Smart Technologies
| |
Subsidiary | |
Industry |
Computer technology Computer software |
Founded | 1987 |
Founder |
David Martin Nancy Knowlton |
Headquarters | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | John Hui (CEO) |
Products | Interactive whiteboards |
Revenue | US$492.9 million (FY2015) |
US$24.1 million (FY2015)[1] | |
Number of employees | 795 |
Parent | Foxconn (2016–present) |
Website |
www |
Smart Technologies Corporation is a Canadian company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1987, Smart Technologies is best known as the developer of interactive whiteboards branded as "Smart Boards".[2]
History
Smart Technologies introduced its interactive whiteboard, branded Smart Board, in 1991.[3][4] In 2003, Smart developed and later patented DViT (Digital Vision Touch) technology.[5]
In 2009, Smart filed a patent infringement lawsuit against New Zealand-based NextWindow[6] before acquiring the company outright in 2010.[7]
On July 15, 2010 Smart Technologies placed an initial public offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), raising upwards of $660 million.[8][9] Later that year, several class action complaints were filed against SMART in the U.S. District Courts in New York and Illinois.[10][11] Filed on behalf of the purchasers of the Class A Subordinate Voting Shares in Smart's IPO in July 2010, the complaints alleged that the company did not disclose important information prior to the IPO. A settlement was reached in March 2013.[12]
As of the 2011 fiscal year end, Smart Board interactive whiteboards led the interactive whiteboard category[13] with a 63% share in the United States, 44% share in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and 47% share globally.[14]
In 2011, Smart employed about 1,700 people. On December 11, 2012, SMART Technologies announced it would begin corporate restructuring.[15] The company proceeded to lay off 25% of its employees.[16] Then-CEO Neil Gaydon stated that it would save the company approximately $40 million, and cited competition in the market as part of the reason for restructuring.[17]
In 2016, Smart was acquired by Foxconn for $200 million.[18]
References
- ↑ "SMART Technologies - Annual Reports" (PDF). SMART. Retrieved 2015-07-07.
- ↑ Hasso Plattner; Christoph Meinel; Larry Leifer (13 December 2010). Design Thinking: Understand – Improve – Apply. Springer Science & Business Media. pp. 157–. ISBN 978-3-642-13757-0.
- ↑ "Google releases Jamboard, a high-tech whiteboard for office meetings". Toronto Star, November 12, 2016. pageB4. Steven Overly.
- ↑ Liebrecht, Deia (November 27, 2007). "West Area Gets Smart With Technology". The Ledger.
- ↑ GOLIATH: Business Knowledge on Demand Smart Digital Vision Touch technology, 1 November 2003
- ↑ Business Standard SMART Files Patent Infringement Against NextWindow, 3 April 2009
- ↑ Innovative Interactivity (II) SMART Technologies' acquisition of NextWindow: A "smart window" to the world, 6 May 2010
- ↑ Yahoo! Canada Finance Archived 2011-09-26 at the Wayback Machine. Smart Technologies Inc. Raises $660 Million in IPO on The NASDAQ Stock Market, Largest IPO of 2010, 16 July 2010
- ↑ Bloomberg Smart Technologies Raises $660 Million in Second-Biggest U.S. IPO of 2010, 15 July 2010
- ↑ "Smart Technologies Inc hit by investor lawsuit over alleged securities laws violations". PRLOG. December 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Izard Nobel LLP Announces Class Action Lawsuit Against Smart". Bloomberg News. December 13, 2010.
- ↑ Settlement agreement of class action lawsuit Ontario Court of Justice
- ↑ MSNbc.com SMART Increases Interactive Whiteboard Product Category Share, 20 May 2011
- ↑ http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/ABEA-4CUEER/0x0x469964/e5d5ed0b-029d-4b61-b35f-544ba8bd3bc4/SMT_News_2011_5_20_General_Releases.pdf Interactive Displays / ICT Products Market: Quarterly Insight State of the Market Report, Quarter 4 2010, 31 March 2011.
- ↑ "SMART Announces Corporate Restructuring" Archived 2015-06-14 at the Wayback Machine.. Smart Technologies.
- ↑ "Layoffs at SMART Technologies Inc." CBC. December 11, 2012
- ↑ "Calgary's SMART Technologies to lay off 25% of staff". CBC. December 11, 2012
- ↑ "SMART Technologies to be acquired by Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Group". Calgary Herald. 2016-05-26. Retrieved 2018-02-11.