Augme Technologies acquires mobile marketer Hipcricket for $44.5M

Less than a month after scooping up 2D barcodes provider Jagtag in a deal valued at $5.25 million, Augme Technologies is making another acquisition, forking over $44.5 million to acquire mobile marketing and advertising services firm Hipcricket. The purchase price includes $6 million in cash and $38.5 million in Augme common stock--the transaction also calls for an additional 12-month earn-out payment that could be valued at up to $27.5 million. Augme said it will hire all current Hipcricket employees and will continue to service existing Hipcricket clients.

The Hipcricket portfolio includes SMS solutions, 2D/QR codes, MMS, mobile websites, advertising networks, social media and branded applications. The company has powered more than 100,000 mobile campaigns for brands including Macy's, MillerCoors, Nestle, KFC, Simon Properties, The American Cancer Society, NBC and Clear Channel, touting 10 percent monthly campaign processing growth during the first half of 2011.

With the Hipcricket purchase, Augme will offer an end-to-end mobile marketing platform--its Ad Life technology touts tools for planning, creating, testing, deploying and tracking mobile marketing programs. Augme adds that the combined company will serve more than 300 clients, including 10 of the world's top 20 pharmaceutical companies, six of the largest media companies, four of the largest advertising agencies and three of the leading fast service restaurant groups.

For more:
- read this release

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