Commercial Integrator January 2021 - 7

Vector Capital to Acquire Mood Media
VECTOR CAPITAL recently
announced it has entered into a
definitive agreement to acquire
Mood Media.
Under the terms of the
agreement, Vector Capital will
" make a meaningful equity
investment in Mood Media's
business, " according to the
joint announcement.
The company's existing
lenders, including investment
funds and accounts managed
by HPS Investment Partners,
LLC, will continue to support
Mood Media with a new credit
facility at closing, the announcement
says.
Austin-based Mood Media
offers global retail, fashion,
restaurant, healthcare, hospitality,
and consumer brands
audio, visual, messaging, scent,
social, and mobile services
designed " to create greater
emotional connections between
brands and consumers, "
the joint announcement says.
long-term capital support will
enable Mood Media to invest in
the technology initiatives and
acquisitions that will further differentiate
Mood and accelerate
our product vision, " he said.
" Mood Media has an impresThe
company reaches more
than 150 million consumers
each day through more than
500,000 subscriber locations
in more than 100 countries
around the globe.
" Vector Capital has a long
track record of building and
growing global technology
businesses, " said Mood Media
CEO David Hoodis in the joint
announcement.
" We are eager to leverage
their industry expertise and
deep operating capabilities
as we continue to enhance
our product offerings to assist
leading brands in connecting
with customers. I believe, with
the great Mood team and
Vector's support, our best days
are ahead, " he said.
" We are excited to partner
with Mood Media, which
has developed a global,
market-leading presence and
proven ability to enhance the
customer experience for the
most demanding customers
across the retail, fashion,
restaurant, hospitality, and
healthcare sectors, " said Vector
Capital managing director
David Fishman in the joint
announcement.
" We are confident that our
Microsoft Releases Teams Device-as-a-Service Program
MICROSOFT HAS QUIETLY
released a new Device-as-aService
program for Microsoft
Teams deployments that offers
flexible monthly payments and
affordable options.
In a blog announcing several
new features to Teams, the
IT giant briefly described the
Device-as-a-Service program,
becoming the latest unified
communications provider to
offer as-a-service options to
eliminate the cost barriers associated
with deploying devices.
" The new Teams Device as a
Service offering provides flexible
monthly payments, making
it easier and more affordable
commercialintegrator.com
than ever to get your users
the devices they need, " wrote
Nicole Herskowitz, general
manager for Microsoft Teams.
" Simply navigate to the Device
as a Service site where you
can add devices to your cart
and place an order in a matter
of minutes. "
This service is currently available
in the U.S., and availability
for additional regions will be
coming in 2021, Herskowitz
wrote.
On the company website for
the offering, Microsoft defines
the program as a payment
option through its " trusted
partners " to help organizations
quickly deploy Teams devices.
Devices include headsets,
speakerphones, deskphones,
Teams displays, Teams Rooms
devices, collaboration bars,
web cameras and other accessories
from manufacturers like
Poly, Jabra, Lenovo, Yealink,
Crestron, Logitech, HP and
AudioCodes.
Customers can select financing
options of two or three
years with qualifying orders,
which will be fulfilled through
Microsoft's partners. And the
end of the contract, customers
have the option to upgrade.
Zoom, Microsoft's rival in
the unified communications
battle, offers a similar hardwareas-a-service
program, giving
customers the ability to deploy
Zoom Rooms solutions with a
subscription options for phone
and meeting room hardware.
Manufacturers for Zoom's
program include DTEN, Neat,
Poly and Yealink.
Others provide similar
programs, including LogMeIn,
which offers GoToRoom with
videoconferencing hardware
from Dolby, Logitech, Poly and
Extron.
JANUARY 2021 Commercial Integrator
7
sive management team and a
motivated employee base to
support its global platform,
broad blue-chip client base,
and strong business model, "
said Vector Capital principal
Sandy Gill in the joint announcement.
" We
look forward to
partnering with Mood Media
during its next stage of growth
and helping the company's
leadership team accelerate its
development through both
organic initiatives and strategic
acquisitions, " said Gill.
The transaction is subject to
standard and customary closing
conditions and is expected to
close in the fourth quarter of
2020.
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Commercial Integrator January 2021

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