VeriSign To Acquire CallVision
Customer Self Care and Consolidated E-Billing and Analysis Services
to Complement VeriSign Commerce Suite
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA—January 11, 2006--VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq:
VRSN), the leading provider of intelligent infrastructure services for
the Internet and telecommunications networks, today announced it has
signed a definitive agreement to acquire Seattle-based CallVision, a
leading provider of online analysis applications.
The acquisition will enable VeriSign to deliver converged
electronic bill presentation, payment and customer self-care applications
to mobile operators, Tier 1 carriers, broadband companies and consumer-brand
MVNOs worldwide. By adding these applications to the comprehensive VeriSign
Commerce Suite, VeriSign can help communications providers further simplify
the billing process, improve customer satisfaction, reduce operational
costs and mitigate churn.
“The acquisition of CallVision is a strategic investment
that furthers our goal of providing intelligent infrastructure services
that enable rich and seamless communications, commerce and content services
for carriers, online portals, media companies and consumer brands worldwide,”
said Vernon Irvin, executive vice president and general manager, VeriSign
Communications Services
CallVision clients such as T-Mobile, Bell Canada,
TelstraClear and AAPT (Australia) use its applications to transform
billing data into vital sources of business intelligence to increase
satisfaction and retention. This is done by consolidating billing data
from multiple systems, products, geographies, languages and currencies
into a single electronic analysis and bill payment view and creating
one view of multiple accounts. The company distributes and markets its
services through direct sales and channel partners such as global system
integrators and major BSS/OSS vendors.
“By developing highly regarded customer self-care
and consolidated e-billing and analysis applications for Tier 1 and
global carriers, CallVision has realized solid growth and established
itself as a world-class provider of customer-centric solutions. We are
pleased to be joining VeriSign to help one of the industry’s most trusted
brands deliver new services to a broader, diversified audience,"
said Derek Edwards, CEO of CallVision.
The acquisition is being accounted for as a purchase
transaction and is valued at $30 million net of acquired cash. Revenue
and earnings contributions from the acquisition will not be material
to VeriSign’s 2006 financial results. The transaction is expected to
close in the first quarter of 2006.
About VeriSign
VeriSign, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRSN), operates intelligent infrastructure services
that enable and protect billions of interactions every day across the
world’s voice and data networks. Additional news and information about
the company is available at www.verisign.com.
Trademarks
VeriSign and other trademarks, service marks and logos are registered
or unregistered marks of VeriSign, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the
United States and in foreign countries. Copyright © 2006 VeriSign, Inc.
All rights reserved.
For More Information
VeriSign Media Relations: Lori Sinsley, lsinsley@verisign.com,
650-426-4716
VeriSign Investor Relations: Tom McCallum, tmccallum@verisign.com,
650-426-3744
Statements in this announcement other than historical
data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks
and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ
materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements.
The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty
of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly
operating results due to such factors as increasing competition and
pricing pressure from competing services offered at prices below our
prices and market acceptance of our existing services, the inability
of VeriSign to successfully develop and market new services and the
uncertainty of whether new services as provided by VeriSign will achieve
market acceptance or result in any revenues. More information about
potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial
results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2004 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this press release.