SB Nation acquires SportsRadioInterviews.com

November 10, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Online sports media company SB Nation has acquired SportsRadioInterviews.com. SportsRadioInterviews.com (SRI) is a streaming sports blog which provides analysis of breaking news, upcoming games and sporting events from a sports radio perspective. Co-founded by Jimmy Shapiro and Dan Zucker of www.zuckermediagroup.com, SRI has developed a unique style of breaking national sports news by pushing out local and syndicated sports radio station interviews.

“Our goal at SB Nation is to provide sports fans with news, opinion and analysis, regardless of where the information happens,” said Jim Bankoff, Chairman and CEO of SB Nation. “There is so much great content on the radio, SRI will be a great asset and compliment the entire SB Nation portfolio.”

SRI co-founder Jimmy Shapiro commented, “Creating this site has allowed us to leverage our relationships in the sports media business to build a category leader quickly. We are looking forward to continuing to grow the brand under Jim and his teams’ guidance.”

Shapiro will stay on as the Executive Editor of SportsRadioInterviews.

USA, Washington, DC

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SunGame to merge With Freevi

November 10, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Social game developer SunGame Corp. has signed a letter-of-intent to merge with Nevada-based Freevi Corporation. The merged entity will be renamed Freevi Corporation.

The merger is a strategic fit for both companies. Freevi will utilize SunGame’s technical resources both for its expansion into the exploding virtual game market as well as its current product development, and will be trading as a reporting company on the OTC:BB market. SunGame gains from the massive potential exposure Freevi will bring when it launches on a wide scale in 2011.

The company will maintain a joint board and executive team led by Guy Robert, CEO of SunGame, Ranulf Goss, IT Director, SunGame, and Neil Chandran, President of Freevi.

USA, Los Angeles, CA

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Amazon acquires online baby care specialty site Quidsi for $540M

November 8, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Amazon has acquired rival e-commerce company Quidsi for around $540m, according to several reports. An announcement is due later today.

Diapers.com was founded in Montclair, New Jersey, by Marc Lore and Vinit Bharara. It is described as the largest online baby care specialty site in the United States.

Recent Amazon deals reported on Fusion DigiNet

USA, Montclair, NJ & San Francisco, CA

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McGraw-Hill Education acquires Starting Out, provider of life-skills and workforce development reference resources

November 7, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, has acquired Starting Out, a publisher of life-skills learning, and workplace readiness information for the education, workforce, and corrections markets.

The acquisition significantly strengthens McGraw-Hill Education’s position as a leading provider of adult basic education, college, workforce, and career-development resources, providing the company with considerable opportunities to leverage Starting Out’s products and capabilities.

“We are pleased to expand both our print and digital capabilities in career and workforce development,” said Jeff Livingston, senior vice president of McGraw-Hill Education’s Applied, College & Career Readiness Center. “It is important to provide resources that build on the basic life-management skills many young adults receive in school and at home. The addition of Starting Out reinforces our commitment to helping students and young adults make informed decisions regarding their career paths as they transition from one life stage to the next.”

With state-specific information in more than 80 life skills categories, each edition in the Starting Out! series offers a practical guide to decision-making for learners as they transition into a productive life and career. Topics include financial literacy, employment and careers, health and nutrition, civic responsibilities, conservation, housing and taxes, diet and nutrition, consumerism, and more.

USA, New York, NY

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Telegraaf Media Group acquires Hyves

November 3, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Telegraaf Media Group, publisher of Dutch newspaper de Telegraaf, is acquiring Amsterdam based social network Hyves.

The acquisition of Hyves is an important strategic step towards TMG’s stated aim of achieving a larger share of its profits from digital media. Hyves and TMG currently have a joint net monthly internet reach of over 8.5 million Dutch residents of 13 years and older. Furthermore, partnering with TMG’s print and radio brands willoffer new cross-media exploitation opportunities.

Hyves expects revenues of approximately €20 million in 2010 and has a  workforce of around 140. Hyves management team will remain in place.

The Hyves acquisition is funded by TMG from its cash flows and is earnings per share enhancing. The acquisition is currently subject to advice from TMG’s Central Works Council.

The Netherlands, Amsterdam

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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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Thomson Reuters acquires Highline Financial

November 2, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Thomson Reuters has acquired Highline Financial, a financial information and analytics provider focused on the US banking sector. The acquisition supports Thomson Reuters strategy of providing timely, accurate and high quality information by expanding its offering to include differentiated financial content and analytics for the banking and capital markets sector.

Market dynamics are creating a strong need for deep data and analytics as the financial sector experiences a tremendous level of new regulatory oversight, post crisis performance monitoring, bank closures and overall industry consolidation. The combination of Thomson Reuters and Highline Financial will provide Thomson Reuters clients with access to Highline Financial’s comprehensive public company and regulatory database which comprises 20 years of historical data covering 20,000 financial institutions, with over 24,000 filed and calculated financial data points and ratios maintained in the system on a daily basis. Highline Financial clients will benefit from having access to the depth and breadth of Thomson Reuters global content, support and infrastructure. The information will be available on Thomson Reuters Eikon, Thomson Reuters recently launched next-generation desktop, in 2011.

“The recent turmoil in the markets makes access to financial data more important than ever to our clients,” said Neil Masterson, Global Head of Investment Banking, Thomson Reuters. “With the acquisition of Highline Financial, Thomson Reuters can provide the banking and capital markets sector with the financial industry-specific analytics they need to drive deal activity.”

“This acquisition will create a significantly larger financial information and analytics platform for Highline Financial by enabling the company to leverage Thomson Reuters global reach and expertise to better serve its clients,” said Terry Waters, President & CEO, Highline Financial. “Both companies are committed to providing the most timely, accurate and complete financial information available and the combination of the two creates an industry leader in this space.”

Highline Financial is a portfolio company of Spire Capital Partners.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

USA, New York, NY

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UBM acquires Lead in Research for £1.45m

November 2, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

United Business Media has acquired Lead in Research (LIR), a boutique sales leads business on behalf of UBM Built Environment from its founder, Mark Hurley. The consideration will be satisfied by an initial cash payment of £1.15 million with a further deferred performance-related consideration of up to £300,000, payable at the end of 2010.

The acquisition of LIR is a complementary addition to UBM Built Environment’s existing Barbour ABI business, facilitating expansion beyond ABI’s construction leads offering into the post-construction lead supply market.

LIR uses planning applications and a wide range of other sources to compile detailed information on relocation, refurbishment and business expansion projects taking place across the UK. LIR’s analysis identifies businesses in likely imminent need of products and services relating to new, relocating and expanding operations. LIR’s subscription-based customers are principally providers of goods and services to commercial properties, with a focus on the furniture, telecoms and recruitment sectors. LIR also provides data to its customers via its website, weekly HTML bulletins and newsletters.

LIR employs five staff and in the financial year to May 2010 generated revenues of £0.4 million. The acquisition is anticipated to exceed UBM’s cost of capital criterion in its first full year of ownership.

Adrian Barrick, CEO of UBM Built Environment, said, “I am very pleased to announce this acquisition, which will enhance our current product offering and complement UBM Built Environment’s existing ABI business. We are pleased to have acquired a high quality product that we can use to respond to our clients’ requests for additional product offerings in post-construction lead supply, as well as helping us to attract new customers. We believe that LIR will provide further synergies – for example, with our Property Week brand – and generate strong revenue growth in the future”.

UK, London & Warwick

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Kabam Acquires Social Game Developer WonderHill

November 1, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Kabam, a leading developer of real games for social networks best known for creating the breakout social game, Kingdoms of Camelot, has acquired high-end social game developer, WonderHill. The San Francisco-based WonderHill developed the strategy social game Dragons of Atlantis and other quality games including the popular Facebook game Tattoo City and the MySpace title GreenSpot. Under the arrangement, WonderHill will officially become Kabam’s San Francisco studio, adding experienced development talent, IP, and over 2 million monthly active players to Kabam’s rapidly growing portfolio.

“Due to the traction of our strategy game, Dragons of Atlantis, we’ve been called on by a large number of potential acquirers”.

“WonderHill’s talent, analytics technology, and culture of quality game development fits extremely well with our existing approach and portfolio,” said Kabam CEO Kevin Chou. “WonderHill’s new direction in Flash-based strategy games with Dragons of Atlantis makes them a perfect complement to Kabam as we aggressively grow our business in deeply engaging social games. With our recent infusion of seasoned executive leadership, we have a solid foundation in place to integrate outstanding development talent like WonderHill.”

WonderHill founders James Currier and Stan Chudnovsky will stay on as advisors while the development team of approximately 25 will transition into Kabam employees. The new Kabam San Francisco will complement Kabam’s Redwood City headquarters by continuing to build titles like Dragons of Atlantis while also creating new, yet to be announced projects that will aid in further building out Kabam’s diverse portfolio of real social games.

“Due to the traction of our strategy game, Dragons of Atlantis, we’ve been called on by a large number of potential acquirers,” said WonderHill CEO James Currier. “Kabam’s strategy to focus on deep strategy games is the same as ours, so rather than competing, combining with them gives us both a better shot to build the dominant company in the space. They’ve got the right culture, the right focus, and enormous momentum. We’re proud to be associated with these guys. Watch this space.”

With the acquisition, Kabam continues its explosive growth. The company has expanded from 20 employees in one office at the beginning of 2010 to over 200 staff in four offices on three continents today. The company recently announced it added executives from Blizzard, PlayFirst, and PayPal to its management team, continuing the trend of growing its talent pool as it aggressively expands for its next operational phase—evolving and increasing its leadership in making rich and engaging social games. WonderHill is Kabam’s first acquisition, and terms of the deal were not disclosed.

USA, Redwood City, CA

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IPC Media sells Railway Magazine to Mortons Media Group

October 31, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

IPC Media has sold The Railway Magazine to Mortons Media Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Railway Magazine is renowned for offering a clear and trusted voice for the railway community, covering all aspects of the scene: from steam through to modern rail developments.

The deal sees Mortons acquire the brand – currently published within the IPC Inspire portfolio – with immediate effect. There will be no interruption to the publishing schedule of the title.

Part of the Mortons of Horncastle Limited group, Mortons Media Group is one of the UK’s largest independent publishers, producing a large range of magazine titles in classic and modern motorcycle sectors, scootering, heritage railways, heritage transport, lifestyle and farming.

IPC Inspire managing director Paul Williams says: “With brands like Heritage Railway and Rail Express in its portfolio, Mortons provides an ideal home for The Railway Magazine. The continued commitment and focus of the magazine’s team through IPC’s strategic review is a real credit to their professionalism. I’d like to thank them personally and wish them all the very best for the future.”

Mortons managing director Brian Hill adds: “We are proud to welcome such an historic and authoritative title as The Railway Magazine into the Mortons family. We look forward to working with Nick Pigott and his editorial team to further develop its position as the market leading title in the railway sector.”

Staff transfer to Mortons with immediate effect.

UK, London & Lincolnshire
 

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