Forum Archive Index - January 2001

[Gerry Tyler-Smith <g.tylersmith@ext.canterbury.ac.nz>]

Hi John

Thanks so much for sharing that. It  gives much more info than is available
in the newspapers etc.


>Here is the extended version of the commsoft media release.
>
>Happy reading
>John
>
>
>MEDIA RELEASE
>
>
>CommSoft Buys Brains
>First Significant Acquisition Using Funds Raised In IPO
>
>
>
>
>Auckland, 15 January 2001 - CommSoft Group Limited (ASX/NZSE: CSG) today
>added significantly to its telecommunications software offerings with the
>acquisition of Marketing Technologies, developer of the award winning Brains
>Customer Relationship Management (CRM) product.
>
>CommSoft will pay $NZ5.75 million for the assets, business interests and
>intellectual property of Marketing Technologies.  The consideration will be
>paid in cash and CommSoft shares over a three year period.
>
>"This represents a major acquisition of core intellectual property for
>CommSoft," says CommSoft Chairman, Greg Gardiner.  "Brains complements our
>existing CRM offerings and positions CommSoft as a serious contender in the
>fast-growing international CRM marketplace."
>
>"The technology is easy-to use, flexible and highly scalable," says CommSoft
>Chief Operating Officer, Rodney Martin. "Brains is a highly sophisticated
>CRM and Call Centre offering which is web and WAP enabled."
>
>"This is the first of a number of acquisitions that we plan to make over
>time.  It will enable us to grow revenues and earnings by selling new
>product through our existing sales force staff via our existing channels to
>our existing customers," adds Mr Martin.
>
>"Growth by acquisition is a core strategy for CommSoft.  We are continuing
>to evaluate businesses with excellent scalable products in the CMS and CRM
>space where we can see potential to leverage our sales and channel strengths
>into significant revenue growth."
>
>"Brains will be totally integrated into the CommSoft family of
>shrink-wrapped, multi-platform telecommunications software products.  It is
>expected that all Marketing Technologies staff will continue with CommSoft.
>All senior management will have three year employment contracts with
>CommSoft and will receive options as part of their remuneration packages.
>Brains product training begins immediately for our international sales force
>and will be concluded by the middle of February.  We expect to be closing
>sales before the end of this financial year with significant contributions
>flowing in the next financial year."
>
>Brains - clients and services
>
>Based in Auckland since 1994 and now with offices in Sydney and Melbourne,
>Brains is an award-winning CRM product with particular strengths in contact
>centre and relationship marketing.
>
>Most current clients are based in Australia and New Zealand and include
>Toyota, Connect Interactive Business Systems (which provides call centre
>services for the Sydney Olympics, RAMS, AOL and Microsoft), Fosters Brewing
>Group, Global Loyalty (which provides loyalty programme management to
>Australian Credit Unions, MasterCard International and Westpac), U-Bix
>Document Solutions, the New Zealand and Australian Direct Marketing
>Associations and the Institute of International Research  (in New Zealand ,
>Australia, the United States and several European countries).
>
>Marketing Technologies is recognised as a regional leader in CRM convergence
>with a focus on client-led research and development.  Brains can be used
>from a WAP phone when sales and marketing personnel are in the field and
>need remote access.  It is web-enabled, so is particularly simple to use for
>casual CRM users.
>
>Brains powers the Call Centre of the Year in both Australia (Fosters Brewing
>Group won state Australian Teleservices Greenfield Centre of the Year 2000)
>and New Zealand (Toyota New Zealand won Teleperformance Grand Prix Customer
>Service Award 2000 and was runner up in the global awards held in Paris).
>
>Brains also won the Saatchi and Saatchi/NZ Direct Marketing Association Gold
>Nexus award for Channel Management for 2000.
>
>Brains supports multi servers and multiple databases including Oracle and
>Microsoft SQL Server concurrently, so that sales agents can share
>information across many divisions or organisations from a single desktop.
>These benefits, when matched by CommSoft's current CRM family of products
>and sales and channel capabilities, will enable CommSoft to offer a truly
>scaleable CRM system from SME to enterprise level and from traditional CRM
>operations to the latest technology.
>
>"We spent considerable time evaluating how best to grow Brains into a truly
>global leader in CRM," says Marketing Technologies Managing Director, Andrew
>Segar.  "CommSoft's record in product standardisation and sales force and
>channel strength persuaded us that this is simply the best way to secure a
>global and lasting future for our product."
>"We are also impressed by our cultural fit with CommSoft.  Brains' founders
>and directors are all have a technology and marketing background, a common
>trait with CommSoft.
>
>Settlement details
>
>CommSoft will pay NZ$3 million in cash and issue shares worth NZ$500,000 at
>A$1.10 per share on settlement.  A further NZ$500,000 worth of shares will
>be issued after 12 months at the greater of the prevailing market price or
>A$1.10 per share.  On the first anniversary after settlement, CommSoft will
>issue further shares worth NZ$750,000 if revenue targets are attained and on
>the second anniversary an additional NZ$1,000,000 worth of shares if further
>revenue targets are achieved.  The issue price of the shares will be the
>greater of the prevailing market price or A$1.10.  All shares are subject to
>a three year escrow arrangement.  CommSoft does not need to seek shareholder
>approval for this transaction.  The settlement date is Friday 19 January
>2001.
>
>CommSoft product family
>
>CommSoft's two core lines of business are Communications Management Systems
>(CMS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. Products include
>CallMaster, CallCentre, CTI Screen Pop and the NetMaster Internet management
>tool. CMS products help business managers to understand and control the
>increasing costs associated with the use of telecommunications. CRM
>software, such as a call centre solution, helps to attract and retain
>customers through improved customer management. In a recent study 80% of
>Fortune 500 CEOs ranked CRM as the single most important competitive
>advantage.
>
>About CommSoft Group Limited
>
>CommSoft Group Limited is an international leader in the development of
>niche software products for the telecommunications industry.
>CommSoft develops and markets leading edge telecommunications software to
>help small to medium enterprises make better use of their telecommunications
>equipment through better cost management, increased staff productivity and
>improved customer service. Its products are bundled with products and
>services by some of the world's largest telecommunications suppliers.
>
>More information on CommSoft is available on the web at
>www.commsoftgroup.com
>
>About Marketing Technologies Limited
>
>Marketing Technologies develops and sells Brains, the industry leading
>customer relationship management software.  Brains is enabled for WAP, Web,
>Call Centres and Enterprise CRM.  It has two platforms: Brains Enterprise
>for large businesses and corporates and Brains Express for individual and
>small businesses.  Brains can be used for Consumer Marketing, Business to
>Business Marketing, Loyalty and Relationship Marketing, Customer Support,
>Direct Marketing, Call or Contact Center  and Sales Force Automation.  More
>information on Brains is available at www.brains.co.nz.
>
>
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