The paid search company Mamma.com Inc. (www.mamma.com) and Copernic Technologies Inc. (www.copernic.com), one of the first players in the Desktop Search field, announced on November 29 that Mamma has signed a letter of intent where they will acquire all of the shares of Copernic Technologies for a combination of cash and shares of Mamma.com Inc. The closing of the acquisition will be effected by the parties pursuant to a definitive purchase agreement, when and if negotiated and entered into by Mamma.com and Copernic.
Copernic has recently gone through a rebirth with the popularity of desktop search. The Copernic acquisition plans by Mamma shows that Mamma is now quite serious about expanding its search offerings beyond meta search partners and perhaps more into the tech field. Copernic is currently a paid for tool and the option to expose one’s desktop to sponsored ads in return for a free full version has to be in the works for the Mamma team.
Guy Faure, President and CEO of Mamma.com Inc., said that this significant transaction will result in a company which is at the forefront of the Internet Search industry and a stronger provider of integrated on-line marketing services, and that as a result of the combination, Mamma intends to reach both web-based and desktop-based search users, utilizing Copernic’s award winning desktop search product.
