By Mike Boyer
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Convergys Corp., the Cincinnati-based billing and customer care provider, on Tuesday announced its fourth and fifth acquisitions since late March.

The company said it agreed to buy Encore Receivable Management Inc., an Olathe, Kan.-based firm specializing in collection of past due and delinquent accounts for large banks, telecommunications, retail and automotive firms.

Convergys said it would pay up to $68 million contingent on possible earn-out payments for future performance for the company that employs 1,100 and has facilities in Kansas City and Las Vegas. Convergys said the acquisition, which would be neutral on 2004 earnings, should close soon after regulatory approval.

The company said Encore would allow it to enter the $9 billion accounts-receivable management market and add new services to its corporate clients.

Convergys also said Tuesday that it acquired WhisperWire Inc., an Austin, Texas, supplier of software to improve sales effectiveness. Financial terms weren't disclosed, but Convergys said the deal also would be neutral to its 2004 earnings. The company said WhisperWire's software would enhance its new Infinys business support software for ordering, billing and customer care.

Monday, Convergys completed its $120 million acquisition of DigitalThink Inc., a San Francisco provider of Web-based learning software, allowing it to expand online learning services to its corporate clients.

In late April, Convergys acquired two Singapore providers of payroll and benefits services to expand its employee-care offerings for clients in the Far East.

It acquired Out-Smart, an independent provider of human resources, payroll, and benefits administration, and i-Benefits, a leading provider of flexible HR and benefits in the Asia Pacific region. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

Convergys has also agreed to take over call centers in Troy, Mich., and Charlotte, N.C., employing 1,450 handling calls for General Motors Corp.'s OnStar motorist assistance service. That four-year agreement was valued at $200 million.

Shares in Convergys closed at $14.87, up 37 cents.

E-mail mboyer@enquirer.com