Xura

Xura was the communications-technology brand adopted by the combined Comverse and Acision businesses in September 2015. The company operated in the business-to-business telecommunications market, selling software, cloud services, and professional and managed services to communications service providers and enterprise customers. Its portfolio addressed digital communications, messaging, traditional and Internet-protocol-based value-added services, communications applications, policy and monetization functions, and security. The business had roots in Comverse, a communications-software company that had previously operated within Comverse Technology. Comverse Network Systems was incorporated in the United States in 1997 as part of that wider holding company. A restructuring announced in 2012 and completed in February 2013 separated Comverse from Comverse Technology, which was effectively liquidated as an operating holding entity. The independent Comverse business was led by Philippe Tartavull and continued developing systems for telecommunications operators. Comverse's activities included business-support systems, policy-control technologies such as policy and charging enforcement functions, traditional value-added services, IP communications, cloud business voice, unified communications, and related professional services. In June 2015, Comverse divested its business-support-systems operation to Amdocs. In August of the same year, it completed the acquisition of Acision, a company focused on mobile messaging, communications engagement, and related security capabilities. The combination provided the basis for the Xura identity. Xura was launched as the new brand of the combined company on September 9, 2015. The name was described as an adaptation of “Aura,” and the company stated that Comverse and Acision subsidiaries would also be renamed. Under Tartavull, Xura presented itself as a provider helping service providers and enterprises navigate and monetize the digital communications ecosystem. Its stated customer reach extended to more than 350 service providers and enterprises in more than 100 countries, although the available reference material does not provide a detailed revenue breakdown. The Xura portfolio was organized around digital communications and converged communications. Offerings included communications suites, messaging infrastructure, call-completion services, network-signaling and messaging security, low-credit services, advanced value-added services, white-label communications applications such as fuseMe, secure communications, and the forge framework for rich web and mobile application development. These products were intended to help operators launch communications services, improve customer engagement, manage network and messaging traffic, and create new monetization opportunities. Xura was publicly traded under the symbol MESG until its acquisition by affiliates of Siris Capital Group. In May 2016, the parties announced an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $643 million, based on an offer of $25 per share. The transaction closed on August 19, 2016, taking Xura private. Hubert de Pesquidoux, an executive partner of Siris Capital, became executive chairman. The privately backed company then pursued further expansion. In December 2016, Xura affiliates agreed to acquire Mitel Mobility, a division of Mitel Networks, for $385 million, and Ranzure Networks, an early-stage company working on cloud-based 5G radio-access-network technology, for an undisclosed amount. The Mitel Mobility and Ranzure transactions closed in February 2017. Xura was subsequently subsumed into a new entity known as Mavenir, ending Xura as a standalone corporate brand.

Xura emerged from the restructuring of Comverse Technology and the subsequent combination of Comverse with Acision. Comverse had operated for many years as part of Comverse Technology, whose businesses included communications and related technology activities. Comverse Network Systems was incorporated in the United States in November 1997. In 2012, transactions were announced to unwind Comverse Technology as a functioning holding company. Those transactions were completed by February 2013, leaving Comverse as an independent company led by Philippe Tartavull. The independent Comverse business supplied telecommunications software and services, including business-support systems, policy-control functions, value-added services, cloud business voice, unified communications, and professional and managed services. Its customers were principally communications service providers and other organizations operating communications networks. In June 2015, Comverse sold its business-support-systems business to Amdocs. This divestment narrowed the company's focus while allowing it to concentrate on digital communications and related network and customer-engagement capabilities. In August 2015, Comverse completed its acquisition of Acision, a privately held company associated with secure mobile messaging and communications engagement. The combined organization launched the Xura brand on September 9, 2015. Xura described the new identity as deriving from the word “Aura” and announced that the former Comverse and Acision subsidiaries would be renamed. Its commercial proposition centered on helping operators and enterprises create, manage, secure, and monetize digital communications services. Xura's portfolio covered three broad areas: digital communications, messaging infrastructure, and converged communications. Products and services included communications suites, call-completion capabilities, network-signaling security, messaging security, low-credit services, advanced value-added services, enterprise communications applications, secure communications, and development tools for web and mobile applications. The company also supported traditional and IP-based value-added services and offered cloud and managed-service models. Reference material states that its solutions were used by more than 350 service providers and enterprises in over 100 countries. Xura was listed on the NASDAQ exchange under the ticker MESG until its acquisition by affiliates of Siris Capital Group. Announced in May 2016 and completed on August 19, 2016, the transaction was an all-cash purchase at $25 per share with an indicated value of approximately $643 million. Xura became privately held, and Hubert de Pesquidoux, a Siris Capital executive partner, became executive chairman. The post-acquisition company continued pursuing consolidation and technology expansion. In December 2016, affiliates agreed to acquire Mitel Mobility, a Mitel Networks division, for $385 million, as well as Ranzure Networks, an early-stage developer focused on cloud-based 5G radio-access-network technology. Both transactions completed in February 2017. Xura was then subsumed into a new Mavenir entity, ending the independent Xura corporate identity.

• 2017

  Xura is absorbed into Mavenir

  [1]Xuraen.wikipedia.org

  Following the completion of the Mitel Mobility and Ranzure transactions, Xura was subsumed into Mavenir.

• 2016

  Siris Capital acquisition completed

  [1]Xuraen.wikipedia.org

  Xura became privately held after its acquisition by affiliates of Siris Capital Group.

• 2015

  BSS business sold to Amdocs

  [1]Xuraen.wikipedia.org

  Comverse divested its business-support-systems operation to Amdocs.

• 2015

  Acision acquisition completed

  [1]Xuraen.wikipedia.org

  Comverse completed its acquisition of Acision, combining communications and mobile-messaging capabilities.

• 2015

  Xura brand launched

  [1]Xuraen.wikipedia.org

  The combined Comverse and Acision organization adopted Xura as its new brand on September 9.

• 2013

  Comverse becomes independent

  [1]Xuraen.wikipedia.org

  The restructuring and effective liquidation of Comverse Technology left Comverse as an independent company.

• 1997

  Comverse Network Systems is incorporated

  [1]Xuraen.wikipedia.org

  The Comverse business was incorporated in the United States as part of Comverse Technology.

A business-to-business communications-software provider positioned around digital-service enablement, converged communications, messaging, security, and monetization for communications service providers and enterprises.

• Digital communications · 2015

  Xura Communications Suite

  A communications-services platform within Xura's digital communications portfolio. It was intended to help communications providers and enterprises deliver integrated services across mobile and other digital channels, supporting the company's broader focus on service creation, customer engagement, and communications monetization.

• Telecommunications messaging

  Messaging Infrastructure

  Infrastructure for supporting operator messaging services and associated network functions. It formed part of Xura's messaging-centered portfolio, which was strengthened by the integration of Acision's mobile messaging and engagement capabilities.

• Communications security

  Messaging and Network Signaling Security

  Security offerings designed to protect messaging environments and network-signaling processes. These solutions addressed risks associated with operator communications infrastructure and were marketed as part of Xura's secure digital communications proposition.

• Telecommunications service

  Call Completion

  A service capability in Xura's digital communications portfolio focused on helping operators manage and improve the completion of calls and related customer communications experiences.

• Enterprise communications application

  fuseMe

  A white-label communications application that enabled service providers or enterprises to offer communications functionality under their own commercial identity. It represented Xura's effort to extend operator services into application-based and enterprise communications.

• Application development framework

  forge

  A framework for developing rich web and mobile applications. It supported Xura's strategy of giving communications providers and enterprises tools to build customer-facing digital experiences and services.

• 2016

  Accept Siris Capital's acquisition offerM&A

  Background

  Xura agreed to be acquired by affiliates of Siris Capital in an all-cash transaction.

  Action taken

  The company accepted an offer of $25 per share, with an announced transaction value of approximately $643 million. The deal closed on August 19, 2016.

  Aftermath

  Xura ceased to be publicly listed and became privately held by Siris Capital affiliates. Hubert de Pesquidoux became executive chairman.

  All-cash acquisition value and offer price. Publicly traded on NASDAQ under MESG → $25 per share; approximately $643 million transaction value (Announced May 2016; completed August 19, 2016)

  Source

• 2016

  Expand through Mitel Mobility and Ranzure acquisitionsM&A

  Background

  After becoming privately held, Xura pursued additional communications and next-generation network capabilities.

  Action taken

  Xura affiliates agreed to acquire Mitel Mobility for $385 million and Ranzure Networks for an undisclosed amount.

  Aftermath

  The transactions closed in February 2017, followed by Xura's absorption into Mavenir.

  Mitel Mobility acquisition price. $385 million (Agreement announced December 19, 2016; completed February 2017)

  Source

• 2015

  Acquire Acision and combine the businesses under XuraM&A

  Background

  Comverse was seeking to build a broader digital communications and messaging platform after separating from Comverse Technology and divesting its BSS operation.

  Action taken

  Comverse completed the acquisition of Acision in August 2015 and launched Xura as the brand for the combined organization in September.

  Aftermath

  The combined company marketed digital communications, messaging, security, and converged communications solutions under the Xura identity.

  Source

1. 1Xuraen.wikipedia.org