Defense giant TRW Inc is to sell the assets of its UK and Netherlands-based manufacturing software distribution arm to QAD Inc, the Carpinteria, California-based software vendor. The unit was known as BDM Largotim until TRW acquired the parent services and systems integration company BDM International Inc at the end of last year for nearly $1bn (CI No 3,296). BDM, a 9,000 staff company with revenues of over $1bn, had itself only acquired UK company Largotim Holdings Ltd the previous June. At that time Largotim was the largest integrator and distributor worldwide for QAD’s MFG/Pro manufacturing and ERP software, with revenues of around $50m. TRW, which also has supply chain applications in the distribution and transportation market sectors, says it wants concentrate on its core competency of systems integration across the supply chain. As part of the deal, its ISCS Integrated Supply Chain Solutions unit becomes a worldwide systems integrator for all of QAD’s products, while QAD also acquires a suite of complementary MFG/Pro applications, and will take distribution rights to two other packages. TRW said it expects the new deal to increase its European systems integration business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
