Code Rebel

Code Rebel Corporation was an American enterprise software company founded by software engineer Arben Kane in 2006. It was initially headquartered in Kahului, Hawaii, and later established a mainland office in New York City. The company developed, licensed, supported, and sold software for remote access, terminal services, and application virtualization, with a distinctive emphasis on Apple Macintosh systems rather than the Windows-centric environments that dominated much of the virtualization market. The company’s central technology objective was to let a user connect to a particular application and preserve access to its active state through a specialized remote-access protocol. Its best-known products were iRAPP and iRAPP Terminal Server, commonly abbreviated iRAPP TS. iRAPP enabled users to access a Mac desktop remotely while working from a PC or another device capable of using Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol. iRAPP TS extended the concept to concurrent access to multiple virtual desktops on one or more Mac computers, positioning the product as a Mac-oriented alternative to terminal-services and virtualization offerings from larger vendors such as Citrix, Microsoft, VMware, and Red Hat. Kane served as chief executive and chairman. Alex Kukhar and Volodymyr Bykov were also identified as co-founders and members of the early engineering team. During its growth period, Code Rebel served organizations including Intuit, Bloomberg, and Wells Fargo, and by late 2014 it reported customers among large companies and institutions such as AT&T, Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Lloyds Bank, Merck, Panasonic, IKEA, and several American universities. The company employed or supervised approximately 50 engineers and designers across the United States and Europe by 2014. Its distribution model combined direct sales with resellers; by 2015, its reseller network reportedly covered nine countries. Code Rebel also pursued adjacent technology and corporate-development opportunities. In 2010, it participated in a partnership with the University of Alabama’s Management Information Systems program to develop applications for Apple mobile devices. In July 2015, after becoming a public company, it announced the acquisition of ThinOps Resources for $9.25 million. The transaction broadened the company’s technology portfolio, although the available reference material does not establish the long-term commercial result. In May 2015, Code Rebel completed an initial public offering and became the first Hawaii technology company to conduct an IPO since 2000, according to the cited reference material. Its shares experienced a sharp increase shortly after trading began. In January 2016, Code Rebel announced a planned merger with Aegis Identity Software, a Colorado software company focused on identity and access management for the K-12 and higher-education markets. A definitive agreement was signed on March 11, 2016, with Aegis expected to retain its brand while the businesses operated jointly. The proposed combination did not lead to a sustained independent public-company operation. In May 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission temporarily suspended trading in Code Rebel securities while reviewing earlier filings. On May 18, 2016, the company filed for insolvency under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Code Rebel is therefore treated as defunct. Its historical significance lies in its attempt to commercialize Mac-focused remote desktop and terminal-services software, its early positioning in cross-platform access, and its brief transition from a privately developed Hawaii software venture to a publicly traded company.

Code Rebel emerged in 2006 as a software venture founded by engineer Arben Kane in Kahului, Hawaii. Alex Kukhar and Volodymyr Bykov were associated with the founding and early engineering effort. The company’s original technical concept was a remote-access protocol that could connect a user to a particular application while retaining the application’s active state. This concept led to products aimed at terminal services, remote desktop access, and virtualization for Apple Macintosh computers. Its principal products were iRAPP and iRAPP Terminal Server. iRAPP allowed a user to access a Mac desktop remotely and interact with it from another computer, including through software compatible with Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol. iRAPP TS supported access to multiple virtual desktops across one or more Mac machines. This Apple-centered specialization distinguished Code Rebel from much larger virtualization providers whose main products historically concentrated on Microsoft Windows environments. During its private-company period, Code Rebel expanded its customer and partnership base. It worked with businesses including Intuit, Bloomberg, and Wells Fargo. A 2010 partnership with the University of Alabama focused on applications for Apple’s iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad. By late 2014, the company’s reported customers included major corporations such as AT&T, Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, Bloomberg, Lloyds Bank, Merck, Panasonic, and IKEA, as well as universities in the United States. The company combined direct distribution with a reseller program and had 17 resellers in nine countries by 2015. It also developed a mainland presence in New York City while retaining its Hawaiian origins. Code Rebel’s history included legal controversy. Arben Kane had previously been associated with the Cherry OS project under another name, and critics alleged that Cherry OS incorporated code from PearPC in a manner potentially inconsistent with the GNU General Public License. In 2011, competitor Aqua Connect brought litigation alleging trade-secret misappropriation. The Cherry OS allegations were used by Aqua Connect’s lawyers in arguments concerning Code Rebel and Kane. After procedural developments, the dispute was sent to binding arbitration by agreement. Code Rebel prevailed, and on August 19, 2014, the Central District of California entered judgment in its favor on all claims. The company moved toward public markets in May 2015. Its IPO was described as the first by a Hawaii technology company since 2000, and its shares rose substantially during the first days of trading. Later that year, Code Rebel announced the acquisition of ThinOps Resources for $9.25 million. The company then attempted to broaden its business through a combination with Aegis Identity Software, a privately held Colorado company serving identity and access-management requirements in K-12 and higher education. The proposed merger was announced in January 2016 and formalized through a definitive agreement on March 11. Aegis was expected to retain its name and operate jointly with Code Rebel. The corporate combination was followed by a rapid collapse. On May 6, 2016, the SEC suspended trading in Code Rebel stock while reviewing earlier company filings. On May 18, the company filed for Chapter 7 insolvency. Code Rebel is consequently classified as defunct. Its legacy is centered on its Mac-focused remote desktop technology, its attempt to provide cross-platform access to Apple systems, and its short-lived progression from a Hawaii-founded software company to a public enterprise and acquisition platform.

1. 2016Aegis Identity merger agreement

   Code Rebel and Aegis Identity Software signed a definitive merger agreement on March 11.

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2. 2016Chapter 7 insolvency filing

   The company filed for insolvency under Chapter 7 on May 18.

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3. 2015Initial public offering

   Code Rebel became a publicly traded company in May, in an IPO identified as the first Hawaii technology-company IPO since 2000.

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4. 2015ThinOps Resources acquisition

   Code Rebel announced the purchase of ThinOps Resources for $9.25 million.

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5. 2014Federal judgment favored Code Rebel in Aqua Connect dispute

   A federal court entered judgment for Code Rebel after arbitration in the competitor’s trade-secret case.

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6. 2010University of Alabama application partnership

   Code Rebel partnered with the University of Alabama’s Management Information Systems program on applications for Apple mobile devices.

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7. 2006Code Rebel was founded in Hawaii

   Arben Kane founded the software company in Kahului, Hawaii, with Alex Kukhar and Volodymyr Bykov associated with the early engineering team.

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Enterprise remote-access and virtualization software optimized for Apple Macintosh environments and cross-platform desktop access.

• iRAPPRemote desktop software

  iRAPP was Code Rebel’s principal remote-access application for Apple Macintosh computers. It allowed users to connect to and operate a Mac desktop from another computer, including through applications compatible with Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol. The product was designed for cross-platform work, enabling users to access Mac applications while using a PC or other supported endpoint. Its focus on Apple environments distinguished it from mainstream remote-desktop products built primarily around Windows administration and application delivery.

• iRAPP Terminal ServerMac terminal services and virtualization

  iRAPP Terminal Server, or iRAPP TS, extended Code Rebel’s remote-access approach to terminal-services use cases. It supported concurrent access to multiple virtual desktops hosted on one or more Mac machines. The product was positioned as a Mac-oriented virtualization and application-delivery solution, comparable in broad purpose to terminal-services offerings from companies such as Citrix, while remaining focused on Apple hardware and software environments.

• 2016Pursue merger with Aegis Identity SoftwareM&A

  Code Rebel sought to combine its remote-access and virtualization business with Aegis Identity’s identity and access-management products for education markets.

  What changed. The companies announced the proposed merger in January and signed a definitive agreement on March 11, 2016. Aegis was expected to retain its own branding.

  Aftermath. The transaction was followed within months by regulatory scrutiny, a trading suspension, and Code Rebel’s Chapter 7 insolvency filing.

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• 2016File for Chapter 7 insolvencyOther

  The company faced a trading suspension while the SEC examined prior filings.

  What changed. Code Rebel filed for insolvency under Chapter 7 on May 18, 2016.

  Aftermath. The company ceased operating as an independent business and is classified as defunct.

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• 2015Acquire ThinOps ResourcesM&A

  Code Rebel sought to expand its technology and business portfolio after becoming publicly traded.

  What changed. The company announced the acquisition of ThinOps Resources for $9.25 million.

  Aftermath. The available reference material does not establish the acquisition’s long-term commercial outcome.

  Acquisition price. $9.25 million (2015 announcement)

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• 2016SEC trading suspensionControversy

  The SEC suspended trading in Code Rebel stock from May 6 to May 19 while reviewing previous company filings.

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• 2016Chapter 7 bankruptcyControversy

  Code Rebel filed for insolvency under Chapter 7 on May 18, 2016, marking the end of its operation as an independent public company.

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• 2011Aqua Connect trade-secret litigationControversy

  Aqua Connect sued Code Rebel over alleged trade-secret misappropriation. The matter went to binding arbitration, and Code Rebel ultimately prevailed; a federal court entered judgment for Code Rebel in August 2014.

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• 2016Code Rebel announced a planned merger with Aegis Identity Software

  Code Rebel announced a proposed combination with Colorado-based Aegis Identity Software, whose products served identity and access-management needs in K-12 and higher education. Code Rebel’s shares reportedly doubled in market value after the announcement.

  M&A
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• 2016Code Rebel and Aegis Identity signed a definitive merger agreement

  The parties signed a definitive merger agreement on March 11, 2016. Aegis was expected to preserve its branding while the companies operated as a joint business.

  M&A
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• 2016Code Rebel filed for Chapter 7 insolvency

  Code Rebel filed for insolvency under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on May 18, 2016.

  Bankruptcy
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• 2015Code Rebel completed a public offering

  Code Rebel went public in May 2015, described in the reference material as the first Hawaii technology-company IPO since 2000. Its shares rose sharply during the first days of trading.

  Other
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• 2015Code Rebel acquired ThinOps Resources

  The company announced the acquisition of ThinOps Resources for $9.25 million.

  M&A
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• 2010University of Alabama partnered with Code Rebel on Apple mobile applications

  The University of Alabama’s Management Information Systems program announced a partnership with Code Rebel to create applications for the iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad.

  Other
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1. Code Rebel