Mamma.com Buys Copernic for $22M

Copernic, which makes the popular desktop search tool that is also utilized by AOL's Desktop Search product, has been acquired by metasearch engine Mamma.com in a cash and stock deal valued at just over $22 million. The two companies announced plans to join up last year, but the marriage was fraught with delays, including an investigation into Mamma's stock by the SEC.

Mamma will pay $15.9 million in cash and issue 2.38 million shares of its stock to Copernic. "With this acquisition, we are now at the forefront of the search and on-line marketing industry," Mamma CEO Guy Fauré said. "With the addition of Copernic's award winning desktop search (CDS) product, we now have a formidable portfolio to satisfy the growing need for integrated search of both web-based and desk-top based users."