Global Distribution Systems - Worldspan sold and Sabre may be sold

The Los Angeles Times reports that Travelport Ltd. has agreed to purchase GDS Worldspan...and the New York Times reports that equity firms are in discussion for the purchase of GDS Sabre.

"Travelport Ltd., the owner of online travel agencies Orbitz and CheapTickets, agreed to purchase Worldspan for $1.4 billion in cash to acquire technology and new customers.

Worldspan provides electronic ticketing for travel agencies and runs the reservation systems for airlines including Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. The combined company would have $3.5 billion in sales, Travelport spokesman Elliot Bloom said Thursday."

Sabre Holdings, the travel reservation company, is in advanced talks to be sold to a consortium of private equity firms for more than $4 billion, according to people involved in the negotiations.

A deal could be struck as early as tomorrow, these people said. Two investor groups are vying for Sabre, which was the original reservation system of American Airlines before being spun off as an independent business that served all of the major carriers.

Source: The Los Angeles Times Travelport to buy ticketing firm - Los Angeles Times
Source: The New York Times Equity Firms in Talks to Buy Sabre Holdings