The Australian Business Review: Soprano sings out to Blackpeak for IPO hand

Soprano Design is the latest technology company hoping to embark on an initial public offering, hiring Blackpeak Capital to work on the possible listing.

Run by former Credit Suisse bankers Scott Colvin and Max Billingham and Jamie Taylor, Blackpeak worked on the float of the $1.5 billion logistics technology software business Wisetech, which has staged a strong rally since its initial listing last year.

Soprano is a Sydney-based mobile messaging software solutions provider for enterprises and governments internationally.

It counts Telstra, Vodafone National Australia Bank, Accor, Transurban, Visa and Qantas as among its clients.

Technology has been used for television shows such as Australian Idol to support inbound SMS mass voting.

It also promotes itself as the group that powered the first mobile payment transaction in Australia during 2001.

With offices in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia, the group was founded in 1994 by former Telstra executive Richard Favero, who is managing director.

The listing of Soprano comes as a deal between TPG Telecom and 2Degrees appears to have broken down for the Australian telco to buy New Zealand’s third largest mobile phone operator.

TPG issued a statement to the market last week saying parties were not currently in talks.