SoftwareOne Finalizes Acquisition Of Crayon
'Today marks an important milestone as SoftwareOne and Crayon join forces, combining two leading global providers of software and cloud solutions,' said Raphael Erb, Co-CEO of SoftwareOne. Together, we offer an unparalleled global presence with extensive local reach and an enhanced offering to deliver exceptional value for customers. Our shared commitment to customer success and innovation will offer new growth opportunities as our fast-growing industry continues to evolve in the era of AI.'
'As we embark on this new chapter together, we are both excited and well-prepared for Day 1. With our talented teams globally, in-depth expertise and capabilities, as well as deep hyperscaler partnerships, we will be excellently positioned to support customers on their digital transformation journeys,' said Melissa Mulholland, Co-CEO of SoftwareOne. 'Today marks a unique moment to unlock opportunities and deliver significant value creation for all stakeholders.'
'At Microsoft, we've been proud to call both Crayon and SoftwareOne strategic partners. Together, they become one of our largest partners, better positioned than ever to serve our mutual customers with broader reach, deeper expertise, and enhanced capabilities. We're excited about the opportunities this combination brings for the innovation we will jointly deliver and the impact this will have on our shared customers,' said Nicole Dezen, CVP and Chief Partner Officer at Microsoft.
With total revenue of approximately CHF 1.6 billion, presence across 70+ countries and around 13,000 employees, the combined company is well-positioned as a preferred partner to both customers and vendors globally, driving additional growth and significant value creation for shareholders. The compelling strategic rationale is based on the two companies' complementary geographical footprint, customer base and offering, as well as shared values and culture.
Following a joint evaluation, the unified organization will operate under the SoftwareOne name and logo, leveraging its global brand recognition while incorporating Crayon's distinctive strengths and legacy. This decision reflects the strategic integration of both companies' capabilities, values, and market presence. Crayon's cultural and operational attributes – including its brand heritage and customer-centric approach – will be embedded into an evolved SoftwareOne brand. During a transition period, the Crayon brand will remain active to ensure consistency, continuity, and recognition across customers and employees, channel, and partner engagements.
With completion of the transaction, integration of the two companies officially starts today based on an established governance structure and thorough preparation by working groups from both companies since beginning of the year. Preparation spanned key functions, including strategy, sales & marketing, people & culture, IT, finance, amongst others, supported by internal and external post-merger experts.
Following the announcement of the new Executive Board led by Co-CEOs Raphael Erb and Melissa Mulholland, the Regional Presidents have also been appointed. In addition to delivering on the synergy targets, the integration process will encompass implementation of a joint operating model, harmonisation of GTM and offering, as well as integration of IT systems and consolidation of legal structures in overlapping countries. Throughout the process, safeguarding customer relationships and retention of talent will remain priorities.
The combined company will retain its legal domicile in Stans, Switzerland, while Oslo will remain an important hub for both sales activities and certain other functions.
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