29 Jun Software ONE merges with Swiss firm
New Berlin, Wis. – In a move to increase its international presence, Software ONE, a software licensing specialist and Microsoft large account reseller, will merge with the Swiss firm Softwarepipeline, Inc.
The merger, which will take effect July 1, will make Software ONE the first licensing specialist firm to focus on mid-sized companies worldwide, according to Michael Quinn, the company’s chief executive officer. With more and more mid-market companies entering the global business environment, Quinn said there is a definite need for software licensing assistance in the same environment.
“There are only two global licensing specialists, and they’re not interested in mid-sized companies – they only focus on larger players,” Quinn said. “This is the first organization of its kind that can do this.”
Patrick Winter, chief executive officer of Softwarepipeline, said the offices of Softwarepipeline will allow Software ONE to expand throughout the world. In addition to its headquarters in Switzerland, the company has offices in South America, an office in Singapore that deals with the Asian-Australian market, and offices in New York and the eastern part of Europe.
All hands on deck
Quinn said that Software ONE’s customer support in the United States will be unchanged, as will the status of the company’s 44 employees. New positions will be created as both companies develop in response to the merger, and Quinn said that between new hiring and the 70 employees at Softwarepipeline, the combined company expects to exceed 120 employees.
With the additional reach and resources of Softwarepipeline, the company also will enhance its suite of software licensing procurement tools and SAM (Software Asset Management) services. Software ONE licenses software from suppliers such as Microsoft, Symantec, Adobe, and Computer Associates to customers in the business, government, academic, and non-profit fields.
According to Quinn, Microsoft has shown considerable interest in the expanded markets provided by the merger.
Quinn said the merger will expand the name recognition the company has developed in the United States. With reported revenue of $44 million in 2005, Software ONE was ranked 366th by VARBusiness Magazine on its VARBusiness 500 list of companies, and was ranked as the 27th fastest-growing value added reseller (VAR) in the U.S.
“We think it’s going to enhance the revenue stream,” Quinn said of the merger. “We have an opportunity to work with customers, and we’ll have access to more sophisticated software management tools, which I think will enhance the value and growth based on those service offerings.”
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