Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group acquires majority stake in Rocksteady Studios

February 23, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-336
 
Acquirer:  Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
ACQ Web:  http://www.warnerbros.com
Location:  USA, Burbank, CA
Region:  North America
Description 1:  Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group (WBHEG) brings together Warner Bros. Entertainment’s home video, digital distribution, interactive entertainment, technical operations and anti-piracy businesses. WBHEG oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. WBHEG distributes its product through third party retail partners and licensees, as well as directly to consumers through WBShop.com.
Description 2: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group an is a worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.
Category:  Entertainment, Media
Contact 1:  Kevin Tsujihara, president, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group
Contact 2:  Martin Tremblay, president, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Contact 3:  Josh Berger, president and managing director, Warner Bros. UK
 
Vendor:  Rocksteady Studios Ltd
Vendor Web:  
Other Web Links: Twitter
Location:  UK, London
Region:  Europe
Description:  Founded in 2004 in London, England, Rocksteady Studios specialises in developing action-adventure video games, including Batman: Arkham Asylum, one of the most critically acclaimed games of 2009. The title has enjoyed robust sales, shipping over three million units worldwide, and has garnered numerous industry awards.
Category: Games
Contact 1:  Jamie Walker, studio director, co-owner
Contact 2:  Sefton Hill, games director, co-owner
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed.

Kevin Tsujihara, president of Warner’s home entertainment group in an interview in the FT said that they have acquired a 68.4% stake.
 
Details:  Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group has acquired a majority stake in Rocksteady Studios, a privately held developer of interactive entertainment targeted at teens and adults. Their best known game is Batman: Arkham Asylum.
 
Link: Press Release
  
Warner Bros. acquisition history in the games space:

In 2007, Warner Bros. acquired TT Games, developer of the hit LEGO-based game franchises, including LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Indiana Jones and LEGO Batman. In early 2009, Warner Bros. acquired Snowblind Studios to develop its The Lord of the Rings games franchise, with the first title expected to be released in 2011. Most recently, Warner Bros. purchased the primary assets of Midway Games. Midway published the Mortal Kombat franchise, which has sold over 26 million units worldwide, and owned a robust IP catalog and broadly applicable game engine technology. As part of the transaction, Warner Bros. acquired two development studios to focus on the Mortal Kombat franchise as well as other key properties.

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Visual and interactive platform for local search company EveryScrape raises £6M

February 23, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website

 
FUND RAISING 
Database Reference:  F231109-353
 
Business:  EveryScape
Web:  http://www.everyscape.com
Location:  USA, Waltham, MA
Region:  North America
Business description:  EveryScape lets businesses and organizations build relationships with consumers through three-dimensional, photo-realistic experiences of cities & towns, streets & sidewalks, and building exteriors & interiors.
Category: Search
Contact 1:  Jim Schoonmaker – Chief Executive Officer, EveryScape 
Contact 2:  Mok Oh, Ph.D. – Founder and Chief Technology Officer, EveryScape
Contact 3:  Richard Chin, president of SK Telecom Americas 
 
Investors:  Led by SK Telecom Americas, a division of South Korean mobile operator SK Telecom. Existing investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Dace Ventures also participated.

EveryScape is a venture backed, privately held company. Capital investors include:

 
Round:  C
Amount raised:  $6,000,000
 
Details:  EveryScape, Inc. has secured $6 million Series C financing in a strategic round led by SK Telecom Americas. The financing will be used for EveryScape’s Asian market strategy, as well as to build on the company’s U.S. growth.

Link:  Press Release

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Guinness World Records has acquired Bragster.com

February 22, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website

 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-335
 
Acquirer:  Guinness World Records
ACQ Web:  http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com
Other Web Links: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, DailyMotion, metacafe 
Location:  UK, London
Region:  Europe
Description:  The global authority on record-breaking achievements. According to Guinness World records, their website currently receives over 11 million visitors a year and 1,000 record applications each week.
Category:  Publisher
Contact:  Alistair Richards, Managing Director of Guinness World Records
 
Vendor:  Bragster.com
Vendor Web:  http://www.bragster.com
Other Web Links: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter
Location:  UK, London
Region:  Europe
Description:  Social networking site that allows users to upload videos of their dares and ‘bragging’ feats. Bragster.com was founded by Wim Vernaeve and Bertrand Bodson in 2006. The website currently has an Online community of 70,000 content generators, with their videos viewed up to 7 million times per month.
Category: Consumer website
Contact 1:  Bertrand Bodson, co-founder
Contact 2:  Wim Vernaeve, co-founder
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  Guinness World Records has acquired Bragster.com. The acquisition comes at a time when Guinness World Records  is looking to improve their digital presence, particularly by expanding record-breaking into the online community. While plans for an integration program are finalized, Bragster.com will remain a completely separate entity, brand and target audience from Guinness World Records. The eventual incorporation of bragster.com will allow Guinness World Records to extend their reach into social networking.
 
Link: Press Release

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Bloomberg acquires B2G Eagle Eye Publishers

February 22, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-334
 
Acquirer:  Bloomberg L.P.
ACQ Web:  http://www.bloomberg.com 
Location:  USA, New York, NY
Region:  North America
Description:  Data, news, analytic and trading tools for businesses and financial professionals. BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL®, BLOOMBERG TELEVISION®, BLOOMBERG RADIO®, BLOOMBERG MARKETS®,BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK and BLOOMBERG.COM®
Category:  Trade data, Information
Contact 1:  Peter T. Grauer, chairman
Contact 2:  Dan Doctoroff, President
 
Vendor:  Eagle Eye Publishers
Vendor Web:  http://www.eagleeyeinc.com 
Location:  USA, Fairfax, VA
Region:  North America
Description:  Founded in 1986, Eagle Eye provides market intelligence – databases, training, studies, reports, lists, software and business development consulting – to help vendors build strong, productive relationships with government buyers.
Category: B2G Publishing
Contact 1:  Paul Murphy, Founder
  
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  Bloomberg L.P. has acquired Eagle Eye Publishers moving them into the government market. The rumor was first reported on Mark Amtower’s B2G blog and later confirmed by Washington Technology and others.

This is the third acquisition by Bloomberg in the past few months. The other two were Business Week (reported in Oct 09) and New Energy Finance (reported in Dec 09).

 
Links: 

Related Fusion DigiNet Articles

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GOADV acquires Italy’s top blog network BLOGOSFERE

February 19, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-333
 
Acquirer:  GoAdv Group
ACQ Web:  http://www.goadv.com
Other Web Links: Excite, Better Deals, Trackset 
Location:  Ireland, Dublin
Region:  Europe
Description:  The GoAdv Group is a pan-European digital media company with a staff of over 130 working across offices in Italy, Ireland and Asia, active in the UK, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, US, Australia, Russia and Brazil.

Created in 2004 the Group produces and distributes content across a wide network including Excite Europe, Better Deals and Nanopublishing. The media brands generate over 16.5 million unique monthly users.

GOADV is listed on Alternext of Nyse-Euronext Paris. Code ISIN FR0010500975 – Code MNEMO: ALGOA

Category:  Digital Media
Contact 1:  Luca Ascani, Chairman
Contact 2:  Salvatore Esposito, CEO

Vendor:  Blogosfere
Vendor Web:  http://www.blogosfere.it 
Location:  Italy, Milan
Region:  Europe
Description:  Founded in Italy in 2005, Blogosfere is an extensive professional blog network counting over 210 blogs in its portfolio written by some of the country’s most notable experts in their fields. With an audience of over 3 million unique monthly users and growing (Source: Audiweb), Blogosfere’s vision is to provide breaking news, comment and opinion by professionals and experts delivered
online through its network to passionate communities.
Category: Blog Network
Contact:  Silvio De Rossi, Head of Production
 
Aprox. Value:  
 
Details:  Digital media company GoAdv Group, has acquired Italian blog network Blogosfere.  Blogosferewas launched in 2005 and now counts more than 210 professional blogs across its network and has a user base of over 3 million.
 
Link: 

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P.E. Baring Vostok Capital Partners is acquiring half of Smeshariki for $45 Million

February 19, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-332
 
Acquirer:  Baring Vostok Capital Partners
ACQ Web:  http://www.bvcp.ru/en/
Location:  Russia, Moscow
Region:  Europe
Description:  Baring Vostok Capital Partners is one of the leading private equity firms operating in Russia and the CIS. The Baring Vostok Private Equity Funds have invested over $1.2 billion in 54 companies since 1994, and currently have committed capital of $2 billion for new investment.
Category:  Private Equity
Contact 1:  Michael Calvey, Co-Managing Partner
Contact 2:  Alexei Kalinin, Co-Managing Partner 
 
Vendor:  Riki Group 
Location:  Russia
Region:  Europe
Description:  Riki Group is the company that owns rights to the popular Russian cartoon series for children, Smeshariki http://www.smeshariki.ru/. In the U.S., Smeshariki is known as GoGoRiki.
Category: Television
  
Aprox. Value:  $45,000,000. BVCP valued the Riki Group at $90 million and is to buy 45%-47% of the company and provide it with $10-15 million loan, the newspaper said.
 
Details:  Baring Vostok Capital Partners is in final negotiations to acquire 45%-47% of Riki Group.
 
Link: 

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Graphic.ly Acquires iFanboy to Bring Community to the Digital Comics Platform

February 19, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-331
 
Acquirer:  Graphic.ly
ACQ Web:  http://www.graphic.ly
Other Web Links: Twitter
Location:  USA, Boulder, CO
Region:  North America
Description:  Digital content delivery system and community platform for the publishing world. Graphic.ly’s first product focuses on comic publishers, creators and enthusiasts, and provides an immersive social experience and marketplace around digital comics and associated merchandise. The company is looking to expand its community and content platform and become the de facto solution for print media.
Category:  Consumer website
Contact 1:  Kevin Mann Twitter
Contact 2:  Micah Baldwin, CEO and co-founder Twitter 
 
Vendor:  iFanboy
Vendor Web:  http://www.ifanboy.com
Business Sold: 
Other Web Links: Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Comic Space, Virb 
Region:  North America
Description:  iFanboy is a community website for comic book and graphic novel enthusiasts. It began ten years ago as a site for fans to share information and knowledge on comic books.
Category: Consumer Website
Contact 1:  Ron Richards, general manager, co-founder
Contact 2:  Josh Flanagan, co-founder
Contact 3:  Conor Kilpatrick, co-founder
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  Graphic.ly, the  community and digital content delivery platform for comics and other forms of publishing, has acquired iFanboy, the communities, news and audio & video sites for the comics and graphic novel enthusiast. With the acquisition, iFanboy becomes a division of Graphic.ly, and will be integrated into the Graphic.ly Web site, as well as into the various platforms and applications Graphic.ly runs on, such as Windows 7, Adobe Air and the iPhone.

Link: Press Release

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ReelzChannel acquires the online comedy and satire movie Site HollywoodPressTV

February 19, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-330
 
Acquirer:  ReelzChannel
ACQ Web:  http://www.reelzchannel.com
Location:  USA, Albuquerque, NM
Region:  North America
Description:  Delivers daily entertainment-based content from full movie trailers to celebrity interviews. REELZCHANNEL reaches 48 million homes nationwide on DirecTV, DISH Network and cable. Owned by Hubbard Media Group.
Category:  TV, Entertainment,
Contact:  Bob Bedford, Sr. VP of Web and New Media
 
Vendor:  The Buddy Group
Vendor Web:  http://www.thebuddygroup.com
Business Sold: HollywoodPressTV.com
Other Web Links: DotLot Digital Studios
Location:  USA, Irvine, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Digital engagement agency specialising in strategy and build-out of websites, online video, social media, online advertising and games. The Buddy Group works with such clients as YouTube, FreeCreditReport.com, Western Digital, National University and Fantastic Sams.
Category: Digital Agency
Contact:  Pete Deutschman, Chief Buddy
  
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  ReelzChannel has acquired HollywoodPressTV.com, the creative brainchild of The Buddy Group, Steve Patterson, David Gaw and David Martinez. HollywoodPressTV is an online-only movie site that has built a following of 2 million fans in just three years.
 
Link: Press Release

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TagMan Closes $1.3 Million First-Round Investment

February 16, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
FUND RAISING 
Database Reference:  F231109-352
 
Business:  TagMan
Web:  http://www.tagman.com
Other Web Links: Blog
Location:  UK, London
Region:  Europe
Business description:  TagMan is an independent tag management solution that enables agencies and advertisers to manage online marketing tags/pixels – and the data they provide – much more effectively. (Tags/pixels are pieces of code used by the entire digital advertising industry to track the performance of online campaigns).  A single TagMan tag is installed on any advertiser’s page that needs tracking and all other tags/pixels that need to sit on that page – whether to track natural search, paid search, affiliates, display or site analytics – are housed and managed through the TagMan tag and browser-based interface.
Category: Advertising, Technology
Contact 1:  Paul Cook, CEO and founder
Contact 2:  Jonathan Baron, general manager
Contact 3:  John Taysom, Cambridge Angels investor
 
Investors:  Cambridge Angels and the London Business School E100.

Cambridge Angels investors include John Taysom, whose early stage internet investments include Advertising.com, Yahoo!, Forbes.com and infoseek and Andy Phillipps, formerly CEO and co-founder of Active Hotels. As part of the current funding round, TagMan adds to its Board of Directors: Robert Brady, founder of Brady plc, a software solutions business and a Cambridge Angel, and John Yeomans, director of First Capital and both a Cambridge Angel and London Business School E100 member. The round also includes new investments from existing employee investors, including CEO and founder Paul Cook and co-founder and general manager Jonathan Baron. 
 
Amount raised:  $1,300,000
 
Details:  TagMan has closed a first-round of external financing led by Cambridge Angels and the London Business School E100. The company had previously raised a total of $800,000 angel funds from friends and employees. Founded in 2004, TagMan is privately owned and funded and has offices in New York and London.

Link:  Company Announcement

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Canon Communications acquires design engineering media properties from RBI-US

February 16, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION  – STORY UPDATE
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-329

Earlier story –  Canon Communications may acquire several trade publications from RBI U.S. – 16th February 2010
 
Acquirer:  Canon Communications
ACQ Web:  http://www.cancom.com
Location:  USA, Los Angeles, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Canon Communications is a portfolio company of Apprise Media LLC. the company produces trade events, publications, and electronic media for the $3 trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry, including medical device, packaging, design engineering, process technology, automated assembly, electronics, quality control, and plastics processing.
Category:  B2B Media, Events
Contact 1:  Charles G. McCurdy, Chairman and CEO
Contact 2:  Ron Wall, Executive Vice President of Canon’s Publishing Division
Contact 3:  Kevin O’Keefe, Executive Vice President of Canon’s Events Division 
 
Vendor:  Reed Business Information – US
Vendor Web:  http://www.reedbusiness.com/us.html 
Location:  USA, New York, NY
Region:  North America
Description:  Business-to-business information provider, with more than 80 market-leading publications and Websites, as well as a range of services
Category: Media Owner
Contact:  John Poulin, Chief Executive Officer
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  Canon Communications has acquired four  media brands serving the advanced design engineering sector in the United States, Asia, and Europe. Included in the purchase from Reed Business Information – US are the worldwide assets of Electronic Design News (EDN), Design News, Test & Measurement World, and Packaging Digest. This is the third RBI sale reported on Fusion DigiNet since December 2009.
 
Link: Cannon Communications Announcement
  
Advisors:  Reed Business Information-US and Reed Elsevier were represented by The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc., a New York City-based investment bank that specializes in the media and information industries.
 
Fusion DigiNet has reported on two RBI sales in the past few months:

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