation in the United States and Commonwealth countries, including Hong Kong. F&B is typically the widely accepted abbreviation for "Food and Beverage," which is the sector/industry that specializes in the conceptualization, the making of, and delivery of foods. , high tech / electronics, third party logistics, industrial / wholesale, automotive and service parts, and pharmaceuticals. For additional information, call 1.877.733.7724, or access www.RedPrairie.com. RedPrairie, DigitaLogistix and DLx are registered trademarks of RedPrairie Corporation. (C) 2006 RedPrairie Corporation. All Rights Reserved. |
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