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Strategic Software acquires DataworksLondon, May 29th, 2001 Strategic Software, the leading provider of communications software and shipping database applications to the shipbroking and shipping industries has acquired Dataworks (UK) Ltd , also a major supplier in this sector. "This acquisition strengthens Strategic's core product offerings of communications and database products, builds on the success of both businesses and will enable us to offer enhanced levels of customer service. With a combined customer base of more than 600 companies engaged in the maritime sector, we are now ideally placed to deliver the next generation of e-commerce tools, designed to add value for all participants in the industry," says David Marais, founder and Chairman of Strategic. Lawrence Royston, formerly Marketing Director of Dataworks and a principal shareholder, will join the Strategic board of directors and assume the role of Sales and Marketing Director for Strategic. The overall approach of the company will be to provide the best software products and communications systems in the market for the shipbroking and shipping and industries. Over the coming months, Strategic and Dataworks staff will be working to organise the combined company's products and services. Strategic will continue to market and support Dataworks products. The acquisition was funded predominantly in cash with an element of equity. Strategic's two outside investors, SEACOR Capital Corporation and Geocapital Euro Fund, invested additional capital with Strategic to finance the cash portion of the transaction. Strategic Software is an international provider of software and IT systems to shipbroking and shipping companies worldwide. It is the market leader in communications software and shipping database applications in the maritime sector. Strategic Software launched IMX, the next generation of business tools to support maritime communities, in December 2000. IMX is the first in a range of web-enabled workflow tools, the foundation of which has been developed through Strategic's existing software. Headquartered in London, UK, it has offices in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Japan, and the USA. Dataworks was founded in 1989 to meet demand for easy-to-use and cost-effective PC-based Windows communications systems. Based in London, it provides software for message handling and shipbroking through an international distribution network. It recently launched the ShipbrokerExchange.com initiative, which will provide a neutral and secure Internet system for shipbrokers and their clients to share information.
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