Convergys to Expand Learning Outsourcing Capabilities With Acquisition of DigitalThink.Business Editors CINCINNATI & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 2004 Convergys to Strengthen Learning Offering by Including Innovative Content Development and Delivery Services Convergys Corporation (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :CVG CVG Convergys Corp CVG Corporación Venezolana de Guayana CVG Clear Vertical Grain (woodworking) CVG Carrier Group CVG Corporacion Venezolana de Guyana CVG Comprehensive Video Group (South Hackensack, NJ, USA) ), the global leader in integrated billing, employee care, and customer care services, announced today it is expanding its global capabilities in learning outsourcing (1) Contracting with outside consultants, software houses or service bureaus to perform systems analysis, programming and datacenter operations. Contrast with insourcing. See netsourcing, ASP, SSP and facilities management. services to include innovative content development and delivery services through a strategic acquisition. Convergys signed a purchase agreement to acquire San Francisco-based DigitalThink, Inc. (Nasdaq:DTHK) for $2.40 per share in cash, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $120 million for all outstanding shares. DigitalThink is the leader in custom e-learning for the Fortune 1000 and the largest custom e-learning company in the industry. Its learning solutions include consulting services Noun 1. consulting service - service provided by a professional advisor (e.g., a lawyer or doctor or CPA etc.) service - work done by one person or group that benefits another; "budget separately for goods and services" , cutting-edge simulations, custom online course development, and a scalable technology platform for on-demand course delivery. "The acquisition of DigitalThink is a further demonstration of our strategic commitment to Employee Care as a major growth engine for Convergys and further strengthens our growing leadership position in HR Business Process Outsourcing Business process outsourcing (BPO) is the contracting of a specific business task, such as payroll, to a third-party service provider. Usually, BPO is implemented as a cost-saving measure for tasks that a company requires but does not depend upon to maintain its position in . It also creates a new set of capabilities for us in the learning outsourcing segment while adding an additional revenue stream and new customers," said Steve Rolls, Convergys Executive Vice President, Global Customer Management and Employee Care. "Convergys had been working closely with DigitalThink as an alliance partner over the past several months. As a result of this strong relationship, DigitalThink became an attractive acquisition opportunity for us." Convergys' outsourced learning capabilities will enable global organizations to improve skills and productivity for their workforce through web-based courses and simulation training. With this acquisition, Convergys will: -- offer a new set of capabilities to help the world's top organizations maximize the value of their internal and external customer relationships through customized, on-demand courses; -- expand its capabilities in the HR Business Process Outsourcing market to meet the needs of large global organizations for full service learning solutions including consulting and course design, development, delivery, and administration; and -- support its global HR and Customer Management clients more efficiently by accelerating the effectiveness of customer support teams through on-the-job training for client programs. "We are excited to become a part of Convergys," said Michael Pope, President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of DigitalThink. "Combining forces with Convergys will allow our customers to benefit from the broad Convergys Customer Management and Employee Care offerings, and Convergys' global client base will be able to leverage the strength of our talented employees and our extensive learning services offering." DigitalThink is headquartered in San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden and has about 375 employees and many clients. Historically, EDS (Electronic Data Systems, Plano, TX, www.eds.com) Founded in 1962 by H. Ross Perot (independent candidate for the President of the U.S. in 1992), EDS is the largest outsourcing and data processing services organization in the country. was the company's largest client, but as a result of a recent contract dispute, EDS is no longer a DigitalThink client. DigitalThink's Board of Directors unanimously approved the acquisition by Convergys and signed voting agreements. Integrating the DigitalThink acquisition into Convergys will be approximately $0.02 dilutive to earnings in 2004 and neutral to accretive thereafter. About DigitalThink DigitalThink is the leader in custom e-learning for Fortune 1000 companies. It provides the right combination of courseware development, do-it-yourself capabilities, learning delivery, and industry-specific expertise. DigitalThink has served over 500 clients including ADP (1) (Automatic Data Processing) Synonymous with data processing (DP), electronic data processing (EDP) and information processing. (2) (Automatic Data Processing, Inc., Roseland, NJ, www.adp. Dealer Services, BearingPoint, Circuit City, Kinko's, Mazda, and Red Hat. About Convergys Convergys Corporation (NYSE:CVG), a member of the S&P 500 and the Forbes' Platinum 400, is the global leader in integrated billing, employee care, and customer care services provided through outsourcing or licensing. We serve top companies in telecommunications, Internet, cable and broadband services See broadband and broadband service provider. , technology, financial services The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. , and other industries in more than 40 countries. We also provide integrated, outsourced, human resource services to leading companies across a broad range of industries. We bring together world-class resources, software, and expertise to help create valuable relationships between our clients and their customers and their employees. This commitment is validated by the more than 1.5 million individual bills our software produces each day to support more than 100 million subscribers, and by the more than 1.7 million separate customer and employee contacts we manage each day, both live and via electronic interaction. Convergys(R) employs more than 55,000 people in 53 customer contact centers and in our data centers and other offices in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , Canada, Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. , Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Convergys is on the net at www.convergys.com, and has world headquarters in Cincinnati. (Convergys and the Convergys logo are registered trademarks of Convergys Corporation.) NOTE: In connection with the proposed transaction, DigitalThink intends to file a proxy statement Proxy Statement A document containing the information that a company is required by the SEC to provide to shareholders so they can make informed decisions about matters that will be brought up at an annual stockholder meeting. and other relevant materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF DIGITALTHINK ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The proxy statement and other relevant materials, and any other documents filed by DigitalThink with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and stockholders of DigitalThink may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by contacting the Chief Financial Officer of DigitalThink at (415) 625-4076 or by writing to the Chief Financial Officer at DigitalThink, Inc., 601 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94107. You may also read and copy any reports, statements, and other information filed by DigitalThink with the SEC at the SEC public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Room 1200, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 or visit the SEC's web site for further information on its public reference room. DigitalThink and its executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation solicitation In criminal law, the act of asking, inducing, or directing someone to commit a crime. The person soliciting another becomes an accomplice to the crime. The term also refers to the act of obtaining bribes, as well as to the crime of a prostitute who offers sexual of proxies from the DigitalThink stockholders in favor of the proposed transaction. Certain executive officers and directors of DigitalThink have interests in the proposed transaction that may differ from the interests of stockholders generally, including acceleration of vesting Vesting The process by which employees accrue non-forfeitable rights over employer contributions that are made to the employee's qualified retirement plan account. Notes: of stock options and continuation of director and officer insurance and indemnification Indemnification Used in insurance policy agreements as to compensation for damage or loss. In the context of corporate governance, Director Indemnification uses the bylaws and/or charter to indemnify officers and directors from certain legal expenses and judgements resulting from . These interests will be described in the proxy statement when it becomes available. |
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