DENVER, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- TeleTech Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTEC),
one of the fastest-growing global providers of customer management and B2B
infrastructure services, today announced the acquisition of Contact Center
Holding, SA (CCH). Contact Center Holding is one of Spain's largest privately
held customer management companies founded in 1989 by its former Chairman
Albert Olle. The acquisition strengthens TeleTech's global reach, while
capturing market share in rapidly growing European countries such as Spain.
The acquisition also solidifies TeleTech's strategy to be a dominant player in
both English- and Spanish-speaking areas of the world.
TeleTech purchased CCH for stock, valued at approximately $100 million.
The shareholders of Contact Center Holding have received 3.264 million common
shares of TeleTech common stock. The acquisition is expected to be accretive
to TeleTech in 2000 and 2001 and will be accounted for under the pooling of
interests method.
Contact Center Holding is the parent company of Difusio Telemarketing Grup
SA (DTG), Spain's largest independent CRM company, whose shareholders, prior
to the purchase by TeleTech, were Albert Olle and the 3i Group, p.l.c, a
leading European venture capital company. Difusio Telemarketing Group
services vertical markets complementary to TeleTech's focus, such as
telecommunications and financial services.
"We are committed to being one of the leading providers in Europe and this
deal solidly positions us for rapid growth in the region," said Scott
Thompson, chief executive officer and president of TeleTech. "Difusio
Telemarketing Grup is a well-respected player in the Spanish market place with
an impressive management team. The acquisition reinforces TeleTech's
commitment to profitable growth and our objective of expanding within the
European market to better serve our Global 1000 clients."
TeleTech has been focused on building out its market leadership in
English-speaking and more recently Spanish-speaking areas of the world.
According to Thompson, TeleTech's strategy to be a dominant player in these
areas is now being realized, especially with the acquisition of CCH,
TeleTech's strong presence in Latin America and its recent offering of Spanish
customer care services to companies in North America.
"TeleTech is a very strategic partner for us and will help DTG offer or
expand CRM services in Latin America where TeleTech currently has several
large operational centers," said Olle, president, general manager and member
of the board of Contact Center Holding. "The deal will also enable DTG to
extend our reach globally as well as offer greater technical capabilities to
our existing customers."
Difusio Telemarketing Grup has a solid list of clients that includes some
of the largest telecommunications and wireless companies and banks in Spain,
such as Amena, Retevision, BT, La Caixa, BSCH, ING Bank, and the Public
Administration such as the Spanish Taxing Authority.
The company currently has over 3,000 employees and operates seven customer
interaction centers through out Spain, located in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia,
Zaragoza and Seville. TeleTech will retain the current management of CCH,
along with Olle who has signed an employment contract to continue in his role
with the company.
INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL
Management of TeleTech will hold a conference call to discuss today's
announcement at 9 a.m. EDT. Investors can access the call by dialing
719-457-2633. A replay of the conference call will be available by dialing
719-457-0820 (code: 417038), starting at approximately noon EST and will play
for seven days. The replay will also be available for 90 days via TeleTech's
web site at http://www.teletech.com.
TELETECH PROFILE
Founded in 1982, TeleTech is the leading provider of integrated,
eCommerce-enabling customer relationship management solutions (eCRM) for
global organizations predominantly in the telecommunications, financial
services, technology, government and transportation industries. TeleTech
operates 15,300 Internet-enabled customer interaction center workstations and
employs more than 19,300 people in nine countries. TeleTech's eCRM
capabilities, including B2B electronic channel management and database
management, help companies inform, acquire, service, grow and retain their
customers throughout the entire relationship lifecycle. Its innovative
customer interaction platform, CyberCare, integrates the full spectrum of
voice and Internet communications, including custom e-mail response, "chat"
and extensive Web co-browsing capabilities. Through 35 customer interaction
centers in the Americas, Europe and Asia, TeleTech couples high-velocity
e-infrastructure service deployment with premier quality e-customer
relationship management to assure our clients unparalleled success in
acquiring, retaining and growing customer relationships. Information
regarding TeleTech Holdings can be found on the Worldwide Web at
http://www.teletech.com.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements
that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Under the provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, TeleTech cautions investors
that actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied due
to various risks and uncertainties. Such factors include, without limitation,
difficulties and unforeseen costs may arise in the integration of CCH's
business and operations; compatibility and integration difficulties may occur
between the operating systems, software or hardware of TeleTech and CCH; and
TeleTech's ability to penetrate new markets, including but not limited to
TeleTech's ability to penetrate the European market and to continue expansion
into the world's Spanish speaking markets may be adversely affected by market
demand and by competition from new and existing entrants into the CRM market.
TeleTech's future results may also be impacted by the other risk factors
listed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other SEC filings. TeleTech
undertakes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements after the
date of this release.
SOURCE TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
Web site:
http://www.teletech.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/107907.htmlor fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 107907
CONTACT: Claire Maledon, Media Relations, 720-947-6182, or email,
clairemaledon@teletech.com, or Kirsten Hamling, Investor
Relations, 303-894-7379, or email,
kirstenhamling@teletech.com,
both of TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
