Aastra Technologies

Aastra Technologies Limited was a Canadian telecommunications equipment manufacturer whose products connected residential, business, and institutional users to communications networks, including the Internet. The company was based in Concord, Ontario, and developed from an engineering consultancy into a supplier of enterprise telephony, network-access equipment, and digital communications hardware. Aastra was founded in Toronto in 1983, when Francis Shen and Hugh Scholaert acquired an engineering consulting company. Its early work served the defense industry. During the 1990s, the company moved toward telecommunications and began concentrating on communications equipment and systems. It became a publicly traded Canadian company in 1996, providing a platform for expansion through acquisitions. The company grew substantially by purchasing assets and business divisions from larger technology and telecommunications companies. In 2000, it acquired assets of Nortel Networks’ Access Solutions Division, including rights connected with manufacturing telephones under the Nortel name. In 2001, it acquired Lucent Technologies’ Digital Video business and Ericsson’s cable-modem business. Further expansion followed in 2002 through the acquisition of Nortel’s CVX and CSG Division and in 2003 through the purchase of the ASCOM PBX System Division. These transactions broadened Aastra beyond conventional telephones into enterprise private branch exchanges, network access, digital video, and related communications infrastructure. Aastra also pursued a stronger European position. In 2005, it acquired the Germany-based EADS Enterprise Telephony Business and the DeTeWe Telecommunication Systems business. Europe subsequently accounted for the large majority of the company’s sales, while the United States represented a smaller share and Canada a relatively limited portion. In 2008, Aastra acquired Ericsson’s enterprise PBX division, associated with the MD110 and MX-ONE telephony-switch platforms. This strengthened its presence in large-scale enterprise voice systems and made the company an important consolidator in the business-telephony sector. Its product portfolio included residential and business telephone terminals, screen telephones, enterprise PBX systems, network access terminals, cable-modem-related equipment, and digital video encoders, decoders, and gateways. Some residential telephone equipment was sold in the United States as Bell equipment through the Sonecor brand, which represented Southern New England Telecommunications. The company therefore operated across both end-user communications hardware and the infrastructure supporting enterprise and network services. Mitel Networks announced on November 11, 2013, that it would acquire Aastra in a transaction combining cash and Mitel shares. The announced transaction was valued at approximately 400 million Canadian dollars according to the cited reference material. Mitel completed the acquisition in January 2014. Aastra ceased to operate as an independent company, and its products, technologies, and operations were integrated into Mitel’s portfolio. Mitel subsequently provided information about the treatment of former Aastra products, while the Aastra corporate identity progressively disappeared from the market.

Aastra began in Toronto in 1983 when Francis Shen and Hugh Scholaert acquired an engineering consulting company. The business initially provided services to the defense industry. During the 1990s, it redirected its activities toward telecommunications and developed into a manufacturer and supplier of communications equipment. Aastra became publicly traded in Canada in 1996. The company’s subsequent growth relied heavily on acquisitions. In 2000, Aastra purchased assets from Nortel Networks’ Access Solutions Division, including rights associated with manufacturing telephones under the Nortel name. In 2001, it acquired Lucent Technologies’ Digital Video business and Ericsson’s cable-modem business. It expanded again in 2002 through the acquisition of Nortel’s CVX and CSG Division, followed in 2003 by the purchase of ASCOM’s PBX System Division. Aastra’s international enterprise-telephony presence increased significantly in 2005, when it acquired the Germany-based EADS Enterprise Telephony Business and DeTeWe Telecommunication Systems. The company’s sales were strongly concentrated in Europe at that time: Europe accounted for approximately three quarters of sales, while the United States and Canada represented much smaller proportions. In 2008, Aastra acquired Ericsson’s enterprise PBX division, whose products included the MD110 and MX-ONE telephony-switch platforms. Aastra’s product scope covered residential and business telephone terminals, screen telephones, enterprise PBX systems, network-access terminals, cable-modem-related equipment, and digital video encoders, decoders, and gateways. Its residential telephone products were also sold in the United States as Bell equipment through the Sonecor brand, representing Southern New England Telecommunications. On November 11, 2013, Mitel Networks announced an agreement to acquire Aastra in a transaction involving cash and Mitel shares. The transaction was described as having an approximate value of 400 million Canadian dollars. Mitel completed the acquisition in January 2014. After completion, Aastra no longer operated as an independent company. Its technology, products, and operations were incorporated into Mitel, and the Aastra brand subsequently ceased to have an independent market presence.

• 2014

  Mitel completes the acquisition

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Mitel completed its acquisition of Aastra in January, ending Aastra’s independent corporate operation.

• 2013

  Mitel announces acquisition agreement

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Mitel Networks announced a proposed cash-and-stock acquisition of Aastra valued at approximately 400 million Canadian dollars.

• 2008

  Ericsson enterprise PBX division acquired

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Aastra acquired Ericsson’s enterprise PBX division, including business associated with the MD110 and MX-ONE telephony-switch platforms.

• 2005

  German enterprise-telephony businesses acquired

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Aastra acquired the EADS Enterprise Telephony Business and DeTeWe Telecommunication Systems business in Germany.

• 2003

  ASCOM PBX System Division acquired

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Aastra purchased the ASCOM PBX System Division, strengthening its enterprise private-branch-exchange business.

• 2002

  Nortel CVX and CSG Division acquired

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Aastra expanded its communications-infrastructure portfolio by acquiring Nortel’s CVX and CSG Division.

• 2001

  Digital video and cable-modem businesses added

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Aastra acquired Lucent Technologies’ Digital Video business and Ericsson’s cable-modem business.

• 2000

  Nortel Access Solutions assets acquired

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Aastra acquired assets of Nortel Networks’ Access Solutions Division and obtained rights connected with manufacturing telephones under the Nortel name.

• 1996

  Aastra goes public in Canada

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Aastra Technologies became a publicly traded Canadian company.

• 1993

  Aastra specializes in telecommunications

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  The company began concentrating its activities on telecommunications rather than remaining primarily an engineering consultancy serving defense-related customers.

• 1983

  Aastra is founded in Toronto

  [1]Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org

  Francis Shen and Hugh Scholaert acquired an engineering consulting company and established the business that became Aastra. Its early activities served the defense industry.

Aastra positioned itself as an international supplier of enterprise telephony, network-access hardware, and communications infrastructure, expanding its range and geographic reach primarily through acquisitions.

• Consumer telephony equipment

  Residential telephone terminals

  Aastra produced residential telephone terminals for household users. In the United States, some residential equipment was sold as Bell equipment through the Sonecor brand, which represented Southern New England Telecommunications. These products formed the consumer-facing portion of Aastra’s otherwise strongly enterprise-oriented communications portfolio.

• Enterprise telephony equipment

  Business telephone terminals

  Business telephone terminals were designed for office and institutional voice communications. They complemented Aastra’s PBX and enterprise communications systems and included conventional business handsets as well as more specialized screen telephones.

• Enterprise telephony equipment

  Screen telephones

  Screen telephones combined voice communication with an integrated display, supporting enterprise users who needed information and call-management functions at the handset. They represented Aastra’s move beyond basic telephone terminals toward feature-rich business communications equipment.

• Enterprise communications systems

  Enterprise PBX systems

  Aastra supplied private branch exchange systems for organizations requiring managed internal extensions, external calling, and enterprise voice services. Acquisitions from ASCOM, Nortel, and Ericsson helped make PBX and enterprise telephony a central part of the company’s portfolio.

• Enterprise telephony switches · 2008

  MD110 and MX-ONE-related telephony platforms

  Following its 2008 acquisition of Ericsson’s enterprise PBX division, Aastra became associated with the MD110 and MX-ONE enterprise telephony-switch businesses. These platforms served larger organizations and strengthened Aastra’s position in carrier-grade and enterprise voice communications.

• Network access equipment

  Network access terminals

  Network access terminals formed part of Aastra’s broader equipment portfolio for connecting users and organizations to communications networks, including Internet-related access. The line reflected the company’s activity beyond end-user telephones and into network-facing hardware.

• Digital video communications equipment · 2001

  Digital video encoders, decoders, and gateways

  Aastra’s digital video business included encoders, decoders, and gateways for handling high-quality digital video signals. This capability came in part from the acquisition of Lucent Technologies’ Digital Video business in 2001.

• Broadband access equipment · 2001

  Cable modem equipment

  Aastra added cable-modem capabilities through its 2001 acquisition of Ericsson’s cable-modem business. The product area extended the company’s reach into broadband network access and complemented its other network-connectivity equipment.

• 2013

  Agree to be acquired by MitelM&A

  Background

  Aastra operated as an international enterprise-communications equipment provider, while Mitel was also active in business communications and telephony.

  Action taken

  Mitel announced an agreement to acquire Aastra in a transaction consisting of cash and Mitel shares.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition was completed in January 2014. Aastra ceased to operate independently and its products and technologies were integrated into Mitel.

  Announced transaction value. Approximately CAD 400 million (Announced November 11, 2013)

  Source

• 2008

  Acquire Ericsson’s enterprise PBX divisionM&A

  Background

  Enterprise PBX and large-scale business telephony were central growth areas for Aastra.

  Action taken

  Aastra acquired Ericsson’s enterprise PBX division, associated with the MD110 and MX-ONE telephony-switch platforms.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition strengthened Aastra’s enterprise voice portfolio and expanded its installed-base and platform capabilities.

  Source

• 2005

  Increase European enterprise-telephony scaleM&A

  Background

  Aastra was pursuing international growth and a stronger position in the European enterprise communications market.

  Action taken

  It acquired the EADS Enterprise Telephony Business and DeTeWe Telecommunication Systems business in Germany.

  Aftermath

  Europe became Aastra’s dominant sales region, accounting for about 75 percent of sales in 2005 according to the cited reference.

  Source

• 2001

  Expand into digital video and cable-modem equipmentM&A

  Background

  Aastra was broadening its business beyond traditional telephone equipment into communications-network technologies.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Lucent Technologies’ Digital Video business and Ericsson’s cable-modem business.

  Aftermath

  Aastra gained digital video and broadband-access capabilities alongside its telephony operations.

  Source

• 2000

  Acquire Nortel Access Solutions assetsM&A

  Background

  Aastra sought to broaden its telecommunications portfolio and obtain additional manufacturing and product rights.

  Action taken

  Aastra acquired assets of Nortel Networks’ Access Solutions Division, including rights to manufacture telephones under the Nortel name.

  Aftermath

  The transaction expanded Aastra’s network-access and telephone-equipment activities.

  Source

• 1993

  Shift from engineering services to telecommunicationsStrategy

  Background

  Aastra had originated as an engineering consultancy with defense-industry work. By 1993, management had begun specializing the company in telecommunications.

  Action taken

  The company redirected its business toward telecommunications equipment and systems.

  Aftermath

  This strategic change established the market focus that shaped Aastra’s later product development and acquisition program.

  Source

1. 1Aastra Technologiesen.wikipedia.org