Divine Picks Up Delano

E-business service provider divine announced plans today to acquire Canadian e-marketing firm Delano Technology in a one-for-one stock swap. The hope is to marry customer-interaction management software with communication technology, thus creating a more encompassing solution. "Delano's strength in providing solutions that help companies proactively communicate with their customers and partners via email and the Internet complements perfectly divine's existing customer interaction management solutions," said George Landgrebe, president of divine Software Services. "Delano also deepens our presence in key vertical markets, including financial services, automotive and entertainment, and provides divine with an outstanding talent base in the Toronto market." The campaign-management and e-marketing segment is expected to reach more than $2 billion by 2003, according to divine. Specifically, the divine solution suite comprises telephony and Internet-based campaign management, as well as inbound call center and contact center management. The Delano Marketing Velocity suite of applications leverages e-mail, the Web, and knowledge management technology to deliver ongoing, personal interactions with customers, via one-to-one marketing campaigns, interactive surveys, and personalized newsletters. And Delano's software platform, the Delano e-Business Interaction Suite, supports Web services. Divine also gains access to Delano's customers, which include companies such as Compaq, Ericsson, Charles Schwab, United Way and DaimlerChrysler. Delano's annual sales reached $18 million in 2001. The deal is subject to customary regulatory and court approvals, as well as approval from Delano's shareholders. To date, shareholders holding around 13 percent of Delano's outstanding shares have already agreed to vote in favor of the deal, according to divine.