Amdocs (NYSE: DOX – News), a leading provider of software and services to enable integrated customer management and the intentional customer experience(TM), has signed an agreement to acquire SigValue Technologies, Inc. (SigValue), a provider of an integrated billing, customer care, and service control platform designed for service providers in high-growth emerging markets around the world. Amdocs currently owns 14% of SigValue’s outstanding capital stock. Under the terms of the agreement, Amdocs will acquire all of SigValue’s remaining share capital for approximately $54 million in cash, net of cash on hand.
SigValue’s platform is aimed at service providers in emerging markets, such as Eastern Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia, where the telecommunications customer base is predominantly composed of mobile pre-paid subscribers. SigValue’s platform addresses the needs of this customer base, combining the basic functions required for billing and customer care with a service control function, offering a single system that supports multiple networks, multiple services and all lines of business.
“The regions referred to as “emerging markets” are the fastest-growing in telecom, and Amdocs has already enjoyed success in the more economically developed portions of these regions – including Moscow, Russia and Beijing, China, among others,” said Patrick McGrory, Network Business Unit president, Amdocs. “Our experience in these markets has proven that with economic development fostered in part by the penetration of mobile communication services, service provider requirements also develop. With SigValue, we believe Amdocs will be able to address the needs of these service providers, and evolve with them as their respective markets and needs evolve.” Added McGrory, “Amdocs’ unparalleled expertise and experience in telecommunications, combined with SigValue’s light-weight technology and its sales channels, will enable Amdocs’ success in these markets.”
“Pre-paid subscribers represent the majority of customers in the emerging markets, which are also characterized by relatively low levels of average revenue per user,” said Adam Feit, chief executive officer of SigValue. “We believe SigValue’s light-weight, tightly-packaged, high-performance software platform will help Amdocs enable service providers in emerging markets to keep costs of operations low, while supporting rapid growth.”
SigValue is a private company founded in April 2000, has approximately 75 employees and is based in Hod-Hasharon, Israel. SigValue’s venture capital investors include AIG Orion Fund L.P. and Holland Ventures. The closing of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions customary to such transactions and is expected to occur in the quarter ending March 31st, 2007. The impact of the acquisition on Amdocs’ non-GAAP earnings per share is expected to be neutral in fiscal 2007. The impact on GAAP results is expected to be dilutive in fiscal 2007 but will not be known until after Amdocs completes the purchase price accounting for the acquisition. Amdocs may incur a one-time acquisition-related charge in the quarter ending March 31, 2007 to account for certain costs related to the acquisition.
About Amdocs
Amdocs combines innovative software and services with deep business knowledge to accelerate implementation of integrated customer management by the world’s leading service providers. By delivering a comprehensive portfolio of software and services that spans the customer lifecycle, Amdocs enables service companies to deliver an intentional customer experience(TM), which results in stronger, more profitable customer relationships. Service providers also benefit from a rapid return on investment, lower total cost of ownership and improved operational efficiencies. A global company with revenue of $2.48 billion in fiscal 2006, Amdocs has over 16,000 employees and serves customers in more than 50 countries around the world. For more information, visit Amdocs at www.amdocs.com.
About SigValue Technologies
SigValue is a global provider of real-time billing and enhanced network solutions that support converged prepaid and postpaid voice, messaging and data/content services. SigValue targets competitive network operators who benefit significantly from its end-to-end solution of enhanced network elements and value-added services.