Blippy raises $1.6M in seed round

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:  F231109-328
 
Business:  Blippy
Web:  http://www.blippy.com    Twitter
Location:  USA, Palo Alto, CA
Region:  North America
Business description:  Social media “sharing” site for users to post and follow each other’s updates about their purchases of goods and services.
Category: Social Network
Contact 1:  Ashvin Kumar, Co-Founder, CEO
Contact 2:  Chris Estreich, Co-Founder, CTO
Contact 3:  Philip Kaplan, Co-Founder, President
 
Investors:  Investors include Charles River Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Ron Conway, Philip Kaplan, Evan Williams (Twitter CEO), Jason Calacanis (CEO Mahola), James Hong, and Ariel Poler.
 
Amount raised:  $1,600,000
 
Details:  Live since 14th January 2010 Bliipy is described as the “Twitter of personal finance” and is often compared with Twitter because it is based on that company’s open sharing model. The company has raised $1.6 million in its seed round.

Link:  WSJ blog

Targeted video advertising service Beezag raises $2.5 million

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:  F231109-329
 
Business:  Beezag
Web:  http://www.beezag.com
Location:  USA, New York, NY
Region:  North America
Business description:  Targeted delivery of customized video ads to vetted individuals in real time through any Internet-capable device. These consumers earn money for viewing ads geared to their product preferences, plus they receive exclusive discounts and offers.
Category: Advertising
Contact 1:  Richard Smullen, Co-Founder and CEO
Contact 2:  Laurent Alhadeff, Co-Founder and President
Contact 3:  Steven Spencer, COO 
Contact 4:  Brian Dick, CRO
Contact 5:  Antoinne Spillmann, MD, Bruellan Wealth Management
 
Investors:  Bruellan Wealth Management

Amount raised:  $2,500,000
 
Details:  According to TechCrunch, targeted video advertising service Beezag has raised $2.5 million.

Link:  TechCrunch
  
 
 Targeted video advertising service Beezag raises $2.5 million.

Banijay Entertainment has acquired TV production company Zig Zag

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:  F231109-305
 
Fusion Corporate Partners advised Zig Zag Holding. This is our first deal of 2010. The Fusion team was led by Paul Slight.

Acquirer:  Banijay Entertainment
ACQ Web:  http://www.banijay.com
Location:  France, Paris
Region:  Europe
Description:  In only 18 months Banijay has become a leading name in the global TV production industry. Founded by Stéphane Courbit with further backing from the De Agostini and D’Agnelli families, Banijay has grown through acquisition.  
Category:  Media, TV Production
Contact 1:  Pascale Amiel
Contact 2:  Guillaume De Verges
Contact 3:  Francois De Brugada
 
Vendor:  Zig Zag Holdings
Vendor Web:  http://www.zigzag.uk.com
Location:  UK, London   
Region:  Europe
Description:  UK TV production company with a factual entertainment programme focus
Category: Media, TV Production
Contact 1:  Danny Fenton, Managing Director
Contact 2:  Kevin Utton, Chief Operating Officer
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  Banijay Entertainment has acquired TV production company Zig Zag Holdings. Zig Zag presents a core strategic purchase for Banijay with its access to both the UK and US markets.

Links: Fusion Corporate Partners announcement

Maney acquires healthcare titles from Henry Stewart Publications

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:  F231109-302
 
Acquirer:  Maney Publishing
ACQ Web:  http://www.maney.co.uk
Location:  United Kingdom, Leeds, West Yorkshire
Region:  Europe
Description:  Maney Publishing was formed in 1997 from a printing company established in 1900, and publishes scholarly journals in materials science, the humanities, and health sciences in print and electronic formats.
Category:  Media, Publisher
Contact 1: Michael Gallico, Managing Director
Contact 2: Mark Simon, Publishing Director
 
Vendor:  Henry Stewart Publications
Vendor Web:  http://www.henrystewart.com
Location:  United Kingdom, London
Region:  Europe
Business Sold: Three quarterly journals: “Journal of Care Services Management”, “Journal of Management and Marketing in Healthcare” and “Journal of Communication in Healthcare”.
Description:  “Henry Stewart Publications is a leading international publisher of peer-reviewed, professional and academic
journals and has been publishing journals for over 30 years.”
Category: Media, Publisher
Contact:  Daryn Moody, Managing Director
  
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  Maney Publishing has acquired of three quarterly healthcare journals from Henry Stewart Publications:
 
Link: Press Release
  
 Related DigiNet article

Indian mobile social network business GupShup raises $12 million

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:  F231109-324
 
Business:  GupShup
Web:  http://www.smsgupshup.com
Location:  India, Mumbai
Region:  Asia
Business description:  Mobile group SMS service that allows users to create mobile communities and broadcast messages to them. Launched in April 2007, SMS GupShup now serves 26 million users in over 2 million sms communities – double the number of communities supported just six months ago.
Category: Mobile, Social Network
Contact 1:  Beerud Sheth, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer   
Contact 2:  Rakesh Mathur, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board
  
Investors:  Led by Globespan Capital Partners and additional financing from existing investors Charles River Ventures and Helion Venture Partners
  
Amount raised:  $12,000,000
  
Details:  SMS GupShup have closed funding for a $12 million round. To date, SMS GupShup has raised $37million in funding and is  hiring globally. In  the past two months the company has increased its team head count from 100 to 130 and looks to fill another 20 positions in marketing, engineering and advertising sales. As part of this funding round, Venky Ganesan, Managing Director of Globespan Capital Partners, will join the SMS GupShup Board of Directors, which is currently comprised of Devdutt Yellurkar (Charles River Ventures), Ashish Gupta (Helion Venture Partners), Jeff Hussey (Founder of F5 Networks, Inc.), Rakesh Mathur (Co-founder and Chairman of the Board), Beerud Sheth (Chief Executive of Webaroo/Co-founder of SMS GupShup).

Link:  Press Release

Get Satisfaction raises $2.3 million of a planned $3.5 million round

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:  F231109-323
 
Business:  Get Satisfaction
Web:  http://www.getsatisfaction.com
Location:  USA, San Francisco, CA
Region:  North America
Business description:  Get Satisfaction is “a place where customers and companies can come together to answer each others’ questions: questions about shipping, pricing, fulfillment, the product itself, and myriad other details.”
Category: Forum
Contact 1:  Wendy Lea, CEO 
Contact 2:  Thor Muller, CTO 
Contact 3:  Lane Becker, President    
 
Investors:  Undisclosed
 
Amount raised:  $2.3 million 
 
Details:  Get Satisfaction has raised $2.3 million of a planned $3.5 million round according to an SEC filing.

Link:  Regulatory filing

Music down load site Guvera raises £20 million

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:  F231109-322
 
Business:  Guvera
Web:  https://www.guvera.com
Location:  Australia
Region:  Asia Pacific
Business description:  Music download site supported by advertising
Category: Music download
Contact:  Claes Loberg, Founder & CEO
 
 
Investors:  AMMA Private Investment  
   
Amount raised:  $20,000,000 
 
Details:  According to TechCrunch music down load site Guvera has raised £20 million dollars from AMMA Private Investment. They raised around $10 million in 2009.

Link:  TechCrunch

Time Inc. is acquiring personal shopping service StyleFeeder

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:  F231109-301
 
Acquirer:  Time Inc
ACQ Web:  http://www.timeinc.com/home/
Location:  USA, New York, NY
Region:  North America
Description:  The largest magazine publisher in the USA.
Category:  Media
Contact 1:  Ann S. Moore, Chairman and CEO
Contact 2:  John Huey, Editor-in-Chief 
 
Vendor:  StyleFeeder
Vendor Web:  http://www.stylefeeder.com/
Location:  USA, Cambridge, MA
Region:  North America
Business Sold: 
Description:  “Personal shopping engine that learns your style and helps you shop for apparel, accessories, shoes, furniture, home goods, jewelry, gadgets.”
Category: Retail
Contact:  Philip Jacob, Founder & CTO 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed, though Time Inc. Are expected to announce it shortly.
 
Details:  Time Inc. is acquiring StyleFeeder, an online service that offers personalised shopping recommendations. Ecommerce may be expected to ease the slump in the froups advertising revenues.
 
Link: Wall Street Journal

E*Trade acquires Cake Financial

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:  F231109-300
 
Acquirer:  E*Trade
ACQ Web:  https://www.etrade.com
Location:  USA, Merrifield, VA
Region:  North America
Description:  Online brokerage and banking products and services
Category:  Finance
Contact:  Christos M. Cotsakos, CEO
  
Vendor:  Cake Financial
Vendor Web:  https://www.cakefinancial.com
Location:  USA, San Francisco, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Social investment service
Category: Finance
Contact:  Steven Carpenter, CEO
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  The announcement states that customer information will be deleted and destroyed and those that paid for either Cake Premium or Cake Comparison will be reimbursed fully. It is therefore likely that E*Trade have acquired the staff and technology but not the customer base.
 
Link: Announcement

Baird Venture Partners invests in energy consulting and management company Fellon McCord

Chicago‐based Baird Venture Partners, the U.S. venture capital fund of Baird Private Equity, has acquired a significant minority interest in Louisville, KY‐based Fellon‐McCord, an energy consulting and management company. Fellon‐McCord’s founders, Andrew (Drew) Fellon and John McCord, will maintain controlling interest and will continue to manage day‐to‐day operations of the company.

“I am very pleased to have a company such as Baird Venture Partners (BVP) invest in Fellon‐ McCord. This investment provides us with additional resources that enable us to continue to provide exceptional services to our clients as we grow our business globally,” said Drew Fellon, Fellon‐McCord’s president and CEO. “BVP’s resources complement our existing corporate competitive advantages and will assist us as we work to further develop the best IT solutions for our clients, increase our already excellent research capabilities and have readily available capital resources as we continue to look to acquire new or existing businesses, all of which will fuel our future growth plans beyond what we would have accomplished on our own.”

It is particularly notable that, during one of the toughest business environments in recent history, Fellon‐McCord has secured a partner in Baird Venture Partners that recognizes the
continuing success of Fellon‐McCord’s business and is willing and able to invest in its future.

“Baird Venture Partners has a long history of backing leading technology‐enabled service companies,” stated Devin Mathews, Managing Partner of Baird Venture Partners. “Our initial interest in Fellon‐McCord was based on its excellent reputation built over the past 17 years, its strong management team and its successful business model. The investment Baird Venture Partners made in the company supports both of our companies’ goals for Fellon‐McCord to become the most successful provider of energy management services in the world.”

Baird Venture Partners is part of Baird Private Equity, the global private equity group affiliated with the 90‐year‐old Milwaukee‐based investment bank Robert W. Baird & Co. (Baird). Baird’s award‐winning equity research department covers more than 600 public companies, many of which are in the industrial, commercial and clean technology sectors. Additionally, Baird Private Equity has a global team of professionals in nine offices across the United States, Europe and Asia, including operating professionals in China and India. Both of these attributes will have a key role in Fellon‐McCord’s plans to significantly grow its business operations, as well as expand its service and technology offerings.

Database Reference:  F231109-321
 
Location:  USA, Louisville, KY

About Fellon-McCord

Fellon‐McCord is an energy consulting and management company working with its clients’ energy procurement and facilities’ engineering personnel to source the most economic and reliable energy supplies available. A pioneer in energy consulting and management since 1992, it focuses on the physical, financial, regulatory and legislative components of the global energy markets. Fellon‐McCord’s clients include leading automotive, building materials, chemical, food processing, aluminum and steel, municipal and institutional consumers.

About Baird Venture Partners

Baird Venture Partners, the U.S.‐based venture capital fund of Baird Private Equity, makes venture capital investments in early‐ and expansion‐stage business services and life sciences companies. Baird Venture Partners leverages its in‐depth sector knowledge, experienced investment team and network of relationships to serve as a value‐added partner for its portfolio companies. Baird Private Equity makes venture capital, growth equity and buyout investments in smaller, high potential companies in the United States, Europe and Asia. Baird Private Equity and its affiliates have raised and managed over $2.6 billion in capital and invested in over 235 companies since the 1980s.

Related Diginet Link – Lyceum Capital has acquired energy procurement and compliance specialists McKinnon & Clarke for £22M

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