Sabre to buy out Abacus
Sabre will have access to more than 100,000 travel agents using Abacus after buying the remaining 65% stake in the company for A$508 million (US$411m).
Sabre agreed to acquire the company from the consortium of 11 Asian airlines that own the majority of Abacus, but separately to the acquisition are long term distribution agreements between Sabre and airline owners fuelling the GDS’ growth in the region.
Sabre, which already owned 35% of Abacus, said more than 100,000 travel agents across 59 markets in Asia-Pacific use the Abacus GDS.
“The Asia-Pacific travel market is the largest and fastest growing in the world,” Sabre ceo, Tom Klein said.
“Acquiring Abacus immediately combines the global capabilities of Sabre with the deep local market expertise of the leading Asia-Pacific GDS. This powerful combination will give customers even more innovation and service options, while allowing Sabre to accelerate growth globally in a very capital efficient way – and to gain regional synergies in all three of our businesses serving travel agents, airlines and hospitality companies.”
Abacus will operate as a region of Sabre Travel Network, and Sabre expects its expanded Asia-Pacific direct presence will benefit Sabre Airline Solutions and Sabre Hospitality Solutions, which provides to 78 airlines and thousands of hotels throughout the region.
“Abacus currently provides a broad set of services to its customers using a base of Sabre technology for the large majority of core functions to market, distribute, sell and service travel in the Asia-Pacific region,” Sabre Travel Network president Greg Webb said.
“That, along with deep local market capabilities, will result in a smooth transition for Asia-Pacific customers, who should see the benefits of global capabilities while continuing to use our familiar, leading technology.”
Sabre anticipates the deal to close in the third quarter of 2015.
Image credit: skift
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