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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.
- ends -
Enquiries
Bill Burns, Chief Executive Spirent Communications
Officer plc +44 (0)1293 767676
Eric Hutchinson, Chief Financial
Officer
James Melville-Ross/James Financial Dynamics +44 (0)20 7831
Macey-White 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
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Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Spirent Communications plc. All other trademarks or
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