NICE buys 2 U.S. companies

The Raanana-based NICE, which develops digital recording and communication systems, has announced the acquisition of two American companies for USD 220 million.

The company said it signed a definitive agreement to acquire IEX, a worldwide leading provider of contact center workforce management solutions. The company also signed a second definitive agreement to acquire Performix, the pioneer of contact center performance management.

The transactions are subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and are anticipated to close towards the end of the second or the beginning of the third quarter of 2006.

IEX is the leading vendor in workforce management, strategic planning and performance management solutions for the contact center market. IEX’s flagship product TotalView provides a high-end centralized solution that compiles data seamlessly across the enterprise, enabling more accurate and effective forecasting, planning and scheduling. Under the agreement, NICE will acquire the shares of IEX, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tekelec (NASDAQ: TKLC) for approximately USD 200 million in cash.

Performix is the pioneer of contact center performance management (CCPM), an emerging trend in the contact center market. Under the agreement, NICE will acquire Performix for a total purchase price of USD 13.2 million in cash. The Performix purchase price may be increased by up to an additional USD 6.15 million based on certain performance criteria.