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Innovation and client service at heart of deal as BigHand buys nFlow Software Ltd; Rob Lancashire joins BigHand in key senior management role

London, UK – Apr 6th 2010 -- BigHand, a leading voice productivity vendor in the professional services and public sector community, has today announced that it has wholly acquired nFlow Software Ltd, a leading innovator in the provision of digital dictation technology. This takes the BigHand international client base to 1,250 organisations and 117,000 users worldwide.

Jon Ardron, BigHand CEO, commented: “For some time the similarities in the approach of BigHand and nFlow have been clear, and when we identified a chance to accelerate our global strategy through acquisition we did not hesitate. NFlow quite rightly has a reputation for client responsiveness and product innovation that has led to it becoming a leading supplier in the UK legal & professional services digital dictation sector. We knew both companies share a strong commitment to customer delivery, but as I have come to know Rob Lancashire – nFlow Managing Director - we have discovered a joint vision of open, flexible, and highly accessible voice productivity technology. We are all excited by the positive impact this will have on our customers. In fact, we already have some key technology announcements due within weeks that will benefit both nFlow and BigHand users regardless of what product they may be using.”

Rob Lancashire will become Managing Director of a newly formed BigHand UK Legal & Professional Services Division. NFlow users are expected to immediately benefit from some exciting product developments shortly to be announced by BigHand. Rob Lancashire, now BigHand Managing Director UK Legal & Professional Services, commented: “I believe this is a very positive move for the nFlow client base, and personally I am excited to have the opportunity to make my personal mark on BigHand, a company that has a significant reputation for dynamic growth. The resources and infrastructure made available by this deal are striking and will enable us to deliver a range of benefits for nFlow users. Medium term we have a strategy to ensure this deal benefits BigHand and nFlow customers by unlocking increased feature sets and software capabilities for both products. Longer term we foresee a converged product offered by a single company characterised by service quality and innovation. Importantly I want to assure nFlow clients in regards to their investment in nFlow digital dictation software. I can categorically state that it is our intention that nFlow software will be supported indefinitely, and this was a critical provision in the deal.”

As part of the new structure BigHand has also created a new UK Healthcare Division, and following his success as BigHand’s UK Sales Director James Kippenberger has been promoted to Managing Director UK Healthcare. Jonathan Carter has decided to leave the group following these structural changes and a refocusing of corporate strategy. However he will remain involved in a consultancy capacity in the coming months and we wish him well in his future endeavours.

The deal value has not been disclosed however the majority of the consideration payable has been satisfied from existing cash resources rather than new borrowings. Further acquisitions have not been discounted as BigHand drives to become a significant global player in the voice software market. BigHand is backed by LDC, the private equity division of the Lloyds TSB Group.

-ENDS-

Contact: Dan Speed, Marketing Director, BigHand, dan.speed@bighand.com