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Shea & Company Advises TeleMessage on its Acquisition by Smarsh

TeleMessage Profile

  • TeleMessage, a global leader in multi-channel mobile voice and messaging capture, is widely recognized as an innovative provider of mobility solutions and next-generation wireless communication technologies to enterprises and mobile operators
  • As communication channels and regulations continue to proliferate, the company empowers organizations of all sizes across all industries, including financial services, government, healthcare and network carriers globally to leverage the power of all mobile channels with a robust communications and archiving platform
  • TeleMessage was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Petah Tikva, Israel

Smarsh Profile

  • Smarsh is the industry leader in enabling organizations to easily manage risk and uncover the value within their communications data
  • The company’s portfolio of cloud-native digital communications, capture, retention and oversight solutions enables enterprises to transform oversight into foresight and identify regulatory and reputational risk across more than 80 digital communications channels
  • The acquisition of TeleMessage makes Smarsh the undisputed leader in helping customers to meet global regulatory compliance requirements within the SEC, FINRA, Dodd-Frank, GDPR, FCA, IIROC and others across corporate mobile devices, BYOD “virtual phones” and consumer and collaboration apps
  • Smarsh is based in Portland, Oregon and serves a global client base spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, including leading global banks, brokerage firms, insurers, registered investment advisors and U.S. state and local government agencies

K1 Investment Management Profile

  • K1 is a leading investment firm focused on high-growth enterprise software companies globally
  • K1 seeks to help dynamic businesses achieve successful outcomes by identifying and executing organic and acquisition-based growth opportunities that position its companies as industry leaders; the firm typically invests alongside strong management teams that continue to guide their organizations on a day-to-day basis
  • Based in Manhattan Beach, CA, K1 has over 120 professionals with more than 180 investments to-date
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Now more than ever, regulated companies everywhere have to have a trusted solution that can help them remain compliant while their employees are using the latest communications and collaboration channels. We’re delighted to be a part of Smarsh now and to deliver solutions that help firms around the globe better protect their company’s bottom line and reputations.

Guy Levit

CEO, TeleMessage

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As in many other service industries, mobile communication is ubiquitous in the financial sector. Bankers and traders use mobile phones for client communications, for commercial negotiations, to get order confirmations, and to finalize transactions. Unlike email communications, there are significant gaps in how firms capture and monitor mobile communications, which means these companies cannot trace all transactions information exchanged and information delivered over mobile devices. And that means significant regulatory and reputational risk for those firms, especially for voice communications.

Brian Cramer

CEO, Smarsh

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Highly regulated firms have always needed to capture and retain their digital communications for regulatory compliance, legal discovery, and to protect their brand. However, given the new hybrid workforce and how digitally connected everyone is, it’s more challenging than ever to monitor all the new voice and text channels. Simply put, firms everywhere are overwhelmed by all the new channels – like WhatsApp, WeChat and more effective coverage for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) models – that are necessary for business but pose real risks, because of their variety and the volume and velocity of the data they produce…Bottom line, if you’re a heavily regulated company doing business in 2022, you have to have a proven solution to capture, archive, and supervise mobile communications.

Goutam Nadella

CPO, Smarsh

Transaction Notes

  • Smarsh’s acquisition of TeleMessage was announced on May 16, 2022; financial terms were not disclosed
  • With the acquisition, the company extends its reach of direct-from-carrier capture to cover all of North America, with continued expansion in EMEA and Asia, engages more regional businesses, increases its relevance with multi-national organizations in every industry and enables organizations everywhere to use the latest communications channels while remaining compliant
  • Shea & Company served as the exclusive financial advisor to TeleMessage
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