Visma to divest two of its product areas within procurement software
Mercell, a European tender software provider, will buy Opic and TendSign from Visma.
Visma has entered into an agreement with Mercell Holding AS to divest two of its product areas within procurement; Opic and TendSign. Opic is a cloud-based monitoring tool for public procurement information, competitors, potential customers and their outgoing agreements in the public sector. TendSign is a cloud solution that digitises the procurement process making procurements and tendering simple and compliant.
Over the years, Visma has succeeded in building a top-notch procurement ecosystem for small and medium-sized businesses, large organisations, and governmental institutions in the Nordics. This approach is now being refined as part of broader updates to the Visma Group strategy.
At the same time, Mercell Group, with the ambition to become the European market leader in eTender systems and tender alerts has decided to act on their growth ambitions in Sweden and Norway. Opic and TendSign will now be part of a group that has tender processes as its core business on the European market. Mercell will operate the combined Opic and TendSign businesses as a European, customer-focused and technology-driven provider of SaaS solutions.
Visma Proceedo, with its highly successful purchase-to-pay solutions automating purchase and invoice management, will continue in Visma. Visma and Mercell will continue to have an integration collaboration for customers using both TendSign and Proceedo and who desire such integration, and are dedicated to delivering the best customer experience.
"The market for procurement solutions is expanding and we believe that the eTender and tender alert part are best placed within a group dedicated to grow this specific area. We believe Mercell is highly committed and uniquely positioned to take these solutions to new heights in the European market", said Visma CEO, Merete Hverven.
“Every well-functioning society depends on good procurement processes and this is an important part of Mercell’s mission. Over the past years, the Mercell Group has grown through acquisitions and has had the pleasure to welcome 8 new companies. It is with joy and great engagement that I now can say that we have reached a final agreement with Visma that we will acquire their quality products TendSign and Opic. Following this acquisition, we significantly strengthen our product portfolio and we are convinced that this will benefit our customers in the public and private sector”, said Terje Wibe, CEO of Mercell Group.
The timeline for the transaction has been decided in a share purchase agreement and the closing of the transaction will take place in early December.
For more information, please contact:
Merete Hverven, CEO of Visma, +47 48 02 14 15
Marie Ceder, Managing Director of Visma Commerce (AB/AS), +46- 702613341
About Mercell
Mercell is the leading digital platform for public eTendering in the Nordics and has recently entered the eProcurement market. The company has approximately 1,000 pre-award buyers, 250 post-award buyers and close to 16,000 suppliers as customers. Mercell’s unique marketplace simplifies the tender and procurement process and makes it safe and easy for buyers to find relevant suppliers for their tenders and daily purchasing needs. Mercell also ensures suppliers find relevant business opportunities as well as tools for the suppliers to digitally receive and handle purchases from public and private buyers. Mercell delivers services to public and private buyers in 13 European countries and our aim is to become the leading software-as-a-service (SaaS)-platform for eTendering and eProcurement in Europe. Visit mercell.com.
