Neural Technologies plans for global growth with Lumine

Background

Neural Technologies Ltd (“Neural”) is a provider of modular revenue protection, signaling, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) software for telecom operators. Its revenue protection suite includes capabilities for fraud management, revenue assurance, credit-risk management, business assurance, and anti-money laundering. Its ML and AI capabilities assist telecom operators with data integration and customer engagement.

Serving customers in 45 countries worldwide, such as T-Mobile USA with 110 million subscribers and Telkomsel with 177 million subscribers, Neural has built an international reputation for providing quality solutions to increase the bottom line for its customers around the globe.

Path to Acquisition

Neural first met Lumine Group at Mobile World Congress in 2017. At this time, the organization was intrigued by the value proposition and unique outlook on buy-and-holding forever, allowing acquired businesses to define and achieve their mission through the best practices, ecosystem and financial backing that Lumine brings to every business.

In 2020, Neural and Lumine reconnected. After 30 years of building up the businesses’ capabilities, the organization was ready to join an ecosystem that would provide the industry expertise to scale to the next level, with a proven model of business success.

It was important to Neural that they selected a business partner that valued Neural’s innovation, brand, and most importantly its true assets, customers and staff. “We were interested in finding a partner that would understand the Neural business and create a synergy with our organization,” said Ang Liang, COO of Neural.

Lumine seemed like the right fit. “The strategy was to merge with an organization that could provide us the opportunity to scale globally. At the time, we did not know what that organization would be. And then we met Lumine.”

A Global Network of Companies, Customers & Thought Leaders  

When looking for the right acquirer, Neural clearly saw the benefit of having an acquiring partner that is focused within the communications and media network. “We spent time speaking with a number of different types of acquirers, and for many of our conversations, we spent a lot of time describing the business we were in. We found that a lot of the time, they did not understand us.” said Ang. “Lumine understood our business and could create the right synergy with us. Lumine could show they could immediately provide value by knowing our market so well.”

Ultimately, Neural chose Lumine for three key reasons. First, the buy and hold forever acquisition philosophy ensured the company would never be resold. The philosophy also speaks to the idea that the business will remain your business, only enhancing it. Second, Neural was excited by the opportunity to connect with a network of businesses – they were already familiar with fellow Lumine companies like Sicap and Flash Networks. “If a number of companies like this come together, that would be a collectively huge customer base, and provide a great opportunity for Neural, and for the other businesses,” said Ang.

Third, Neural was looking forward to gaining new expertise from a network of communications and media business leaders. “I have many ideas of how to expand and grow the business, but I do not have all the answers,” said Ang. “Joining an organization like Lumine would provide us with new expertise to learn and grow. Gaining access to Lumine’s best practices was a great opportunity for the business and for our team.”