| Aust-Agder confirms FARA as a preferred partner |
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| Friday, 26 June 2009 00:00 | |||
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Aust-Agder county has signed the final delivery contract with FARA ASA, the leading supplier of IT solutions to the public transport sector in the Nordics, confirming the previously announced delivery of FARA’s electronic ticketing solutions. The contract value is MNOK 11,2 excluding the service and maintenance agreements for the next 15 years. In total FARA has delivered their solution to 13th counties in Norway. The delivery, comprising a total of approximately 150 buses, will commence immediately. The county of Aust-Agder had originally selected another preferred supplier. However, during the formalization phase prior to contract signing, matters affecting the offer were revealed which resulted in Aust-Agder’s rejection of the offer and FARA subsequently being awarded the contract. Now the final delivery contract with FARA is signed following Aust-Agder county’s initial evaluation of several international suppliers and a recent legal conclusion related to the originally selected supplier. - We are very pleased to be selected as the preferred choice of yet another county with ambitions to implement a FARA ticketing system. This is not only an acknowledgement of our technology and reliability, but also stands out as an additional verification of our position as probably the most effective supplier to this market in the Nordic and European regions, says Øivind Kirksæter, CEO of FARA. The neighbouring county of Vest-Agder has already several solutions from FARA in place operating on a daily basis throughout the county providing additional opportunities of cooperation across county borders. At the same time, the choice of FARA’s ticketing solutions in both counties secures cost efficient and modern solutions for the transport companies as well as modern and flexible solutions for the passengers in the region. - The final closure of this contract represents a further strengthening of our position, both in Norway, the Nordic countries and throughout Europe. An important reason is that Nordic contracts like this, easily become known among potential international customers with a substantial reference value due to the high level of technology utilization in this region. On this basis we believe FARA’s defined focus and leading position in the Nordic region will help us to secure new contracts and deliveries to public transport companies in other markets, says Øivind Kirksæter. FARA’s solutions are based on modern and open technology platforms making it easy for the public transport companies to take advantage of new and additional upgrades as soon as they are made available. Thus the solutions and applications are easily upgraded on a running basis providing increased functionality and new features for the transport companies and their passengers. - Unlike most other suppliers, FARA believe in integrated systems based on an open technology platform. On this basis FARA is well positioned for significant growth as the trend is clear both in the Nordic countries, in Europe and internationally. It is very likely that these kinds of solutions will be preferred by an increasing number of customers in the future as it ensures cost efficiency and flexibility resulting in increased competitiveness and productivity to the benefit of the transport companies and their passengers, says Ørjan Kirkefjord, CFO of FARA. For further information, please contact:
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