NEW DELHI, June 16:DELHI-BASED Unicorp Industries Ltd (UIL) has entered into a tripartite marketing and sales agreement for banking software with International Computer Systems (ICS) of the UK and TBL, a subsidiary of Telecom Consultants India Ltd (TCIL).

Unicorp Industries has already signed memoranda of understanding with ICS and TBL to this effect. As per the agreement, Unicorp will execute the marketing and sales operations for ICS's software termed `BANKS' (banking automation system for integrated services). It will also provide after sales support, customise and implement the software at the customer's site.

The third partner, TBL, will provide technical support to Unicorp and help in upgradation of technology. Unicorp Industries managing director Arun Sogani told The Financial Express that Unicorp will be paying a license fee to ICS on the number of products sold and the number of copies made of the product.

``The agreement, valid till December 31, 2000, provides Unicorp Industries exclusive marketing rights for India. There is also an option of venturing into the Far East,'' said Sogani.

An initial investment of about Rs 3-5 crore for technical training and product launch will be made till December 1997, said Sogani. ``All the three parties will contribute towards this investment'', he added.

Sogani said Unicorp Industries and TBL will also contribute in creating a software customisation and technical upgradation base in India. BANKS is expected to be launched all over India in July. It is a software which is used for all banking activities, including front office and back office operations and investment activities.

``The software provides interface for external services and data for corporate management information,'' said Sogani. The software is highly parameterised - the customer can decide on the parameters to set up in operations, he added.

The software also allows the customer to work in a bi-lingual environment, said Sogani. The banks can convert the software (which is available in English) into any Indian language, he explained.

The company is already in talks with a few private sector and nationalised banks for selling the software, said Sogani. UIL plans to implement at least three pilot projects using the software by December 1997, he added.

Industry sources said similar banking software like BANKMASTER, Banc 2000 and Equation-3 are already in use in the country. The State Bank of India, which bought the source-code of BANKMASTER from Kindle of Ireland is using it in almost all its branches.

Banc 2000 is being marketed by Bangalore-based Infosys. Equation-3, a software from Midas Kapiti International, a UK company is being marketed by Ashok Leyland Information Technology Ltd in India.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.