Reversing the news you might expect from this type of announcement, a Canadian online business is expanding its operations by purchasing its U.S. counterpart.
On Wednesday, London, Ont.-based online voice talent and audio product marketplace Voices.com Inc. announced that it would be purchasing Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Voicebank.net, an online platform for – you guessed it – voice talent and project management which is utilized by more than 1,600 global advertising agencies, casting directors, and creative, television and film production studios.
The transaction’s financial terms were not disclosed.
In an Aug. 9 statement, Voices.com founder and CEO, David Ciccarelli said the acquisition would create “a new paradigm” for securing voice talent across the globe.
“Years of customer feedback and an ongoing commitment to continue to revolutionize the voice over industry has resulted in this transaction,” he said. “Acquiring Voicebank.net will see Voices.com strengthening relationships in the community and further delivering on the evolving needs of clients and talent alike.”
For his part, Voicebank.net founder and CEO Jeff Hixon sounded equally excited, calling his company’s new relationship with Voices.com “an invaluable benefit for both Voicebank.net and our customers.”
“From early meetings, it was clear to me that our companies had much in common, including a similar vision for the future,” he said. “That, in combination with it being the right time for each of us, resulted in this acquisition.”
Founded in 2005, Voices.com bills itself as “the largest global online marketplace for audio and voice over products and services,” comprising nearly 500,000 business clients and voice actors across 139 countries.
Voicebank.net, founded in 1998, developed and runs a platform used by leading production, creative and advertising companies to post voice-over opportunities, identify and communicate with talent and their representatives, and manage and complete engagements.
Combined, Voices.com and VoiceBank.net will be able to reach all segments of the market, from animation dubbing to global television spots to podcasts to gaming.
Both services will continue to operate as separate platforms, with production companies on VoiceBank.net being invited to use Voices.com for all of their audio and voice over needs.