RateGain Travel Technologies Limited , a global provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions for the travel and hospitality industry, has announced a significant move to strengthen its position in the market. The company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Sojern, Inc. and its subsidiaries for $250 million through its wholly-owned subsidiary, RateGain Merger Sub, Inc.

Strategic Acquisition to Enhance AI Capabilities

The acquisition of Sojern, a leading AI-powered hospitality and travel marketing platform founded in 2007, aligns with RateGain's AI-first strategy. This move is expected to create a unique, AI-first digital marketing and distribution platform in the hospitality and travel sector, focusing on guest acquisition, engagement, retention, and wallet share expansion.

Sojern's Profile and Performance

Sojern, headquartered in the USA, serves over 13,000 customers worldwide, including independent and chain hotels, destinations, attractions, and travel corporations. The company reported an annual gross revenue of $172.20 million, with approximately 85% of its revenue coming from the US and Europe.

Financial Details and Funding

The $250 million acquisition will be funded through a combination of RateGain's internal cash reserves ($125 million) and debt ($125 million). RateGain has also approved an additional investment in its UK subsidiary and the issuance of a corporate guarantee of up to $150 million for loan facilities.

Synergies and Growth Opportunities

Bhanu Chopra, Founder and Chairman of RateGain, commented on the acquisition: "This acquisition is another important step in advancing RateGain's AI-first mission. Sojern's proven financial performance and expertise in MarTech complement our unified vision of embedding AI across every workflow in hospitality, from guest acquisition to retention and wallet share expansion."

The combination is expected to create tangible strategic synergies in various areas, including:

1. Boosting RateGain's Martech business with a strong platform for AI-led direct demand generation
2. Access to a robust hotel customer base in the US
3. Increased penetration and deeper relationships with hotels, DMOs, attractions, airlines, and car rental customers
4. New capabilities in guest engagement throughout the customer journey

Regulatory Approvals and Closing Timeline

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including anti-trust approvals under US competition laws. It is expected to be completed within 45-90 days from the signing of the agreement.

Future Outlook

RateGain has scheduled a business update call to discuss the acquisition with investors and analysts. Additionally, the company's board of directors will meet to consider raising funds through the issuance of equity shares, convertible securities, or warrants.

This strategic move positions RateGain to offer a more comprehensive suite of AI-powered solutions to the hospitality and travel industry, potentially driving growth and innovation in the sector.

RateGain Travel Technologies Limited , a global provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions for the travel and hospitality industry, has announced the appointment of Amarpreet Singh as its new Chief Customer Officer. This strategic move aims to enhance the company's global customer organization and drive innovation in customer success.

Role and Responsibilities

In his new role, Singh will lead RateGain's global customer organization with a focus on building and scaling a tech-augmented delivery model. His primary objectives include:

• Ensuring seamless implementation and rapid onboarding of RateGain's platforms
• Driving continuous value realization for customers
• Leveraging AI to transform customer journeys
• Automating support processes
• Reducing churn rates
• Unlocking new growth opportunities

Singh will work closely with the Sales, Product, and Engineering teams to achieve these goals, emphasizing the use of AI to enhance customer experiences.

Experience and Expertise

Amarpreet Singh brings over two decades of experience to RateGain, having held senior positions at several prominent companies:

• Cvent
• WNS
• Gwynniebee
• Sitel
• HCL

His tenure at Cvent is particularly noteworthy, where he managed worldwide support, services, and implementation. Singh's leadership resulted in strong performance metrics, including improved customer retention, high customer satisfaction (CSAT) scores, and impressive Net Promoter Scores (NPS).

Leadership's Perspective

Bhanu Chopra, Founder and Managing Director of RateGain, expressed confidence in Singh's appointment, stating, "Amarpreet brings deep operational expertise, a strategic mindset, and a passion for delivering value to customers at scale. His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to strengthen our customer organization and leverage AI to deliver more personalized, proactive, and impactful experiences for our partners worldwide."

Amarpreet Singh shared his enthusiasm about joining RateGain, saying, "I am excited to join RateGain at a time when customer success is evolving beyond service delivery to true value creation. I look forward to building trusted relationships and delivering meaningful outcomes with our global teams."

Global Impact

Singh will be based in India but will work closely with RateGain's global teams to strengthen customer engagement and scale success across the company's AI-powered travel platform. This appointment aligns with RateGain's commitment to enhancing its customer-centric approach and leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver value to its clients.

RateGain's extensive reach in the travel and hospitality industry, serving over 3,200 customers and 700 partners across more than 100 countries, underscores the significance of this appointment in driving the company's global customer success strategy.

As the travel industry continues to evolve, RateGain's focus on AI-driven solutions and customer success positions the company to meet the changing needs of its diverse clientele, which includes top hotel chains, online travel agents, airlines, and car rental companies worldwide.