EANS-News: USU to acquire leading provider of social media management solutions
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Mergers - Acquisitions - Takeovers
Möglingen/Berlin, December 20, 2012. (euro adhoc) - USU Software AG ("USU") has
today announced a majority takeover of B.I.G._Social Media_GmbH ("B.I.G."). The
company, based in Berlin, is a leading international provider of
software-as-a-service solutions for enterprise clients in the field of social
media management. B.I.G.'s solution portfolio extends from intelligent social
media monitoring to applications for social media customer dialog. This means
that the knowledge available on the Internet about customers, markets and trends
can be analyzed on a needs-driven, constantly updated basis and then processed
and utilized across all communications channels without media disruption. Big
companies such as Audi, Bosch, Microsoft, Deutsche Post/DHL, Lufthansa, O2 and
Viessmann already successfully use solutions from B.I.G. With B.I.G.'s products
and expertise, USU is adding the rapidly expanding social media market to its
portfolio for knowledge-based service management.
Strategic expansion in knowledge solutions
By integrating B.I.G. social media technology into the knowledge database USU
KnowledgeCenter, USU will create a worldwide unique selling proposition in
knowledge-based service management, thereby consolidating its market leadership
in the field of knowledge solutions. By combining the two established product
lines, USU will tap the full wealth of knowledge on the Internet for its
customers moving forward, serving all customer service channels and delivering
the information needed at each point on the service chain. The web-based
software-as-a-service (SaaS) software from B.I.G. is an ideal fit for the USU
Group's SaaS strategy. The strategic merger also creates the potential to
continue growth, including at an international level.
Growth potential for USU through social media monitoring
Intelligent social media software provides answers to questions such as: What is
being said on the web about the company? Which social media platforms are
discussing issues relevant to the company? Where is communication taking place?
In future, the combination of intelligent web analysis and a company-wide
knowledge database will analyze key information on a needs-driven basis to
provide a complete picture of customer and market trends. This helps to optimize
products and services and forms a launch pad for new business strategies. The
integration of social media into business processes is a particular success
factor. For example, the integration of social media into customer relationship
management (social CRM) enables entirely new opportunities for attracting
customers and boosting customer loyalty.
According to the market research company Forrester, the social software market
will continue to develop very rapidly in the coming years with annual growth
rates of more than 60%. Forrester estimates the market volume for 2016 at
USD 6.4 billion.
Key details of the investment
As part of the transaction, USU Software AG will initially acquire 51% of shares
in B.I.G. Social Media GmbH. USU is aiming to acquire B.I.G. outright within two
years. For this reason, the parties have been granted put and call options for
the remaining shares. A total purchase price of up to EUR 10.7 million has been
agreed as part of the transaction. The exact price will depend on various
factors, including in particular B.I.G.'s operating earnings. The company is
forecasting sales growth for fiscal 2012 of over 50% to more than EUR 3 million.
B.I.G. is also anticipating strong, profitable sales growth in the coming years.
"Every company will have to use the information from social media sources in
future if it wants to be successful. By investing in B.I.G., we have succeeded
in becoming the innovation leader in this key segment. The products are broadly
established and are an ideal fit for the USU Group's portfolio," explained the
CEO of USU Software AG, Bernhard Oberschmidt.
B.I.G. will continue to operate as an independent entity following its takeover
by USU. "Merging with the USU Group is an excellent growth opportunity for us as
USU's huge customer base will open up new markets for B.I.G. technology. We're
looking forward to continuing our proven service for our customers. At the same
time, our employees will be given long-term prospects in an established and
healthy international company," said Prof. Peter Gentsch, founder and
shareholder of B.I.G. GmbH.
USU Software AG's financing position will remain solid after the acquisition -
with no liabilities to banks and with cash and cash equivalents of more than
EUR 10 million for further organic growth and expansion through acquisitions.
Further information on the acquisition and the projected figures will be
announced by the Management Board of USU Software AG when it publishes the
company's figures for 2012 in March 2013.
This press release is available athttp://www.usu.de.
Information on B.I.G. can be found at:www.big-social-media.de
USU Software AG
The USU Group is the largest provider in Europe for IT and knowledge management
software. Market leaders from all sectors of the international economy use USU
applications to create transparency, enhance agility, save costs and reduce
their risks. In addition to USU AG, founded in 1977, USU Software AG - which is
listed in the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange (ISIN DE000A0BVU28) -
also includes the subsidiaries Aspera GmbH, LeuTek GmbH, OMEGA Software GmbH and
USU Consulting GmbH.
USU's Valuemation® product line today offers a high-quality portfolio for
knowledge-based service management from a single source that is internationally
recognized by leading market analysts. The modular suite offers comprehensive
support for the ITIL® industry standard. The Group's range in this segment is
completed by the license management solution SmartTrack from Aspera, the ZIS
product family for systems management from LeuTek and the myCMDB software from
OMEGA. USU Consulting offers high-quality strategy consulting for IT service
management.
Using KnowledgeCenter technology, customers can activate the full knowledge of
their organization - whether as a research and navigation system or integrated
as a knowledge portal. Call and service centers use this to answer more than 25
million individual inquiries per year.
Through customer-specific development and maintenance of complex applications,
USU experts forge user wishes, industry expertise and technological skill into
bespoke individual solutions. Other broadly established core competences include
process and system integration and the creation of knowledge and employee
portals.
Further information can be found at www.usu.de
Further inquiry note:
USU Software AG
Investor Relations
Falk Sorge
Spitalhof
D-71696 Möglingen
Tel.: +49 (0) 71 41 - 48 67 351
Fax: +49 (0) 71 41 - 48 67 108
E-Mail: f.sorge@usu-software.de
USU Software AG
Corporate Communications
Dr. Thomas Gerick
Tel.: +49 (0) 71 41 - 48 67 440
Fax: +49 (0) 71 41 - 48 67 909
E-Mail: t.gerick@usu-software.de
end of announcement euro adhoc
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company: USU Software AG
Spitalhof
D-71696 Möglingen
phone: +49 (0)7141 4867 0
FAX: +49 (0)7141 4867 20
mail: investor@usu-software.de
WWW: http://www.usu-software.de
sector: Software
ISIN: DE000A0BVU28
indexes: CDAX, Prime All Share, Technology All Share
stockmarkets: free trade: Hannover, Berlin, München, Hamburg, Düsseldorf,
regulated dealing: Stuttgart, regulated dealing/prime standard:
Frankfurt
language: English
Original content of: USU Software AG, transmitted by news aktuell