Assurance Software Merges with ClearView, Boosts Business Continuity Chops

By Todd R. Weiss

Assurance Software and ClearView Continuity, the business-continuity management vendors, have merged to create one company that will offer customers two distinct product lines that can help them disaster-proof their business processes and infrastructures.

Assurance Software previously focused mostly on customers in North America, while ClearView Continuity focus was on the United Kingdom and in continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Working together, the new company plans to expand its global reach to customers and to the channel partners who provide sales, services and support for its products.

Assurance Software’s Craig Potts

“One of the key objectives of this merger is to accelerate the growth of Assurance, and our channel partners will be an important contributor to that objective,” Craig Potts, CEO of Assurance Software, told Channel Futures. “We intend to expand our reach through our channel partners.”

The company’s relationship with its channel partners is’t expected to change, said Potts. Assurance wouldn’t disclose the number of channel partners it works with today.

Assurance Software was created eight months ago as an independent company after private-equity firm Resurgens Technology Partners bought it from Sungard Availability Services in May 2018.

The name of the combined company will be Assurance Software and it will continue to sell and support the two product lines from each previous entity.

“The company will continue to invest in both brands, while distinctive competencies will be utilized to accelerate product and service innovations,” the company says in a FAQ about the merger.

The current product platforms will continue for now, but could change in the future.

“Over time, as complementary capabilities are leveraged, new product enhancements will be delivered to both ClearView and Assurance customers,” the FAQ continues. “As detailed plans for product enhancements and innovation come together, all customers will receive transparent and timely communications.”

Potts will remain the CEO of the combined company. Charlie Boffin, CEO of ClearView, will become the president of EMEA/APAC operations and the global chief of strategy.

Customers can keep using their current software products and get continuing support and services as they do today, the company said in the FAQ.

“Our goal is to continue serving as their go-to partner for all needs related to business continuity and resiliency. In support of this goal, we are fully committed to a policy of  ‘no customers left behind.'”

The combined business has approximately 130 employees throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. It maintains development, sales and support centers in the U.S. and the U.K.

S&P Global’s Jason Fries

“Our companies are uniquely well suited to each other — Assurance has established a market-leadership position, primarily in North America, while ClearView has done the same in EMEA and Asia Pacific,” said Potts. “Assurance and ClearView have numerous technology and cultural synergies that will allow us to accelerate product innovation and enhance customer value. The union of our companies creates a global powerhouse that I believe will be the go-to partner for companies seeking to mitigate risk and enhance their organization’s resilience.”

Jason Fries, the business-continuity program director for S&P Global, the financial market intelligence firm, said the merger will add more value to his company’s existing relationship with Assurance.

“We are very excited to see how Assurance Software continues to adapt to the changing landscape,” said Fries. “As a global company, we are thrilled that this merger will provide Assurance Software additional capacity to directly support our operations in EMEA and Asia Pacific. I also look forward to seeing how this merger will influence new features in an already strong product.”