US firm buys Talisma's CRM business

Market estimates peg the deal at around Rs 140 crore.

Talisma, the Bangalore-headquartered customer engagement management solutions provider, which was acquired by US-based nGenera in May this year, has spun off its customer relationship management (CRM) business and sold it to Campus Management, a portfolio company of Leeds Equity Partners in the US.

Though both the companies declined to disclose the size of the acquisition, market estimates peg it around Rs 140 crore. With this, Talisma India along with its 150-odd employees will now move to Campus Management’s fold, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary of the later in the Asia Pacific region.

Campus Management, which recorded a revenue of close to $100 million last year, employs about 350 people with a majority of them located in the US, and a few in Europe. The Florida-based enterprise software firm provides talent management software solutions and student information system to its clients in the space of higher education in North America, especially in the US. The acquisition of Talisma’s CRM business will provide the company with an opportunity to enter into sectors like banking and financial services, manufacturing, telecom and media and, travel and leisure, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The acquisition makes us a compelling combination and is a logical way for Campus Management to expand its ecosystem of solutions, and to build capacity to develop, market and deliver innovations to our customers,” Timothy B Loomer, president and CEO of Campus Management, told Business Standard.

Besides Leeds Equity Partners, which holds about 70 per cent stake in the company, Ares Capital is also an investor in Campus Management. The company plans to increase Talisma’s headcount in India by 70 people over the next 6-9 months, following the acquisition.