Will be biggest in mobile content services - LINK Mobility acquires Aspiro Mobile Solutions

LINK Mobility – leading supplier in mobile marketing, advanced messaging services and mobile applications – acquires Aspiro Mobile Solutions from Aspiro Group listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. With the take-over the group becomes the biggest in the Nordic and Baltic States in mobile payment and advanced messaging services. Next step is to become number one in mobile content services within two years. On the agenda for 2013 is also a stock exchange listing.

LINK Mobility acquires Aspiro Mobile Solutions from listed Aspiro Group. The merged company will be named LINK Mobile Solutions. With the acquisition LINK Mobile Solutions with headquarters in Oslo and offices in Stockholm and Riga will have an even stronger connection to Norway.

 – The demand for mobile content services is increasing rapidly among both private and business clients, says LINK Mobile Solutions’ CEO and head of Norwegian activities, Glenn Stenholm. 

– The market today consists of many small players and is about to mature. With this acquisition LINK Mobile Solutions takes the lead of a consolidation of the market and at the same time strengthen our position as the leading developer and supplier of mobile content, continues Glenn Stenholm.

Through the merger LINK Mobile Solutions will be the largest player in mobile payment services in the Nordic/Baltic region. The acquisition is the first step in a strategy of expansion with the aim to become number one on the market of mobile content services in the Nordic and Baltic States within two years.  

– Our plan is to grow and expand by acquisitions of more companies and the aim is also to introduce LINK Mobile Solutions to the stock exchange during 2013, says Glenn Stenholm.

The merged company will have offices in Oslo, Stockholm and Riga. The offices of LINK Mobility and Aspiro Mobile Solutions in Sweden and Norway respectively will join forces. Focus will be on the development of mobile services, mobile marketing, advanced mobile messaging, mobile tickets and payment services.

The company will have 32 employees. Forecast for 2011 is a turnover of SEK 290 million and an operating profit of SEK 8 million.

– The two companies complement each other in terms of expertise, product and market. Aspiro is strong in mobile payment, LINK in mobile marketing, Aspiro has a leading position in the vertical of media and LINK in retail trade, Aspiro is big in Norway, LINK in Sweden. Together we will be a major Nordic player in the forefront of mobile payment, advanced mobile messaging and marketing – and also with integrated solutions for CRM Systems, says CEO Glenn Stenholm.  

– Also, Aspiro Mobile Solutions has a strong position in the Baltic States, says Johan Wästlund, managing director since 2002 for LINK Mobility Sweden who now will be head of both Sweden and the Baltic region.

LINK Mobile Solutions is first and foremost a technology company and sales are primarily managed through partners – for example DM Huset, Sergel, Lindorff and Bring Dialog. Among the company’s clients are Aller Group, Finn.no, Norwegian, Folkspel, KappAhl, SEB, Swedish Armed Forces, Coop, ICA, Statoil, Teracom and the Swedish Enforcement Authority (Kronofogdemyndigheten).

Facts about the agreement
LINK Mobility purchases all shares of Aspiro Mobile Solutions in cash. The reason for Aspiro Group to sell its company for mobile solutions is that the group want to refine and focus on music and TV streaming.

The agreement between the companies was signed on the 15th of September and is now under consideration at the Norwegian Competition Authority. The acquisition is expected to be approved within a week.

Facts about the companies
Aspiro Mobile Solutions is a leading company in mobile payment and advanced mobile messaging. Headquarters in Oslo, offices in Stockholm and Riga.

LINK Mobility, originally named Telenor Link AB, founded in 1996 and a leading supplier in mobile marketing, advanced mobile messaging and mobile applications. The company has a strong market position in Sweden.
LINK Mobility’s turnover was SEK 46 million in 2010. After acquisition and merger with Aspiro Mobile Solutions the group will have 32 employees. The forecast for 2011 is a turnover of SEK 290 million and an operating profit of SEK 8 million. The new name of the company will be LINK Mobility Solutions. Read more at  www.linkmobility.com

Aspiro Group is the world’s only supplier of complete streaming services of TV and music for partners who want to use their own brand on the service. Aspiro also delivers music service WiMP direct to consumers on certain markets. Aspiro is listed on Nasdaq OMX Nordic in Stockholm. Turnover for the remaining operations was SEK 262 million in 2010 and the company has 120 employees. Read more at www.aspiro.com

For more information, please contact:

LINK Mobility

Glenn Stenholm, CEO
Phone: +47 977 24000
E-mail: glenn.stenholm@linkmobility.com

Johan Wästlund, Managing Director, Sweden and Baltic States
Phone: +46 73 259 4090
E-mail: johan.wastlund@linkmobility.com