Kewill homes in on Tracer

Kewill Systems Plc is buying the e-commerce logistics systems supplier, Tracer Software Inc, in a deal worth $19.6 million, $14.4 million in cash and the remainder in new shares. In August the Marlborough, Massachusetts-based company signed a major technology transfer agreement with FedEx Technology Inc, licensing FDX Corp companies to distribute Clippership, Tracer's multi-carrier flagship product. The software enables users to track the progress of consignments by interfacing to carriers' own tracking systems. FDX Corp is the holding company for Federal Express Corp and Caliber Systems Inc. RPS Inc, also a member of the FDX group and the number two business-to-business small package delivery service in the US, is installing Clippership across it nationwide systems. The acquisition is being performed through Kewill's US subsidiary, Kewill Systems Inc. Geoff Finlay, Kewill's CEO said: "Tracer fits in with Kewill's focus on e-commerce supply chains. It adds depth to our warehouse management systems, and Kewill has a range of products to offer Tracer's reseller channels… the agreement with FDX provides the opportunity for a rapid increase in the number of Clippership installations." @reg; Click for more stories