October 15, 2010
Crown Acquires Platform Dynamics: 8/9/2007
Crown has finalized the transaction to acquire Phoenix Systems, Platform Dynamics - US and Platform Dynamics Europe.
This transaction was finalized today and will be effective as of August 1, 2007. Below we’ve attempted to outline why we have completed this transaction. Please note that we have not released this to the general public and expect a press release on Monday (at which time you can make this public knowledge to your partners and clients).
Elaine Price, former founder of Phoenix and Platform Dynamics, will respond to this message with the press release so you all have a copy for distribution.
Why is Crown Partners acquiring Platform Dynamics?
1. PD & Crown are an Awesome fit…
Technical Fit – Phoenix/Platform Dynamics & Crown share a common DNA of deep and longstanding technical expertise with the Documentum platform. Since Crown’s inception in 2001, Documentum is all we’ve done.
Business Fit – Platform Dynamics mature software development practices and product portfolio compliment Crown’s emerging software portfolio and mature field sales & consulting organization.
Cultural Fit – Both Platform Dynamics & Crown share “complex” relationships with EMC. One day a friend, the next a fierce competitor. Together, we’re a formidable EMC partner with more Designed for EMC™ applications than anyone. We’re also longtime friends with Elaine’s team that dates back to pre-PD & pre-Crown days.
2. Geography…PD is where we ain’t
Europe – Crown’s expansion into Europe has been limited to a nascent partnership with SynApps. Adding the PD GMBH team gives Crown a solid foundation in Europe upon which to build. Crown sees Europe as a strategic market for expansion and has increasing interest in attacking this geography.
East Coast – Platform Dynamics provides Crown with a solid physical presence on the East Coast / Greater NYC area. Crown has office space in midtown New York, but the PD development center in Shelton significantly increases our East Coast presence.
3. Software is Core Strategy for Crown
The PD portfolio of products perfectly compliments Crown’s existing products and frameworks. Crown views commercialized software products such as PD Consistency Checker and Recycle Bin as the ultimate display of competency and are central to our go-to-market strategy. We believe PD products will enable Crown to address markets in a new and innovative way.
Why is joining Crown a good thing for the PD Team?
“We want you, we really, really want you!” - With all due apologies to Sally Field for butchering her famous line, it is true! I’m always surprised when folks of an acquired company express feelings of concern over possibly being neglected by the new team. Let’s dispel that concern right now. Believe it or not, Crown actually wanted to acquire Platform Dynamics, and being wanted is a great thing.
Familiar Waters – Changing organizations is inherently stressful because it is disruptive. We have to meet new people, we may even have a new boss and we might even wind up with new insurance and benefits (a serious pain). While some of that can’t be avoided, one thing that might fit like an old tennis shoe is the fact that PD’s software business should continue to develop in the same familiar environment as before. Same folks writing & maintaining the code, same location. Crown is very interested in continuing to invest in this business as the skills & capabilities the PD team brings to Crown will serve as the foundation for our collective future.
We’re a Big Small Company – Choppy English aside, Crown’s rapid growth, multiple lines of business and optimistic view of the future creates numerous opportunities for folks to fulfill their professional desires. Want to build a new product? Run a Center of Excellence? Manage a multi-million dollar relationship with a multi-national client? Those are big company opportunities available in a no (low :-) bureaucracy small company environment.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
-- Helen Keller
This transaction was finalized today and will be effective as of August 1, 2007. Below we’ve attempted to outline why we have completed this transaction. Please note that we have not released this to the general public and expect a press release on Monday (at which time you can make this public knowledge to your partners and clients).
Elaine Price, former founder of Phoenix and Platform Dynamics, will respond to this message with the press release so you all have a copy for distribution.
Why is Crown Partners acquiring Platform Dynamics?
1. PD & Crown are an Awesome fit…
Technical Fit – Phoenix/Platform Dynamics & Crown share a common DNA of deep and longstanding technical expertise with the Documentum platform. Since Crown’s inception in 2001, Documentum is all we’ve done.
Business Fit – Platform Dynamics mature software development practices and product portfolio compliment Crown’s emerging software portfolio and mature field sales & consulting organization.
Cultural Fit – Both Platform Dynamics & Crown share “complex” relationships with EMC. One day a friend, the next a fierce competitor. Together, we’re a formidable EMC partner with more Designed for EMC™ applications than anyone. We’re also longtime friends with Elaine’s team that dates back to pre-PD & pre-Crown days.
2. Geography…PD is where we ain’t
Europe – Crown’s expansion into Europe has been limited to a nascent partnership with SynApps. Adding the PD GMBH team gives Crown a solid foundation in Europe upon which to build. Crown sees Europe as a strategic market for expansion and has increasing interest in attacking this geography.
East Coast – Platform Dynamics provides Crown with a solid physical presence on the East Coast / Greater NYC area. Crown has office space in midtown New York, but the PD development center in Shelton significantly increases our East Coast presence.
3. Software is Core Strategy for Crown
The PD portfolio of products perfectly compliments Crown’s existing products and frameworks. Crown views commercialized software products such as PD Consistency Checker and Recycle Bin as the ultimate display of competency and are central to our go-to-market strategy. We believe PD products will enable Crown to address markets in a new and innovative way.
Why is joining Crown a good thing for the PD Team?
“We want you, we really, really want you!” - With all due apologies to Sally Field for butchering her famous line, it is true! I’m always surprised when folks of an acquired company express feelings of concern over possibly being neglected by the new team. Let’s dispel that concern right now. Believe it or not, Crown actually wanted to acquire Platform Dynamics, and being wanted is a great thing.
Familiar Waters – Changing organizations is inherently stressful because it is disruptive. We have to meet new people, we may even have a new boss and we might even wind up with new insurance and benefits (a serious pain). While some of that can’t be avoided, one thing that might fit like an old tennis shoe is the fact that PD’s software business should continue to develop in the same familiar environment as before. Same folks writing & maintaining the code, same location. Crown is very interested in continuing to invest in this business as the skills & capabilities the PD team brings to Crown will serve as the foundation for our collective future.
We’re a Big Small Company – Choppy English aside, Crown’s rapid growth, multiple lines of business and optimistic view of the future creates numerous opportunities for folks to fulfill their professional desires. Want to build a new product? Run a Center of Excellence? Manage a multi-million dollar relationship with a multi-national client? Those are big company opportunities available in a no (low :-) bureaucracy small company environment.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
-- Helen Keller