SWelcom, the electronic media division of the SanomaWSOY Group, has sold the operations of 2ndhead to WM-data, a LogicaCMG company and Sanoma Data Oy, which is a part of the SanomaWSOY Group. 2ndhead concentrates on corporations' digital communication and marketing solutions.
With this deal, the agreements of all customers that are not part of the SanomaWSOY Group, some customers within the SanomaWSOY Group as well as the NFO publishing platform, will be transferred to WM-data. Also 19 employees of 2ndhead will join WM-data. At the same time, an outsourcing contract concerning certain customers that are part of the SanomaWSOY Group will be made with WM-data.
In this transaction, the contracts concerning the Sanoma Division and some other contracts concerning the SanomaWSOY Group will be transferred to Sanoma Data. Also one employee of 2ndhead will join Sanoma Data.
"The deal is part of SWelcom's strategy of focusing on its core businesses, i.e. on TV and cable TV operations, broadband services and entertaining consumer online services such as online casual gaming. SWelcom will increase its investments on online services and the distribution of TV and video services over internet," states Marja-Leena Tuomola, Director of Business Development of SWelcom.
"Personnel and customers transferring to WM-data will be part of WM-data, a LogicaCMG company's global operations, which enables them to strengthen their competitiveness. Our goal is to further strengthen our know how in usability of electronic transaction systems and in development of technical solutions. Through the acquisition of 2ndhead's operations, WM-data will gain new knowledge and resources. This will help us to widen our service offering – we are now better equipped to serve all our customers, also within the SanomaWSOY Group," states Kari Partanen, Managing Director Cross Industry Solutions.
The remaining 2ndhead's online operations and Digital Services Competence Center will be organised as part of SWelcom's business development unit.
The deal will be effective as of 31 January 2008. The personnel will continue under current conditions. In 2006, 2ndhead's net sales were about EUR 4 million. In the end of 2007, 2ndhead employed 38 people.
Additional information:
VP, Business Development, Marja-Leena Tuomola, SWelcom Oy, tel. +358 10 707 7006
Director, Cross Industry Solutions, Kari Partanen, WM-data Oy, tel.+358 10 302 010
Managing Director Pekka Laakeristo, Sanoma Data Oy, tel. +358 9 122 3790
The commercial TV channel Nelonen, part of the electronic media division SWelcom, is Finland's third largest medium in terms of advertising sales, while Welho is the country's largest cable television company and a major provider of broadband services. SWelcom is part of the SanomaWSOY Group, which operates in versatile fields of media in over 20 European countries.
Sanoma Data Oy was established in 2005 and is a part of Sanoma Corporation. The company provides ICT services and solutions for media line of business. The company employs more than 140 professionals.