Mediasurface Snaps up SMB vendor

Mediasurface plc, a leading AIM listed content management provider, today announced the acquisition of Class-Act Bv, the Netherlands-based supplier of the Silverbullet content management system. The deal for the intellectual property of Silverbullet and the services of its authors, is worth 400,000 euros (approximately $515,000), and is made up partly of cash and equity.

Silverbullet is a low-cost ASP solution with numerous existing customers and profitable revenue streams. The company’s reported revenue for year ending December 04 totaled 480,000 euros (roughly $618,000). Based on proven Microsoft technology including a SQL Server database and using .NET technology, Silverbullet allows small to medium-sized organizations set up a website quickly and at a very low cost, taking advantage of predefined layouts and styles that can be tailored to reflect corporate branding and an individual customers' preferences.

"This deal allows Mediasurface to cover a full range of customers seeking content management solutions: from low-end to high-end, both through the Silverbullet product and Mediasurface Morello. It also offers Silverbullet customers continuity, enhanced support and an infrastructure as well as a clear upgrade path" said Stefan van der Horst, Class-Act’s CEO.

Lawrence Flynn, CEO of Mediasurface said: "This is a proven product in the SMB space and enables us to enter a new marketplace. The hosted route is one we have been contemplating for some time now. None of our competitors nor anyone else at the high end has yet pursued this route to market. We are an innovative, progressive thinking company and have been first to market with many solutions – this is just another example".

He continued: "There is no conflict of interest between our Morello product and Silverbullet. In the past, cost has been the issue that has prevented SMBs from benefiting from a reliable content management solutions from the big name vendors. Prior to the acquisition of Silverbullet, a low priced SMB solution is not something we could have offered based on our current model."

Continued product development of Silverbullet is assured in line with the needs of the marketplace it addresses. Silverbullet, which is likely to be re-named in line with the Mediasurface brand, will be available as a rental solution only, while Mediasurface and Morello will only be offered as licensed products.

Ends

Photography of Lawrence is available at: http://www.claritypr.co.uk/mediasurfaceimages


About Mediasurface
Mediasurface empowers the business user to build and manage sophisticated content-driven websites. By providing business users with easy to use software that combines an interactive, graphical look and feel with industrial strength technology, Mediasurface enables them to regain complete ownership of their sites. This removes the burden of continually maintaining and updating sites from IT departments, allowing them to refocus on their core task of adding real business value.

Mediasurface helps organizations reduce the risks and costs involved in building and running websites and other digital channels. It increases their ability to keep pace with change and assures the quality of the content published.

An AIM listed company (ticker: MSR) headquartered in Newbury, UK, with offices in the US and the Netherlands, Mediasurface products and services have been implemented to drive hundreds of web applications solutions for customers across the United States and Europe.

Mediasurface North America, based in Stamford, CT, provides content management software for a host of North American companies, including ESPN, World Wrestling Entertainment, SSA Global, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Thompson Scientific, College of the Holy Cross, Ingersoll-Rand Company, Assurant, Extend Media and Oxford University Press.

For additional information, please go to www.mediasurface.com


Press contact:
Mediasurface North America:
Chaya Janardhan
Marketing Manager
Tel: 203-323-7173
Fax: 203-323-0595
Email: chaya.janardhan@mediasurface.com