Merger Produces World's Largest Supplier Of Loyalty Software For Smart Cards - Welcome Real-time acquires Axiomatique International - Company Business and Marketing

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, August 6, 2001

Welcome Real-time, a provider of marketing software for smart payment devices, recently announced that it has acquired Singapore-based Axiomatique International.

The acquisition brings complementary technology, marketshare, and clients to Welcome Real-time and clearly positions the company with resources and a worldwide presence that spans Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The company has signed agreements with card issuers in these regions representing a potential of over 150 million cards, far more than any other provider in this sector.

The combined 60 person company has a solid shareholding structure with French marketing firm High Co, part of WPP Group; leading smart card manufacturer Gemplus; Standard Chartered Bank; Avenir Telecom; Dassault Multimedia, and TDF, a Singapore-based VC fund.

The new company's combined technology provides advanced marketing features and multi-program capabilities at the point of sale, which is Welcome Real-time's core strength. It also includes comprehensive back-end program administration and management, as well as seamless integration of magstripe and smart card functionality at the back-end, which is Axiomatique's core strength. Integration of Welcome Real-time and Axiomatique's respective systems began over six months ago. American Express has licensed the joint solution for the Australian launch of Blue.

Welcome Real-time and Axiomatique's solutions are each based on several hundreds of man years of software development and have been designed to serve millions of users, corresponding to the requirements of typical nationwide smart card roll-outs. Both companies bring together significant real-world market experience through numerous implementations in Europe and Asia over the past five years. For example AK Bank, a leading Turkish bank; American Express; AOM French Airlines; Carte Jeunes, France; Chase Manhattan Bank, HK; LG Credit Services, Korea; Standard Chartered Bank, Singapore; Sumitomo Credit Services, Japan, and Telekom Malaysia.