NUS Consulting Group acquires Viking Energy Management

September 5, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

NUS Consulting Group, a provider of energy management solutions to businesses and energy intensive organisations, has acquired Viking Energy Management, a private company, specialising in risk management and energy procurement. Viking Energy Management is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The acquisition of Viking Energy Management will not only complement NUS Consulting Group’s existing staff and services, but will also provide us with a strong and experienced energy trading and risk management team which will broaden our existing service offerings in this extremely important area. I am very pleased that Viking has agreed to join and become part of NUS Consulting Group,” said Richard D. Soultanian, Co-President of NUS Consulting Group.

“We are very excited to be part of NUS,” said Bryant Lee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Viking Energy Management. “This transaction recognizes Viking’s unique strengths in the area of energy trading and risk management. By joining with NUS Consulting Group we become part of the world’s largest and most respected energy management consulting firm and will be able to provide our energy trading and risk management support to NUS and Viking clients around the world.”

Bryant Lee  takes new role as Manager of Energy Trading and Risk Management at NUS Consulting Group.

USA, Park Ridge, NJ & Charlotte, NC

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Thomson Reuters acquires precious metals consultancy GFMS

August 5, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Thomson Reuters has acquired analyst firm GFMS (formerly known as Gold Fields Mineral Services), a precious metals consultancy, specialising in research into the global gold, silver, platinum and palladium markets. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

“The strategy for our commodities business has been to deliver best-of-breed, specialist services and unique content to energy, metals and agriculture professionals via our next generation desktop Thomson Reuters Eikon,” said Shaun Sibley, global head, commodities, Thomson Reuters. “This investment coupled with our acquisition of Point Carbon last year is helping us deepen those propositions by bringing in specialist talent to our team which delivers invaluable insight, information and tools to our clients.

“Our clients will now have access to additional high-value GFMS content via Thomson Reuters Eikon in the future. We’re extremely pleased to join forces with GFMS and significantly strengthen our offering to the metals market,” added Sibley.

Both Philip Klapwijk, chairman of GFMS, and Paul Walker, CEO of GFMS, will remain with the business and take up new roles as global head of metals analytics and global head of precious metals respectively. They will report to Mitchel Ingham-Barrow who is Global Head of Metals at Thomson Reuters.

“This is an exciting time for GFMS as we become part of the large-scale and dynamic company that is Thomson Reuters, helping us to provide an even sharper focus on the global metals markets,” commented Philip Klapwijk, incoming global head of metals analytics, Thomson Reuters. “We see the Thomson Reuters Eikon desktop as one of the most innovative tools for metals professionals and we look forward to enhancing this proposition even further with the addition of our research and analysis.”

USA, New York, NY & UK, London

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Kaplan acquires e-learning provider Structuralia

August 2, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Training and education provider Kaplan, has acquired Madrid-based Structuralia, the e-learning provider for the engineering and infrastructure sector in Spain. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Structuralia provides training to more than 85,000 staff employed at more than 1,350 companies.  Major clients include ACS, Ferrovial (operator of Indiana Toll Road and BAA-Heathrow Airport), Sacyr (builder of the new extension of the Panama Canal), OHL (designer, builder, financer and operator of University of Montreal Hospital; builder of New York Subway), and energy companies such as ENDESA, IBERDROLA and REE.

In partnership with five Spanish universities, Structuralia also offers 16 Master’s degree programs and 11 Executive Programs including an MBA for engineering professionals, and will be launching two further programs in the autumn.  University partners are: the University of Comillas (ICAI and ICADE Business School), the Polytechnical University of Madrid, and the Polytechnical University of Catalonia.
In Europe, Kaplan provides training towards professional qualifications and business programs, higher education programs and English language courses.

“Significant changes in the infrastructure industry through advances in technology and the new models of financing created by Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are generating a growing demand for further education for engineers and skilled tradesmen,” said Jose Wehnes, CEO of Kaplan Europe.  “We look forward to meeting that demand in Spain and beyond by developing Structuralia’s impressive learning solutions.

“Their focus on personal, portable and flexible training is closely aligned with Kaplan’s work on innovation in delivering high quality education and training to students whenever and wherever it best suits them.”

Juan José Gálligo, CEO of Structuralia since the founding of Structuralia ten years ago, who will continue in the company as CEO, said: “In 2001, a group of construction companies and engineers with a shared vision started Structuralia, and it has since enjoyed solid growth, strong margins and has built an enviable list of clients.  It was important to find a strategic buyer that could take us to the next stage in our growth.  With Kaplan’s 70 year history in providing education and training, and their global reach, we believe this is an excellent fit for developing our offering both in Spain and internationally.”

UK, London & Spain, Madrid

 

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Reed Business Information acquires Ascend

June 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Fusion DigiNet has mainly reported on RBI selling businesses over the last year. For the second time in a month we are able to report on an RBI acquisition.

Reed Business Information, publisher of www.flightglobal.com, Flight International and Airline Business magazines, ACAS and Air Transport Intelligence, has acquired Ascend Worldwide Group Holdings Limited. Ascend will be integrated with RBI’s aerospace information and data services business, Flightglobal.

Ascend, headquartered in London with offices in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo, delivers aircraft and engine data through online subscription services and provides valuations, appraisals and advisory services to a world-wide client base spanning aviation investors and financiers, lessors, manufacturers, operators and suppliers.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, it is likely that the deal works very well for Ascend’s private equity backer, Lloyds Development Capital. LDC acquired its initial holding in Ascend when in 2005 it backed a £10 million MBO of Airclaims, the provider of aviation claims, risk and asset management services. In July 2006, the information and consultancy division of Airclaims was re-branded “Ascend”. In August 2007, Ascend began trading as a separate entity.

Over the past five years Ascend has undergone rapid expansion. Ascend’s revenues have risen by 20% per annum over the previous three years and the number of employees has increased by 50%. In April 2010 LDC injected new capital and increased its stake in Ascend. The new capital commitment doubled LDC’s total investment in the company to £12million. LDC still owns Airclaims.

Ascend brings to Flightglobal an impressive position in the global air finance market,” says Jane Burgess, RBI managing director. “This exciting acquisition adds important new data assets and expertise to Flightglobal’s existing aviation data business and provides Ascend with access to Flightglobal’s powerful global aviation audience and extensive marketing capabilities.”

“I am very excited about the opportunities that the combination of Ascend and Flightglobal will bring.” says Gehan Talwatte, Ascend CEO. “By combining our insight and expertise with Flightglobal’s growing global audience, distribution capabilities and unrivalled media presence, we can significantly extend the reach of the Ascend brand.”

Further reading – Alasdair Whyte’s blog

UK, London

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Energy Efficiency business Scientific Conservation to acquire Servidyne

June 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Scientific Conservation, a leading provider of energy efficiency solutions for the commercial building market, is to acquire Servidyne, an energy management and demand response company, for a price of $3.50 per share in an all-cash transaction.

The transaction is expected to close on or before Q4 2011. The combined company will be renamed SCIenergy.

SCIenergy will combine Servidyne’s extensive experience in Energy Efficiency, Demand Response and Facilities Maintenance with SCI’s core competency in cloud-based energy management.  Servidyne also has deep domain knowledge in Retro Commissioning, LEED for Existing Buildings and is the nine-time recipient of EPA’s Energy Star Partner of the Year Award.

“We’re very impressed with the Servidyne team and reputation, and are excited about their customer base and long term relationships with commercial building owners and operators.  The new company will have solid customer contracts and partnerships with many Fortune 50 companies, and is well positioned to be a recognized leader in next generation cloud-based energy management,” said Russ McMeekin, CEO, SCI.

“We are delighted to become part of the SCI family. The newly formed company will have tremendous capabilities in serving global customers using a scalable platform,” said Todd Jarvis, President, Servidyne.

San Francisco, CA &  Atlanta, GA

 

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Smart Metering Systems to float on AIM with a market capitalisation of £50M

June 27, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Smart Metering Systems has announced its flotation on AIM. Dealings in the Group’s shares will commence on 8 July 2011. The Group’s ticker symbol will be SMS.L. The market capitalisation of the Group at the Placing Price will be £50 million. The proceeds will be used to fund the organic growth of the business through investment in gas meter assets and the Group’s patent pending ADM smart metering device.

The company has already raised £10.0 million of new investment from a broad range of institutional and other investors at a price of 60 pence per share.

For the year ended 31 December 2010 Smart Metering Systems reported revenue of £12.4m and EBIT of £2.2m.

Alan Foy, Chief Executive Officer said: “I am delighted by the level of interest shown by our new shareholders to our flotation on the London Stock Exchange. The Placing has gone well and has been substantially oversubscribed in very difficult market conditions, demonstrating the strength of our business model”

Cenkos Securities plc is acting as Nominated Adviser and Broker to the Group.

UK, Glasgow

 

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Thomson Reuters acquires CorpSmart from Deloitte

June 22, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Thomson Reuters has acquired CorpSmart from Deloitte. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

A leader in the market, CorpSmart provides multinational corporations (MNCs) in South Africa with intelligent corporate tax compliance software. Using this web-based solution, MNCs are able to prepare monthly, quarterly and annual income tax computations as well as file South African IT14 tax returns.

This highly diverse market, which many MNCs have identified for growth and investment opportunities, is now recognised and referred to as a ‘frontier market’. The purchase of CorpSmart, which will be integrated into the ONESOURCE suite of solutions, will strengthen the expanding Tax & Accounting business and provide its customer base with the tools to develop business in this exciting market.

“South Africa has created an impressive financial and regulatory structure to position itself as the singular hub for the continent and as such, it rightly has the focus of multinational corporations and other major economic entities around the world,” said Brian Peccarelli, president of the Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters.

“The CorpSmart acquisition is strategically and geographically important for the Tax & Accounting business as it marks the inaugural entry to the African market and will form part of our global offering,” concluded Brian Peccarelli.

“As MNCs look to new markets and regions like South Africa for investment, it is important that they have the right information about the local tax system and the best tools to help them achieve compliance,” commented Duane Newman, managing director, Deloitte and Touche Tax Technologies. “As a leader in the corporate and income tax technology sector within this market we have been able to deliver this expertise on a wide scale.”

UK, London & South Africa

Related articles:

1. Thomson Reuters

2. Deloitte

 


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Aegis Media’s iProspect acquires ICUC to support growing social media offerings

June 10, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Aegis Group plc, one of the world’s leading marketing communications and market research groups, has acquired ICUC Moderation Services (“ICUC”), Canada, a provider of social media intelligence and moderation services. As at 31 December 2010, ICUC had gross assets of US $1.4m.

Aegis Group’s digital performance media business iProspect, will leverage ICUC’s community management platform and social media expertise to continue enhancing iProspect’s social media offerings. iProspect has more than 800 employees in 29 countries, and 39 offices worldwide.

Jerry Buhlmann, CEO of Aegis Group plc, said: “ICUC’s market leadership and breadth of expertise in media intelligence and moderation services will boost iProspect’s leadership across the digital performance spectrum. Beyond social media moderation, ICUC brings nearly a decade of astute social media understanding and intelligence to verticals ranging from entertainment and media to CPG and retail which fits in every respect with the next generation of social media services.”

Robert Murray, iProspect Global CEO, said: “There is an ideal match between ICUC’s real-time social media services and our clients’ growing needs across the social media landscape. As consumers continue to lead the evolution of brand interaction, iProspect will be perfectly poised to offer our clients robust social media expertise, based on technology leadership as well as in-depth end customer understanding.”

UK, London & USA, Boston, MA & Canada, Winnipeg

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A Fusion Deal: FMB Consultants sold to Argus Media

June 10, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Fusion Corporate Partners are pleased to announce our latest deal, the sale of FMB Consultants Ltd (FMB) to leading energy price reporting agency Argus Media. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

FMB is a leader in the provision of timely and accurate intelligence on the world fertilizer market. FMB reports monitor global trade and pricing for nitrogen, phosphate, sulphur, potash and ammonia. Founded in 1982, FMB publishes 100 price references, which are widely used for benchmark pricing and settlement of derivatives. FMB Conferences and Exhibitions are currently run on four continents, providing major networking opportunities for senior industry executives.

Argus chairman and chief executive Adrian Binks said “FMB is a natural fit with Argus’ strategy of expanding its commodity market reporting capabilities beyond energy.  Like Argus, FMB has developed an excellent reputation for bringing transparency to opaque markets.  We look forward to working with FMB staff to combine their deep expertise with Argus’ global reach and scale”.

Kevin Hill, Director at FMB said “We are delighted to be joining Argus and look forward to further developing FMB’s products and services utilising Argus’ global presence, technical resources and commercial team.  FMB and Argus share the same cultural strengths based on close relationships with the industries they serve, and a resolute commitment to high quality reporting, ethics and integrity.”

Paul Slight, Partner at Fusion said, “We have known Kevin and the rest of the team at FMB for many years and were delighted to have the opportunity to work with them. FMB is a great business and tailor-made for Argus. I am sure it will be a great success in its new home.”

Fusion acted exclusively for the shareholders of FMB Consultants. The team responsible for this transaction were Paul Slight (pslight@fusioncorp.co.uk) and Paul Kelly (pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk). Waterfront Solicitors, headed by Matthew Cunningham, provided legal advice to the vendors.

UK, London

Other Fusion Deals:

Media and Information

Business Services
Events, Broadcast and Other deals
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ITG acquires Ross Smith Energy Group

June 8, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Investment Technology Group (ITG), an agency research broker and financial technology firm, has acquired Ross Smith Energy Group (RESG) a Calgary-based independent provider of research on the oil and gas industry for $38.5 million in cash.

RSEG, a privately held firm, was founded in Calgary, Alberta in 1998.  RSEG revenues for the trailing twelve months ending in April 2011 were approximately US$15 million.  Adjusted pre-tax margins, excluding non-operating expenses that will not continue beyond the acquisition, were approximately 25% for the trailing twelve months.  Going forward, RSEG will be rebranded as ITG Investment Research and the research offering will be an integrated part of the ITG platform.

RSEG provides detailed technical and financial analysis of North American resource plays, public and private corporations, as well as coverage of international and macroeconomic energy issues, for more than 200 clients in North America and Europe, including more than 60 equity fund managers who are new clients for ITG.  RSEG’s team of approximately 40 staff includes professional engineers, technologists and financial analysts.  With the addition of RSEG, ITG Investment Research will provide differentiated views into the exploration and production activities of North American and international energy companies.

“This acquisition marks a significant expansion for the ITG Investment Research platform,” said Bob Gasser, CEO and President of ITG.  “With the addition of energy sector coverage, ITG is even better positioned to offer alpha-generating insights to our clients and to work towards our goal of being a leading partner in both research and execution on a global scale.”

Jim Jarrell, President of Ross Smith Energy Group, said, “ITG’s focus on providing differentiated research and building relationships within the institutional investment community make it a natural fit for us.  We share a vision.  My colleagues and I are excited about bringing the ITG platform to our existing clients and our collective expertise and service to a broader set of investors.”

USA, New York, NY & Canada, Calgary, Alberta

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