Dixons Carphone to acquire Simplifydigital

RNS Number : 7368S

Dixons Carphone PLC

21 March 2016

 

Dixons Carphone plc 

Dixons Carphone to acquire Simplifydigital, the UK's largest broadband, TV and home phone switching business

Dixons Carphone plc, Europe's leading specialist electrical and telecoms retailer and services company, today announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Simplifydigital, the UK's largest and fastest growing multi-channel switching platform, offering consumers an Ofcom-accredited price comparison and switching service for broadband, digital TV and fixed line telephone contracts. Completion is expected to take place at the end of March.

Commenting on the deal, Seb James, CEO, Dixons Carphone plc said:

"I am delighted to be making this announcement today. Our job is to help customers make great choices for both hardware and connectivity whether this be on the move or at home. People want great deals - and help in choosing and switching between a bewildering array of offers - and the combination of Simplifydigital and the unique reach we have through our shops and digital channels will make us the obvious place to go.

The acquisition also includes the Voltz energy switching tool, a hugely innovative and exciting app-based technology, which tracks the market for the best energy deals every day and allows customers to switch energy providers directly on their mobile at the tap of a single button.

Bringing Simplifydigital into the Dixons Carphone family will further solidify our position as the best place for customers to receive independent advice across all their technology, connectivity, media content and service needs and positions us well to take advantage of emerging trends in the market, such as quadplay. It is also an important part of our wider plan of building a significant Services business, where Dixons Carphone becomes the trusted partner in our customers' homes for responsive, accessible, expert and affordable technology support.

I look forward to working with Charlie and the excellent entrepreneurial team that has developed the business this far."

Charlie Ponsonby, Founder and CEO, Simplifydigital said:

"We have grown rapidly to become the UK's largest TV, broadband and home phone switching service.  In doing so we followed a path originally blazed by Carphone Warehouse - so I can't think of a business better suited to help take Simplifydigital to the next level than Dixons Carphone. We are excited to enter this next phase of growth together."
 

For further information

Kate Ferry	IR, PR & Corporate Affairs Director	[phone]
Mark Reynolds	Head of Investor Relations	[phone]
Nick Cosgrove, Helen Smith	Brunswick Group	[phone]
Information on Dixons Carphone plc is available at www.dixonscarphone.com Follow us on Twitter: @dixonscarphone and @DCSebJ Dixons Carphone was advised by Smith Square Partners LLP and Osborne Clark LLP Simplifydigital was advised by Lepe Partners LLP and Macfarlanes LLP
About Dixons Carphone Dixons Carphone plc is Europe's leading specialist electrical and telecommunications retailer and services company, employing over 40,000 people in 9 countries. Focused on helping customers navigate the connected world, Dixons Carphone offers a comprehensive range of electrical and mobile products, connectivity and expert after-sales services from the Geek Squad and KNOWHOW. Dixons Carphone's primary brands include Carphone Warehouse, Currys and PCWorld in the UK & Ireland, Elkjøp, Elgiganten, Gigantti and Lefdal in the Nordic countries, Kotsovolos in Greece, Dixons Travel in a number of UK & Ireland airports and Phone House in Spain, Sweden and Norway. Our key service brands include KNOWHOW in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, and Geek Squad in the UK, Ireland and Spain. Business-to-business (B2B) services are provided through Connected World Services, PC World Business and Carphone Warehouse Business. Connected World Services aims to leverage the Group's existing expertise, operating processes and technology to provide a range of services to businesses. About Simplifydigital Simplifydigital is the UK's largest independent broadband, digital TV and home phone switching service, helping tens of thousands of customers every month. Simplifydigital compares over 4,500 broadband, home phone and digital TV packages and offers comprehensive and accurate information on its Ofcom-accredited price comparison calculator. The company enables consumers to switch online or speak to an expert, receiving impartial advice to find the best deal, backed up by a free Switching Support service to ensure customers' new services are installed with minimum of fuss. Simplifydigital is one of the UK's fastest growing technology companies featuring in the 2013, 2014 & 2015 Sunday Times Tech Track 100; and the 2013, 2014 & 2015 Deloitte UK Fast 50 and European Fast 500. It was also a 2014 Red Herring Global 100 finalist.

 

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