Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC acquires Californian conference business TTI/Vanguard

January 7, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

Euromoney logoEuromoney Institutional Investor PLC, the international online information and events group, is expanding its membership events portfolio with the acquisition of TTI/Vanguard, which is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.

Euromoney paid US$8 million to acquire 87% of the equity of TTI/Vanguard. The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in itsTT! Vanguard first year.  The remaining equity will be acquired in two stages of an earn-out by December 2014.

TTI/Vanguard is a private membership organisation for executives who lead technology innovation in global organisations across the public, private and academic sectors. Enterprises subscribe to TTI/Vanguard’s conference series to explore how emerging and potentially disruptive technologies may affect their organisations, policy and society. Each of TTI/Vanguard’s five annual conferences is part classroom, part think-tank and part laboratory. At the core of TTI/Vanguard is its world-class Advisory Board of visionaries and futurists who inspire and develop TTI/Vanguard’s content direction (see footnote below).

Under its Institutional Investor brand, Euromoney runs a Financial Technology Forum in the United States and has a strong record of running and successfully building subscription memberships in asset management in the US, Europe and Asia. It now expects to apply this expertise to grow TTI/Vanguard’s business globally.

Dr. Len Kleinrock, past chairman, will remain a minority shareholder in the business and will be actively involved in TTI/Vanguard until at least December 2014.

“The acquisition of TTI/Vanguard is consistent with our strategy of applying our expertise to global sectors,” said Richard Ensor, Chairman of Euromoney. “This takes us into the high-technology content sector. Euromoney has a successful record of acquiring events businesses and accelerating their growth globally, as demonstrated over the past 15 years by the success of Institutional Investor which now has 13 subscription memberships around the world. We look forward to doing the same with TTI/Vanguard.”

Dr Kleinrock said: “Having successfully built TTI/Vanguard into a must-attend membership for heads of innovation and technology across a multitude of diverse industries from government to retail, finance to pharmaceuticals, I believe that Euromoney is ideally positioned to expand the TTI/Vanguard network and membership worldwide. We are confident that Euromoney’s portfolio and expertise will add tremendous value to what we have been consistently providing our members for more than 20 years. We look forward to sharing our know-how and experience and continuing to build a world-wide TTI/Vanguard community.”

UK, London & USA, Santa Monica, CA

Related articles

Posted in Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~Europe, ~North America. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

Thomson Reuters to acquire Practical Law Company

January 3, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

Thomson Reuters LogoThomson Reuters is to acquire Practical Law Company, the London-based provider of practical legal know-how and workflow tools to law firms and corporate law departments. Practical Law Company has more than 750 employees, with principal operations in London and New York, and will be part of the Legal business of Thomson Reuters. The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Telegraph reported senior industry sources speculating that Thomson Reuters is likely to have paid between £200m and £300m given PLC employs 750 people and generated pre-tax profits of £18.1m on revenues of £48.2m in the year ending April 2011.

Practical Law Company, with its wide range of expert-authored, up-to-date practical legal resources and software tools, is seen as a PLCpowerful complement to the Thomson Reuters portfolio of respected legal software and information products including Westlaw, which offers the broadest and most comprehensive collection of primary and analytical content for legal professionals.

Commenting on today’s announcement, James C. Smith, chief executive officer of Thomson Reuters, said, “Practical Law Company will uniquely position Thomson Reuters to deliver a comprehensive suite of compelling productivity solutions that marry world-class legal information, expert know-how resources and software tools to help in-house lawyers and outside counsel respond to client demands to work faster and smarter.”

“The combination of Practical Law Company and Thomson Reuters will create unique capabilities for a legal market segment that has seen significant changes over the past several years,” continued Mr. Smith. “Quality and effectiveness have always been key to successful law firms and corporate legal departments. Efficiency has become equally critical. Together, we’ll provide a full range of resources and tools to help our customers deliver the best advice quickly and efficiently, keep on top of regulatory and market developments, and better control costs.”

Practical Law Company’s unique resources, such as its practice notes, standard documents, checklists and What’s Market tools, reflect the experience and insight of the company’s team of expert attorney editors, many of whom have worked at the world’s leading law firms and corporate legal departments. Their practical know-how covers a wide variety of practice areas in the U.S. and the UK, such as commercial, corporate, employment, intellectual property, finance and litigation, among others.

Robert Dow, Practical Law Company chairman and co-founder, said that this collection of expert know-how, which is updated continuously to reflect changes in law and practice, is highly respected and valued in the legal marketplace. With more than 100,000 lawyers worldwide accessing their materials, Practical Law Company’s subscribers include 96 percent of the top 200 UK law firms and 86 percent of UK FTSE 100 corporate legal departments, as well as 80 percent of the AmLaw 200 firms and more than 700 corporate legal departments in the U.S.

“We share many values with Thomson Reuters, most notably a passion for innovation in the legal marketplace and for providing lawyers with the best possible resources so that they can spend more time adding value to clients and less time reinventing the wheel,” Mr. Dow said. “We also share a commitment to helping our customers evolve to meet changing demands. We are delighted to be joining Thomson Reuters, and firmly believe that together we can create an integrated solution that changes how lawyers practice.”

USA, New York, NY & UK, London

Related articles:

Posted in Content Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~Europe, ~North America. Tags: , . Leave a Comment »

NYSE Euronext to be sold to IntercontinentalExchange

December 29, 2012 — askhabra

ICENYSE Euronext has agreed to be bought by IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), an operator of Internet based marketplaces. The acquisition will add to ICE’s current operation of energy and commodity contracts, and derivatives markets worldwide. In the deal, ICE is to pay $33.12 per share; a premium of 38% of its pre-announcement share price, with two thirds of this being paid in stock and one third in cash. NYSE Euronext shareholders will hold 36% of the stock in the new company after it closes. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2013.

NYSE Euronext is the operator of many securities exchanges (most notably the New York Stock Exchange) and is currently headquartered in Lower Manhattan, New York City. The firm itself was formed in 2007 from a merger of NYSE Group and Euronext, following a merger of NYSE and Archipelago Holdings in the year prior. The firm’s share price has increased by 31% since the announcement.

ICE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Sprecher will maintain his role in the new company, whilst NYSE Euronext chairman and CEO Duncan Niederauer will become president of the company.

The press release for the transaction states that “As a result of the transaction, ICE clearing will be more capital efficient and provide operational efficiencies for clearing members” and that “ICE is committed to preserving the NYSE Euronext brand.” The transaction is expected to be achieve earnings accretion of over 15%.

View the press release here.

USA, Atlanta, GA & USA, New York, NY

Posted in Content Media, Market Data & Information, ~North America. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Tribal Group acquires International Graduate Insight Group

December 21, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

TribalTribal Group, a provider of technology systems and solutions to the education, learning and training markets, is to acquire International Graduate Insight Group Limited (“i-graduate”), an education benchmarking and student experience research business.  The acquisition is expected to complete on 2 January 2013.

Tribal Group will pay n initial amount of £2.86 million on completion and up to a maximum of £7.5 million based on an earn out structure for the 3 year period ending 31 December 2015.  The unaudited profit before tax of International Graduate Insight Group Limited for the year ended 31 March 2012 was £423k and the value of gross assets at that time was £1,799k.

i-graduate is an independent benchmarking and analytics group, working in partnership with institutions and education organisations to provide evidence-based information on education experience and outcomes across higher education, further education and schools markets.  The business works with over 1,200 education institutions in 24 countries, receiving and analysing feedback from more than 1.3 million students of over 190 nationalities.  i-graduate will join Tribal’s Services business and will strengthen the Group’s evidence-based analytics offering.

i-graduate was founded in 2005 by Will and Lindsay Archer.  Will Archer will continue to lead the i-graduate business and will head up the integration of i-graduate’s offerings with Tribal’s existing financial benchmarking and analytic capabilities.

Tribal’s Chief Executive Officer, Keith Evans, commented: “Our strategic priority is to provide our customers with evidence based systems and solutions that will support the on-going improvement of educational outcomes.  Quantitative and qualitative technology based benchmarking and analytics is a cornerstone of the evidence base.  This acquisition will enable us to strengthen our capabilities in this exciting and emerging area, expands our product offering to our existing customers and provides increased access for our existing products to the i-graduate customer base, both in the UK and in our targeted international markets.”

UK, London

Posted in B2B Services, Consultancy, Content Media, Market Data & Information, Training/Education, ~Europe. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Nielsen to acquire Arbitron

December 18, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

nielsenNielsen Holdings N.V., a provider of information and insights into what consumers watch and buy, is to acquire Arbitron Inc., an international media and marketing research firm.

Nielsen will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Arbitron for $48 per share in cash, representing a premium of approximately 26 percent to Arbitron’s closing price on December 17, 2012. Nielsen has a financing commitment for the total transaction amount.

“U.S. consumers spend almost 2 hours a day with radio. It is and will continue to be a vibrant and important advertising medium,” said Nielsen Chief Executive Officer David Calhoun. “Arbitron will help Nielsen better solve for unmeasured areas of media consumption, including streaming audio and out-of-home. The high level of engagement with radio and TV among rapidly growing multicultural audiences makes this central to Nielsen’s priorities.”

Arbitron generated total revenues of $445 million and adjusted EBITDA of $131 million for the 12 months ended September 30, 2012. Cost synergies are reported to be at least $20 million and will be largely driven by the integration of technology platforms and data acquisition efforts.

USA, New York, NY

Related articles:

Posted in B2B Services, Consultancy, Content Media, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, Marketing/Advertising, Publishers, ~North America. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Nasdaq OMX Group to acquire the investor relations, public relations, and multimedia solutions units of Thomson Reuters Corp for $390 million

December 18, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

The NASDAQ OMX Group is to acquire the Investor Relations, Public Relations and Multimedia Solutions businesses of Thomson Reuters for $390 million in cash. The businesses provide insight, analytics and communications solutions to more than 7,000 clients worldwide. They will be integrated into NASDAQ OMX Corporate Solutions.

“In one acquisition, we accelerate and achieve our Corporate Solutions long-term objectives, while maintaining our balanced strategy of delivering value to shareholders,” said Bob Greifeld, Chief Executive Officer, NASDAQ OMX.

“We believe that NASDAQ OMX is the ideal fit for our Investor Relations, Public Relations and Multimedia Solutions businesses,” said Michael Cotter, Global Managing Director of Corporate Services, Thomson Reuters.

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2013

USA, New York, NY

Related articles:

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, Marketing/Advertising, Publishers, ~North America. Tags: , . Leave a Comment »

DMGT preliminary results – pre-tax profits up 64%

November 27, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Daily Mail and General Trust has reported its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 30 September, 2012.

Total pre-tax profits rose 64% to £206.3 million. This included more than £100 million in charges and £150m in profits from disposals. Total revenues dropped by 1% to £1.96 billion.

MailOnline enjoyed a strong year of growth, recording a 74% increase in revenue to £28 million.

Northcliffe Media was the biggest surprise, contributing operating profit of £26 million (2011: £17 million) from revenues of £213 million (2011: £236 million).

Northcliffe Media, which is being sold to Local World venture, had reported a 37% fall in profits in 2011.

Martin Morgan, Chief Executive, said, “DMGT has delivered a good set of results in the 12 months to 30 September. Group adjusted pre-tax profits* rose by 10%. Our international B2B companies have increased their revenues and profits* by 7% and 8% respectively on an underlying# basis. Although our UK consumer businesses were impacted by challenging trading conditions, it was particularly pleasing that Associated was able to grow its revenues by 2% on an underlying# basis and that underlying# profits* for the consumer businesses rose 12% – reflecting greater productivity and efficiency linked to continued digitisation in that division.

We continued to refine our portfolio of businesses during the year with further acquisitions and disposals aimed at improving our long term growth potential. Today we are a more focused and financially stronger Group, leaving us well positioned for 2013 and beyond.”

Read the full announcement here.

UK, London

Related articles:

Posted in Company Results, Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~Europe. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »

McGraw-Hill to Sell Education Business to Apollo for $2.5 Billion

November 27, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

McGraw-Hill  is to sell its McGraw-Hill Education business to Apollo Global Management for $2.5 billion.  Earlier reports suggested that McGraw-Hill had hoped to achieve a $3 billion sale.

McGraw-Hill announced a restructuring program in September 2011. After the sale of the education business McGraw-Hill will becoming a more focused financial services company and will change its name to McGraw-Hill Financial,

“After carefully considering all of the options for creating shareholder value, the McGraw-Hill Board of Directors concluded that this agreement generates the best value and certainty for our shareholders and will most favorably position the world-class assets of McGraw-Hill Education for long-term success,” said Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President and CEO of The McGraw-Hill Companies who will lead McGraw Hill Financial once the transaction is complete.  “We were able to secure an attractive outcome and create additional balance sheet flexibility for McGraw Hill Financial.”

The Company will use the estimated proceeds of approximately $1.9 billion, net of tax and closing adjustments, to “sustain its share repurchase program, to make selective tuck-in acquisitions that enhance McGraw Hill Financial’s portfolio of powerful brands, and to pay off any short-term borrowing obligations.”

McGraw-Hill received financial advice from Evercore Partners and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and legal advice from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Clifford Chance.

Apollo received financial advice from Credit Suisse, UBS Investment Bank and BMO Financial Group.  The financing is provided by Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Jefferies, UBS Investment Bank, Nomura and BMO.  Apollo received legal advice from Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP.

USA, New York, NY

Related articles:

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~North America. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc announces annual results

November 15, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Euromoney Institutional Investor Plc has announced annual results to September 2012

Highlights

Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, the international online information and events group, achieved a record adjusted profit before tax of £106.8m for the year to September 30 2012, against £92.7m in 2011.  Adjusted diluted earnings a share were 65.9p (2011: 56.1p).  The directors recommend an 18% increase in the final dividend to 14.75p, giving a total for the year of 21.75p (2011: 18.75p), to be paid to shareholders on February 14 2013.

Total revenues for the year increased by 9% to £394.1m.  Underlying revenues, excluding acquisitions, increased by 3%.  The acquisition of Ned Davis Research (NDR) in August 2011 has helped increase the proportion of revenues generated from subscriptions to more than 50% for the first time.  Headline subscription revenues increased by 17% to £199.7m and underlying subscriptions, excluding NDR, by 5%.

The adjusted operating margin was unchanged at 30%.  Costs, particularly headcount, have remained tightly controlled throughout the year.  At the same time, the group has increased its investment in technology and new products as part of its online growth strategy.

Net debt at September 30 was £30.8m compared with £88.5m at March 31 and £119.2m at September 30 2011.  In the absence of any significant acquisitions, net debt has fallen by £88.4m since the start of the year, reflecting the group’s strong cash flows and an operating cash conversion rate* in excess of 100%.  The group’s net debt is now at its lowest level for more than a decade and its robust balance sheet provides plenty of headroom for the group to pursue its acquisition strategy.

As highlighted in previous trading updates, market conditions became noticeably tougher from June.  The uncertainty over Europe remains, as does a solution to the pending US fiscal cliff.  Meanwhile global financial institutions face the combined challenges of difficult markets, increased capital requirements and a tougher regulatory environment.  Inevitably they have responded by cutting costs, particularly people, and exiting some parts of their business.  However, the outlook for emerging markets, which account for more than a third of the group’s revenues, is more positive. The board expects this challenging trading background to continue at least into the early part of 2013.

Commenting on the results, chairman Richard Ensor said: “The record results for the year reflect the challenging market conditions as well as the successful implementation of our strategy.  Investment in online information businesses and emerging markets has created a global portfolio with a resilient business model.  Subscription revenues now account for more than 50% of group revenues, and more than a third of our revenues is derived from emerging markets. In 2013, we will continue to invest in our products to ensure that we are well placed to benefit from any improvement in the global economy.”

Read the full announcement here

UK, London

Related articles

Posted in Company Results, Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~Europe, ~North America. Tags: , , . Leave a Comment »

Markit acquires securities lending analystics specialist Data Explorers

October 18, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Markit, a global financial information services company, has acquired Data Explorers, a provider of global securities lending data, from mid-market private equity firm Bowmark Capital. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Data Explorers’ data set, which covers $12 trillion of securities in the lending programmes of over 20,000 institutional funds, provides a comprehensive view of short interest data and institutional fund activity across all market sectors. It is used by beneficial owners, custodians, agent lenders, prime brokers and asset managers to help inform investment decisions, manage risk and produce independent benchmarks.

The acquisition comes as the new regulatory environment is changing the dynamics of the securities financing markets. By combining Data Explorers’ data set with its own products and services, Markit will be able to develop new offerings allowing clients to optimise their use of collateral. Markit will also develop products for equity market participants in the ETF, dividend forecasting and quantitative research areas to complement its existing services.

Lance Uggla, CEO of Markit, said: “Markit’s acquisition of Data Explorers represents a logical extension to our existing data, research and analytics for the equity markets and complements our extensive fixed income offering. Our global distribution capabilities and robust technology infrastructure put us in a strong position to develop a compelling offering for our combined customer base globally.”

Donal Smith, CEO of Data Explorers, said: “With support from Bowmark Capital, Data Explorers has achieved fantastic growth over the last four years. We have more than doubled revenues and tripled profitability with new product innovation and expansion into Europe, North America and Asia. Data Explorers is now the leading provider of data and analytics to the entire securities finance market from agent lenders through to hedge funds and our services are a great fit with those offered by Markit.”

Data Explorers was established in 2002 and has offices in New York, London, Edinburgh and Hong Kong.

USA, New York, NY & UK, London

Related articles:

Market data business Markit raises $250 million for a 7.5% equity stake Posted on February 4, 2010

Posted in Content Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~Europe, ~North America. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »
« Older posts
Newer posts »