Sabre bought - who's next?

No surprises then, seeing as the deal has been widely trailed on the wires most of the day.

The deal is for a cool $5 billion and sees the enture Sabre Holdings portfolio, including Travelocity, Lastminute.com and the Sabre GDS, transferred to private equity in the guise of Silver Lake Partners and the Texas Pacific Group.

The deal is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2007.

Sam Gilliland, chairman and chief executive of Sabre Holdings, says:

“We are excited about the ability to deliver substantial value today to our shareholders, and we look forward to a strong future, partnering with two preeminent investment firms that are closely aligned with our strategy and long-term objectives.

"This transaction is a clear endorsement of our business model, our industry leadership and the hard work and dedication of our talented people around the world.”

Amadeus must be feeling a little bit frozen out of the news this past fornight, following the Travelport takeover of Worldspan last week

Interesting times ahead.

Kevin May, editor, Travolution