SMART Acquires NextWindow
By Smart Technologies, PRNESaturday, April 24, 2010
Acquisition extends SMART's presence into broader consumer market and strengthens IP portfolio
CALGARY, Alberta, April 25, 2010 - SMART Technologies, the world's leading provider of interactive
whiteboards, announces the acquisition of New Zealand-based NextWindow (Next
Holdings Limited), a leading designer and manufacturer of optical touch
technology for integration into all-in-one computers, computer displays and
large-format screens. The acquisition reinforces SMART's own investment in
optical touch research and development, and combines the two companies'
significant optical touch patent portfolios. The NextWindow acquisition is
expected to have minimal impact on both businesses' day-to-day operations,
offices and company structure. Both SMART and NextWindow are privately held
companies.
NextWindow supplies optical touch components to manufacturers of PCs and
other interactive displays. Its touch components are used in PCs and monitors
sold by Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Medion, NEC, Samsung and Sony. The
acquisition extends SMART's current presence in the education, business and
government sectors into the broader consumer market. SMART is also expanding
its business in Asia, where NextWindow has already been active. In the past
year, NextWindow has developed an Asian presence in Singapore, Taiwan and
Korea.
"SMART serves a range of markets, and it is timely to diversify our
revenue base beyond the sectors we already serve," says Nancy Knowlton,
SMART's CEO. "NextWindow's core values, business model, patent portfolio and
focus on the consumer market make it an attractive acquisition for us."
"We are combining two companies with complementary expertise and a
remarkably similar culture focused on innovation and excellence," says Al
Monro, NextWindow's CEO. "NextWindow's development of optical touch
technology complements SMART's efforts, and I'm delighted that we are
becoming part of SMART."
In the transaction, RBC Capital Markets were financial advisors to SMART
and Cowen and Company, LLC were financial advisors to NextWindow.
About NextWindow
Founded in 2001, NextWindow is a designer and manufacturer of optical
touch screens for integration into all-in-one computers, computer displays
and large-format screens. NextWindow is a leader in optical touch technology,
enabling OEMs, ODMs and resellers to add touch-screen capability to their
products. With offices in New Zealand, Taiwan, Singapore and the United
States, the company provides cost-effective manufacturing for PCs as well as
customized solutions for kiosks, digital signage and interactive education.
www.nextwindow.com
About SMART
SMART Technologies, the global leader in interactive whiteboards,
develops easy-to-use integrated products and services that can improve the
way the world works and learns. For more than 20 years, innovation and
commitment to excellence have been at the core of our business. We help
educators achieve better results with technology products that support
student-centered learning. We help businesses become more productive with
easy-to-use collaboration solutions that enable better results. Our success
is driven by our deep commitment to and engagement with both the education
and business communities. www.smarttech.com
(c) 2010 SMART Technologies ULC., smarttech and the SMART logo are
trademarks or registered trademarks of SMART Technologies ULC in the U.S.
and/or other countries.
Please note that SMART is written in all capital letters.
Marina Geronazzo, Manager, Public Relations, SMART Technologies, +1-403-407-5088, Cell, +1-403-605-6607, MarinaGeronazzo at smarttech.com
Tags: Alberta, April 25, Calgary, Smart Technologies, Western Europe