US information industry M&A report shows deal value and volume Up 36%

January 7, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Berkery Noyes has released its 2010 Information Market M&A Trends Report. The report analyses merger and acquisition activity in the US Information Industry in 2010 and compares it with activity in the three previous years.

Highlights

  • Transaction volume in 2010 surpassed 2009 by 36 percent, climbing to 2,046 transactions.
  • Transaction value has increased by 36 percent as well, with $112 billion in aggregate acquisition value.
  • The median revenue and EBITDA multiple both increased over 2009, with the revenue multiple rising to 1.8 and the EBITDA multiple to 11.2, a 29 percent increase over the 8.7 of 2009.

“Multiples have started to make a return to pre-crisis levels,” said James Berkery, CIO of Berkery Noyes. “There are more deals happening and there are higher valuations. While we’re not at the levels we saw in 2007, I think we’re well on the road to recovery.”

Strategic acquirers have been the most common acquirer in the industry, yet financially sponsored transactions rose 39 percent by value over 2009 while losing 2 percent in volume over 2009. This trend of larger financially sponsored transactions is further evidenced by two of the top seven deals by value this year being made by financial acquirers: Interactive data Corporation’s acquisition by Warbug Pincus and Silver Lake Partners for $3.2 billion and Visma ASA’s acquisition by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. for $1.9 billion.

Google was not only the most active buyer in the information industry in 2010, with 28 acquisitions, but was also the most active buyer from 2007 through 2010, with 48 transactions during that time.

The largest transaction in 2010 was Intel Corporation’s announced acquisition of McAfee, Inc., for $7.55 billion.

To view the full report click here:

USA, New York, NY

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Online game operator The9 to form $100 million investment fund

December 28, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The9, an online game operator and developer in China, is planning a to form a $100 million investment fund (Fund9) with the help of Chengwei Ventures, ChinaRock Capital Management and China Renaissance K2 Ventures

Fund9 will focus on investments in both domestic and overseas mobile internet application and platform developers. All mobile internet application and platform project proposals can be directly submitted online to the fund investment committee for evaluation.

Mr. Jun Zhu, The9’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Mobile internet application and platform has become a significant part of the mobile and internet industry with a rapidly growing number of smartphone users, especially in China. We noticed that there are many talented and creative domestic development teams in need of support during their development. If they receive financial and other support such as marketing, operation and administration, their chance of success will be much higher. I believe Fund9 has a unique opportunity to provide such support to these talented developers who will be able to launch more advanced mobile applications that will ultimately benefit all mobile internet users. We will also target talented overseas mobile internet application and platform developers with the ultimate goal of bringing the best products to China.”

China, Shanghai

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Axel Springer has been on a digital buying spree

November 20, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

An interesting article on paidContent earlier this week describes how Axel Springer has been on a digital buying spree, taking stakes in CarWale: (giving springer 52.1%), BagItToday.com (19.1%), Sohomint.com (72.6%) and Buy.at. Also had an offer rejected for eLoger.com.

Read the full story on paidContent here.

Axel Springers announcements are below.

Germany, Berlin

Announcements

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Publicis Groupe acquires Eastwei Relations

November 19, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Publicis Groupe today announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Eastwei Relations, one of China’s first independent public relations and strategic communications consultancies. Eastwei will be renamed Eastwei MSL and will be aligned under MSLGROUP, Publicis Groupe’s leading specialty communications, PR and events network.

Founded in 1994, Eastwei today employs more than 120 staff across its four offices in Beijing (its headquarters), Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. Eastwei’s key clients include IKEA, Sony, Singapore Tourism Bureau and Porsche. Over the last 15 years, Eastwei consultants have developed a wide range of China-specific, proprietary tools, processes and software for managing strategic communications campaigns. Last year, leading PR industry analyst, The Holmes Report, named Eastwei 2009 China Consultancy of the Year.

Johan Bjorksten, Founder and Chairman of Eastwei, has been working in China for more than 20 years and is recognized as one of the most successful foreign businessmen in the country. Bjorksten is a founding member of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, and a board member and China advisor to numerous international companies and organizations. Bjorksten is also a media celebrity in China, having hosted more than 400 of his own weekly Chinese TV and radio shows, and has written several books on Chinese business and language, including the recent local bestseller How to Manage a Successful Business in China. Following the acquisition, Johan Bjorksten will report to Glenn Osaki, President MSLGROUP Asia.

Olivier Fleurot, Chief Executive Officer, MSLGROUP, remarked, “Today marks the second investment in as many months by MSLGROUP in strengthening capabilities in the Asia region, following the acquisitions of 20:20 MEDIA and 2020Social in India. Eastwei MSL will become a key hub in the MSLGROUP global network for insight, strategic counsel and campaign execution in China and bring added service offerings to our clients in this important market.”

China has one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing communications markets in the world. According to ZenithOptimedia forecasts (October 2010), Chinese ad market year-on-year growth is expected to reach 14% in 2010, 13.4% in 2011 and 17.7% in 2012. Publicis Groupe is present in China through all of its global networks. The Groupe employs more than 3,700 professionals throughout more than 50 cities (including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Guangzhou).

China, Beijing & France, Paris

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Thomson Reuters Acquires Pangea3

November 19, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Thomson Reuters has acquired Pangea3, a fast-growing legal process outsourcing (LPO) provider serving corporate legal departments and law firms worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition extends the Thomson Reuters strategy to develop world-class information, software and workflow solutions for legal professionals around the world. Pangea3 is headquartered in New York and Mumbai, India, and has 650 employees at its major delivery centers in Mumbai and New Delhi. Pangea3’s client base includes Am Law 250 law firms and some of the world’s largest financial services, pharmaceutical, healthcare, food and beverage, technology and consumer goods companies. The firm offers a variety of services organized into four distinct lines of business including legal document review; corporate transactions; intellectual property; and risk management and compliance.

Peter Warwick, president and chief executive officer of Thomson Reuters, Legal, said legal process outsourcing adds a vital strategic complement to the Thomson Reuters portfolio of specialized information and workflow solutions, and will be key to helping law firms and corporate legal departments be more responsive and cost-effective. “Pangea3 is true to our mission to help the legal system perform better, every day, worldwide; we will now bring to the legal marketplace a responsive, high-quality, transformative resource for a broad range of legal support work. This is particularly important as law firms and general counsel adjust to the realities of the ‘new normal,’ where efficiency, quality and responsiveness are paramount,” he noted.

Pangea3 is seen as the world standard in the LPO marketplace, which is growing at more than 20 percent annually and projected to exceed U.S. $1 billion this year.

“The addition of Pangea3 to the Thomson Reuters family creates a solid foundation in the global solutions suite that is a perfect fit in our long-term growth strategy,” said Tony Abena, president and general manager, Global Legal Solutions. “With overlays in key  segments including our Corporate General Counsel, IP Solutions, Governance, Risk and Compliance and Law Firm businesses, we’re aligning ourselves more closely into general counsel and law firm workflows. Pangea3 brings to Thomson Reuters a broad and rapidly growing client base, and a reputation that is unmatched in the LPO marketplace. I’m very pleased to welcome the Pangea3 team to Thomson Reuters.”

“Joining forces with Thomson Reuters will further accelerate and expand our ability to provide impactful and transformative solutions to our corporate and law firm clients,” said David Perla and Sanjay Kamlani, co-CEOs of Pangea3. “Thomson Reuters is the perfect partner for Pangea3’s clients and team-members to continue to grow and solve the increasingly complex and expensive challenges facing legal professionals around the globe.”

“Pangea3 has been a valued provider for me, and is an attractive alternative for my clients,” said Jeff Jaeckel, a partner at Morrison & Foerster and head of Morrison & Foerster’s Washington, D.C. and Virginia Litigation Department. “We look forward to even bigger and better solutions as Pangea3 joins forces with Thomson Reuters.”

Founded in 2004 by Perla, formerly Monster.com vice president, Business & Legal Affairs, and Kamlani, who was OfficeTiger CFO and general counsel, Pangea3’s team of top-tier legal talent uses rigorous Six Sigma methodologies to ensure high-quality legal services. Perla and Kamlani will continue in their current roles, and all 650 Pangea3 employees will join Thomson Reuters, remaining based in their New York, Mumbai and New Delhi offices.
India, Mumbai & USA, New York, NY

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ZeniMax Media acquires games development shop Tango Gameworks

November 3, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

ZeniMax Media, parent company of game publisher Bethesda Softworks, has announced game designer and director, Shinji Mikami, has joined ZeniMax in a deal where ZeniMax acquired Tango Gameworks, the development shop founded and run by Mikami. Best known as the creator of the Resident Evil series, Mikami is a 20-year veteran of the industry who has developed numerous award-winning titles.

“It’s refreshing to find a publisher who understands, trusts, and supports the development of blockbuster games and works to make it a collaborative effort,” said Mikami. “The library of AAA franchise titles ZeniMax owns speaks for itself. We are very excited to be joining ZeniMax and working with a company that is dedicated to creating the best games ever made.”

Based in Tokyo, Mikami has an extraordinary track record as one of the world’s most successful game developers. Five of his projects, including Resident Evil, have scored 90 or above on Metacritic.com and Gamerankings.com.

The development studio Mikami founded, Tango Gameworks, is dedicated to AAA multi-platform game development and has attracted some of Japan’s most accomplished and experienced developers who served key roles on game franchises like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and Final Fantasy. Tango will continue to be run by Shinji Mikami, and he will serve as the creative lead for all future projects.

“Shinji Mikami has earned a stellar reputation as one of the industry’s finest game developers,” said Robert Altman, Chairman and CEO of ZeniMax Media. “He has repeatedly created hit titles that have earned praise from fans and critics around the world. We share his vision for innovative, genre-defining games and look forward to working with Shinji and his team at Tango.”

Tango joins a distinguished group of development studios at ZeniMax that includes Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, and Arkane Studios. This most recent acquisition reflects Bethesda Softworks’ unwavering commitment to delivering premier titles to gamers worldwide.
USA, Rockville, MD & Japan, Tokyo

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Omnicom acquires Sales Power

October 20, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Global advertising and marketing services business Omnicom Group, has acquired Sales Power, an in-store promotion company.

Sales Power was set up in January 2009 as a joint venture between Omnicom’s Diversified Agency Services (DAS) division and a local field marketing agency to service Unilever China’s in-store promotional needs in South China. The company has 23 offices across Southern China.

“This significant investment in Sales Power underscores Omnicom’s continued commitment to the fast growing Chinese market and providing best in class retail activation services to our clients,” said Serge Dumont, Senior Vice President, Omnicom Group Inc., President, APIMA (Asia-Pacific, India, Middle East, and Africa), Chairman Asia Pacific.

Simon Dalby, President of DAS Asia-Pacific, said, “We look forward to the next phase of Sales Power’s development and its investment in client needs.”

Sales Power CEO Simon Ho noted, “Omnicom’s 100% ownership of Sales Power will enable us to fully control our growth plans. We look forward to helping Unilever grow all of its brands through best-in-class retail activation.”

USa, New York, NY & China, Shanghai

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UBM to acquire 65% stake in Rotaforte International Trade Fairs & Media

October 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

United Business Media Limited today announces that it has agreed to acquire a 65% stake in Rotaforte International Trade Fairs & Media, the owner of Turkey’s largest jewellery exhibitions, from its private owner on behalf of UBM Asia. The transaction is subject to regulatory clearance.

Rotaforte owns the Istanbul Jewelry Show, an international exhibition for jewellery, silver, watches and related equipment. Now in its 25th year, the exhibition is held twice a year in March and in October. In aggregate, the shows attract almost 60,000 visitors and 1,600 exhibitors, occupying net show floor space of more than 28,000 square metres. Covered products include gold, silver and diamond jewellery, precious and semi-precious stones, pearls, mountings, watches and clocks, machinery, tools and equipment, display units and security devices. The business is supported by the Turkish Jewellery Association, a national trade body which represents more than 1,100 jewellery companies, including the major manufacturers. Rotaforte also publishes a supporting magazine (in Turkish and English) and organises Turkish jewellery pavilions at a number of third party events in Dubai, Italy, and India, as well as selling exhibition space at jewellery events in Russia and Ukraine.

Rotaforte was founded by Ms Sermin Cengiz in 1986 and currently employs 21 staff in Istanbul. In 2010 the business is expected to generate revenues in excess of $5 million. The value of the gross assets being acquired is $0.3 million.

Turkey ranks as the world’s second largest gold jewellery exporter, the fifth largest importer and the third largest producer. Its domestic jewellery industry is highly fragmented, making tradeshows an attractive sales and marketing platform. Turkey’s international jewellery market is driven by strong demand from adjacent regions such as Russia and other CIS countries, Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East.

Rotaforte’s exhibitions are highly complementary additions to UBM Asia’s existing portfolio of twelve jewellery tradeshows in China, India, Hong Kong and Japan, including the world’s largest jewellery fair: the September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair. UBM Asia’s worldwide sales and marketing capabilities in this market will help grow the number of international exhibitors and visitors at the Rotaforte shows, as well as driving Turkish participation at UBM Asia’s existing shows. The Istanbul Jewelry Show is well positioned to become the leading fair in the European and Middle East regions. The acquisition also provides UBM Asia with opportunities to bring its other products and brands to Turkish, Eastern European, Balkan, Russian, CIS and Middle Eastern markets.

Jime Essink, CEO of UBM Asia, said:

“The acquisition of Rotaforte adds a further industry-leading exhibition to our jewellery portfolio and is in line with our strategy to enhance and expand our international presence in geographic regions of significant growth. Rotaforte provides strong synergies and opens up a wide range of new business opportunities both in Turkey and across the adjacent Middle East and CIS regions. I am looking forward to working together with Sermin, who will be Managing Director of the UBM Rotaforte joint venture company, and also her team, who have done a fantastic job in building the successful Istanbul Jewelry Fairs portfolio.”

Turkey, Istanbul

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DeNA invests in social gaming developer Astro Ape

September 25, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

DeNA has invested an undisclosed amount in Astro Ape Studios an iPhone development studio focusing on next generation social gaming and best known for Office Heroes.

DeNA has a wide range of operations including social gaming, e-commerce, mobile phone related services and online advertising business. Its latest quarterly report puts it on track to create $1 billion in revenue this year. DeNA has been steadily increasing their American presence through strategic U.S. investments. They invested in mobile social gaming company, Aurora Feint; made a full acquisition of IceBreaker and most recently bought Mountain View-based developer Gameview Studios

USA, San Mateo, CA & Japan, Tokyo

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DeNA acquires Gameview, a leading developer of mobile social games

September 25, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

DeNA has acquired 100 percent of Gameview Studios, LLC, formally know as Bayview Labs, LLC

Based out of Mountain View, CA, Gameview creates social gaming applications on iDevices. Gameview has created the popular applications Tap Ranch, Tap Fish: Exotic, and Tap Birds, the last two which have been ranked No.1 among free apps in the App store.

Gameview has some new mobile apps in its pipeline and plans to provide new apps in the Android market. It aims to establish a firm position in the smartphone market going forward.

DeNA is aggressively investing in promising social application developers all over the world to promote their “X-device” “X-border” strategy of promoting game development across different mobile devices and borders

“Our acquisition of Gameview today is congruent with our goal of rapidly expanding our mobile footprint as a leading brand and platform in mobile social gaming,” says Tomoko Namba, CEO of DeNA. “We were impressed by the creativity and passion that the Gameview team has for creating addictive and engaging gaming experiences, we’re excited to welcome them into the DeNA family.”

Through this acquisition, DeNA will promote an alliance between Gameview and MiniNation, DeNA’s strategic subsidiary in the smartphone market. By leading Gameview’s socially-active users to the MiniNation platform, DeNA aims to energize activities on MiniNation platform and further increase the platform’s value.

“The overwhelmingly wide range of games and active users in the community are the formula for success DeNA has utilized on Mobage-town in Japan,” says Namba. “This acquisition will enable DeNA to replicate this success in the smartphone market and MiniNation platform, further expanding DeNA in the global market.”

DeNA has a wide range of operations including social gaming, e-commerce, mobile phone related services and online advertising business. Its latest quarterly report puts it on track to create $1 billion in revenue this year. DeNA has been steadily increasing their American presence through strategic U.S. investments. They invested in mobile social gaming company, Aurora Feint, and made a full acquisition of IceBreaker, DeNA.

This latest acquisition follows a series of moves by DeNA including a strategic partnership with Yahoo!, called Yahoo Mobage, and the creation of a $27.5 million incubation fund to promote social gaming.

USA, San Mateo, CA & Japan, Tokyo

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