Merrill Corporation to acquire WordWave Inc

The deal, Merrill’s largest single business transaction since its foundation in 1968, aims to combine WordWave’s expertise in court reporting, captioning and transcription with Merrill’s litigation support experience, giving clients around the world support at every stage of the legal process.

Says John Castro, Merrill Corporation’s Chairman and CEO: “We are very pleased about this acquisition and believe it will have a significant impact on Merrill’s continuing strategic diversification and international expansion efforts.

The acquisition expands Merrill’s services and geographic reach, and further solidifies its position as a premier solutions provider.”

Historically, Merrill has provided a wide range of technological solutions to help lawyers improve their efficiency and grow their practice. WordWave Inc, through its three business units – WordWave International, LegaLink and VITAC – exploits similar technology, resources and skills to enable clients in a range of sectors to capture, transcribe and disseminate the spoken word.

The legal profession is experiencing unprecedented levels of change driven by technology, client demands and the regulatory environment. Merrill is expanding its services to meet the needs of the profession and support the critical transition to streamlined business processes.

“WordWave is excited to be part of Merrill Corporation," stated Perry Solomon, President and CEO of WordWave, Inc. “Our clients, employees and reporters will get access to the expanded services, facilities and technologies that Merrill offers. Joining Merrill will allow us to pursue new opportunities and fulfil our managed litigation mission of helping our clients win cases by offering total litigation support from a single provider.”

Specific details of the agreement between Merrill Corporation and WordWave have not yet been disclosed. However, the deal is expected to be completed by 31 December 2005, subject to submission to and approval by relevant governing regulatory agencie

To find out more, contact Sarah Andrews, WordWave International Group Managing Director on 020 7421 9241 or at: sarah.andrews@wordwave.co.uk