Cisco Acquires 91% of Tandberg Shares Posted on Dec. 14, 2009 Cisco purchased shares – or received acceptances to purchase shares – representing 91.1% of the shares and voting rights in Norwegian collaboration technology vendor Tandberg, Cisco announced Dec. 4. Tandberg’s video endpoint and network infrastructure products will be integrated into Cisco’s collaboration architecture. The announcement is the culmination of weeks of negotiations. Cisco made its initial offer of approximately $3 billion on Oct. 1 [VR 10/8/09], but shareholders held out for a higher bid, which came Nov. 16. The companies said in an October press release that the integration will enable intercompany and multi-vendor interoperability. “This interoperability will benefit Cisco’s customers, but also competitors and partners by accelerating customer interest in video collaboration globally,” the companies stated. The acquisition originally was expected to close in the first half of 2010, though the deal is subject to regulatory review in the United States and elsewhere. Cisco has not yet published a revision to that estimate.
The company plans to buy the remaining shares in compliance with the Norwegian Public Companies Act and apply for de-listing of the Tandberg shares. ( | 
