Acquisition of Fanfare Group, Inc.

RNS Number : 2215B
Spirent Communications PLC
15 February 2011
 



Spirent Communications plc Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire The Fanfare Group, Inc.

Test Automation Expertise Enables Customers to Reduce Costs and Improve Time to Market in the Face of Rapid Convergence

 

London, UK - 15 February 2011 - Spirent Communications plc (LSE: SPT) ("Spirent"), a leading communications technology company, announces today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately held The Fanfare Group, Inc. ("Fanfare"), based in Mountain View, California, for a cash consideration of $15 million.  Fanfare is a leading provider of test automation solutions that help equipment manufacturers and service providers accelerate time to market and improve product quality in the face of rapidly growing complexity.

"Addressing a clear customer need to simplify testing and increase productivity is an important part of our vision.  It has been the driver for our successful partnership with Fanfare over the past two years," said Bill Burns, CEO of Spirent.  "Bringing Fanfare's software expertise and its innovative iTest technology to Spirent will enable us to realise that vision much more quickly, including an ongoing commitment to an open, standards-based approach."

Convergence, in multiple forms, is driving exponential growth in the complexity and scale required for successful testing of IP and Ethernet devices, networks and services, creating a clear need to streamline the product and services development process.  An integrated and collaborative test automation approach is becoming an increasingly important business requirement to innovate in this market.  Combining the two companies' products and services will result in a common automated test experience and a common platform that brings together engineers, technologies and processes.

"Over the past few years we've built an extremely successful partnership with Spirent." said Tom Ryan, CEO of Fanfare.  "This acquisition is a logical way to deliver even more value to customers, through Spirent's scale and global reach and through seamless integration with test solutions, including market-leading solutions from Spirent"

Spirent and Fanfare have played leading roles in an industry initiative to move beyond vendor-specific, proprietary approaches to test automation.  As founding members of the Network Test Automation Forum ("NTAF"), both companies have made major contributions to the development of industry standards that promote interoperability of commercial testing tools and test infrastructure.  



 

Spirent will continue its support for standardisation through NTAF, and the acquisition of Fanfare will accelerate its ability to bring to market commercial implementations of new standards as they emerge.  This commitment provides a clear path forward for customers that are applying test automation in both Spirent and multi-vendor equipment environments.

 

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to complete on or about 16 February 2011.

 

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Enquiries

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer


Spirent Communications plc


+44 (0)1293 767676

Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial Officer










James Melville-Ross/James Macey-White


Financial Dynamics


+44 (0)20 7831 3113

 

About Spirent Communications plc

Spirent Communications plc is a global leader in test and measurement inspiring innovation within development labs, communication networks and IT organisations.  We enable today's communication ecosystem as well as tomorrow's emerging enterprises to deploy life-enriching communications networks, devices, services and applications.  The Systems group develops power control systems for electrical vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets.  Further information about Spirent Communications plc can be found at www.spirent.com.

Spirent Communications plc Ordinary Shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT).  The Company operates a Level 1 American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") programme with each ADR representing four Spirent Communications plc Ordinary Shares.  The ADRs trade in the US over-the-counter ("OTC") market under the symbol SPMYY and the CUSIP number is 84856M209.  Spirent ADRs are quoted on the Pink OTC Markets electronic quotation service which can be found at www.pinksheets.com.

Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent Communications plc.  All other trademarks or registered trademarks mentioned herein are held by their respective companies.  All rights reserved.

 

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