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Friday, 22 August 2008 |
Nuance Communications has announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held SNAPin, a provider of mobile device and server self-service technology. With the strengths and resources of Nuance and SNAPin, the combined organisation can deliver innovative, highly scalable mobile customer care solutions that transform the way mobile operators and enterprises interact with consumers in real-time on mobile devices. With this acquisition Nuance is uniquely positioned to address the significant global opportunity in customer care as it converges around the mobile phone as the primary consumer access point. Companies worldwide will employ more than six million agents and spend more than US$100 billion in customer care in 2008. In addition, estimates suggest that more than 200 billion calls are placed into customer service numbers around the world every year. An estimated one-third of those calls are placed from mobile phones and the number is expected to grow to two-thirds before the end of the decade. A Nuance and SnapIN combination can deliver effective care for cents-per-call compared to agent-assisted calls that approximate US$4.50 per call on average. Under the terms of the agreement, consideration for the transaction is approximately US$180 million in Nuance common stock. SNAPin's shareholders will be eligible for additional earn-out consideration based upon the achievement of certain financial and operational milestones. The transaction is expected to close in October 2008, subject to customary closing conditions and approvals, and is expected to be accretive in fiscal 2009.
www.nuance.com |
