Savvis’s data hosting business became CenturyLink Technology Solutions on January 21, 2014, when CenturyLink announced the new name effective immediately. It was a brand change after CenturyLink acquired Savvis in 2011—not the date Savvis was acquired.
What happened to Savvis?
CenturyLink announced that Savvis’s data hosting segment would operate under the name CenturyLink Technology Solutions, effective January 21, 2014. The company described the move as aligning the business with CenturyLink’s broader portfolio of business IT solutions, including colocation, managed services, cloud and network offerings. CenturyLink’s announcement is the source for the date and stated rationale.
How the 2011 acquisition differs from the 2014 rebrand
| Event | What changed |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2011 acquisition | CenturyLink completed its acquisition of Savvis. Savvis continued as a wholly owned CenturyLink subsidiary after the merger. The SEC merger filing records the close and subsidiary relationship. |
| January 21, 2014 brand change | Savvis’s data hosting segment adopted the CenturyLink Technology Solutions name, effective immediately. This was a business-unit brand change, distinct from the earlier change in ownership. CenturyLink’s announcement gives the timing. |
What services did the business provide?
In the period around the rebrand, the business was associated with cloud hosting, managed hosting, colocation and network services. CenturyLink’s announcement also described the combined offering as covering managed services, cloud, colocation and network. These are descriptions of the business at that time, not confirmation of current product names or availability. CenturyLink’s 2013 Form 10-K provides the period-specific business description.
What CenturyLink told customers
In January 2014, CenturyLink said the unit would remain a distinct data hosting operating segment and customers would continue to be served by the same account teams. That was the company’s assurance during the transition; it does not establish today’s support arrangements or service branding. The announcement contains that customer message.
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Why the name changed
CenturyLink said aligning the Savvis data hosting business with the parent brand would connect it more clearly to the company’s broader business IT portfolio. Jeff Von Deylen, then president of CenturyLink Technology Solutions, said the alignment demonstrated “the deeper ties to the broad portfolio of IT solutions” delivered for businesses. He also referred to Savvis’s “nearly 20-year legacy” and the intention to operate under one brand. These were the company’s stated reasons in 2014, not an independent assessment of the business impact. CenturyLink’s release includes the statement.
Acquisition value reported by CenturyLink
CenturyLink’s 2013 Form 10-K reported aggregate consideration of $2.382 billion for the Savvis acquisition. This is the accounting figure reported in that filing; it is not necessarily the same as headline deal terms announced when the acquisition was agreed. The filing provides the reported amount.
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Is Savvis now CenturyLink?
The documented change is historical: Savvis was acquired by CenturyLink in 2011, and its data hosting segment adopted the CenturyLink Technology Solutions name in 2014. The cited announcement does not establish what the services, company structure or customer support arrangements are called today.
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