[June
21, 1999]
ADC Telecommunications Expands Communications Software
Offerings With Acquisition Of Saville Systems
ADC Telecommunications, Inc., a global supplier of
voice, video and data systems and software for communications networks, and Saville Systems PLC, a worldwide software developer
and integrator of innovative convergent billing and customer care solutions, announced the
two companies have reached an agreement for the acquisition of Saville by ADC.
Under the terms of the agreement, which has been approved by each company's board of
directors, each ordinary share of Saville will be exchanged for 0.358 of an ADC share. At
ADC's closing share price of $50.125 on June 18, 1999, the transaction is currently valued
at approximately $700 million, with the final value determined by ADC's closing share
price at the completion of the acquisition.
The proposed transaction is expected to be completed during ADC's fourth fiscal
quarter, which ends October 31, 1999, and is planned to be accounted for as a pooling of
interests and to be treated as a tax-free reorganization for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. ADC expects the acquisition to be nondilutive to its earnings per share in the
first twelve months after closing and accretive thereafter. Closing of the proposed
transaction is subject to certain conditions, including Saville shareholder approval and
compliance with the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Anti-Trust Improvements Act, as well as certain
other governmental filings and approvals, including approval of the High Court of Ireland.
After closing the transaction, ADC expects to take a one-time charge for various
acquisition-related expenses the amount of which has not yet been determined.
ADC's proposed acquisition of Saville results from ADC's aggressive and determined
strategy to become a leading worldwide provider of Operational Support System (OSS)
software solutions.
"Our acquisition of Saville represents a significant step forward in ADC's
multi-service network strategy by expanding our communications software solutions for a
service provider's critical operating system applications," said William J. Cadogan,
chairman and CEO of ADC Telecommunications. "The battle among communications service
providers is increasingly centered on services rather than technology, and these services
can only be managed effectively through software. Saville's leading-edge billing and
customer care software products and highly skilled people will add a strategically
important dimension to our growing software portfolio and provide ADC with yet another
tool to help position our customers for success. In addition, ADC and Saville will both be
able to sell more deeply and broadly into our combined customer base."
Global deregulation, increased competition and outsourcing are stimulating fast growth
rates in the communications software market. Communications Industry Researchers, Inc.
(CIR) predicts the overall billing and customer care market will increase from $2.5
billion in 1997 to $4.9 billion in 2000 and $14.0 billion by 2008. CIR also predicts the
overall OSS market will grow from $8.0 billion in 1997 to $12.2 billion in 2000 and $26.2
billion in 2006. New competitive communications service providers are expected to provide
even faster growth rates of communications software sales compared to both the overall
market and the billing and customer care market segment.
"As a result of market deregulation and competition for customers, the world's
incumbent and new competitive communications service providers are seeking innovative
approaches to address network applications such as billing, customer care, provisioning
and network management," said John J. Boyle III, chairman and CEO of Saville.
"The ADC-Saville combination joins two companies with a shared vision of bringing
service providers comprehensive solutions to meet their customers' demands for integrated
voice, video and Internet/data services that can be delivered seamlessly and quickly.
Saville benefits ADC's strategy to offer a comprehensive array of OSS software
applications. ADC benefits Saville with broad knowledge of network architectures and
operating processes that will add tremendous value to Saville's software solutions. We are
pleased to join the ADC team and look forward to supporting ADC's multi-service network
strategy."
The proposed acquisition of Saville will mark ADC's third significant software company
acquisition in the past three years. ADC acquired NewNet, Inc. (Shelton, Conn.) in 1997
and Metrica Systems Limited (Richmond, Surrey, England) in 1996. NewNet offers intelligent
network communications software including Signaling System 7 (SS7) technology, wireless
intelligent network products (such as short messaging software servers) and law
enforcement wiretap software compliant with the Communications Assistance to Law
Enforcement Act (CALEA). ADC's Metrica product line includes software products for
performance management of both wireline and wireless networks. Metrica software is
currently deployed in more than 150 service provider networks in more than 35 countries.
ADC also offers full systems integration and consulting support services for its entire
line of software products.
In conjunction with the Saville acquisition, ADC will create a new Software Systems
Division to be comprised of the Metrica, NewNet and Saville business units. This division
will operate within ADC's Integrated Solutions Group, which also includes the Systems
Integration Division, and will focus on the development, deployment and marketing of ADC's
software products. The Software Systems Division will be managed by Lawrence S. Barker,
Saville's newly appointed president, who will assume the positions of president of ADC's
Software Systems Division and of an ADC vice president upon completion of the acquisition.
"The creation of the Software Systems Division will provide the appropriate
organizational structure and focus to continue our growth strategy and expand our software
offerings," said Cadogan. "OSS software is expected to be the largest growth
area in our business over the next three to four years, and this group will lead the
expansion. Larry's operational experience will be a significant addition to our software
management team and will facilitate the quick integration of Saville's products into the
ADC portfolio."
Additionally, John J. Boyle III, chairman and CEO of Saville, will assume the position
of an ADC senior vice president and remain chairman of Saville upon completion of the
acquisition. In this role, Boyle will provide strategic management and direction for ADC's
software strategy.
Saville's line of products includes Saville CBP (Convergent Billing Platform), Saville
IBP (Interconnect Billing Platform), SavilleCare and SavilleExpress. These products cover
each mission-critical area of a service provider's billing and customer care applications
for service delivery, customer care, marketing and sales, event processing, billing and
post billing.
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