Thomson Reuters acquires Apsmart

June 14, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Thomson Reuters has acquired Apsmart, a London-based mobile platform and product development firm that was majority owned by DN Capital. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The Apsmart acquisition will improve Thomson Reuters ability to provide customers with mobile solutions that drive a competitive differentiation in the marketplace.

Mobile is an increasingly significant way in which professionals work and consume information. The acquisition of Apsmart will enhance Thomson Reuters mobile product creation, design and development, allowing the company to deliver even more expert-enriched content, news and solutions through the interfaces that professionals want on the mobile devices they use.

Founded in 2009 by DN Capital and Rahul Powar, creator of the first Shazam iPhone application, Apsmart is at the cutting edge of mobile build and design. The team is well known for creating connected, data-driven applications for iOS and Android devices.

“This new team brings strong experience in end–to–end mobile development capabilities from user experience and design through to product realization and platform services,” said Robert Schukai, global head of mobile technology at Thomson Reuters. “As we move forward, we will have a greater ability to develop foundational mobile capabilities that build significant brand value in our mobile product portfolio.”

“The team at Apsmart is excited about the opportunity to apply our diverse mix of skills to the large Thomson Reuters customer base. We look forward to helping drive the strategy and creation of significant new experiences in mobile across the organization,” said Rahul Powar, new head of mobile application development at Thomson Reuters.

The addition of the Apsmart team will build upon the success of the advanced suite of Thomson Reuters mobile offerings which include Thomson Reuters WestlawNext and Thomson Reuters ProView eReader.

USA, New York, NY & UK, London

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HS to Acquire GlobalSpec

June 12, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

IHS is to acquire GlobalSpec, a specialised vertical search, product information and digital media company serving the engineering, manufacturing and related scientific and technical market segments, from Warburg Pincus LLC. The $135 million acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

“Acquisitions continue to be a key element in the strategic development of the IHS business and a driver of the company’s long-term growth. While the purchase price for GlobalSpec represents a strategic double-digit EBITDA multiple, it will enable a dramatic transformation of our product design portfolio representing approximately 15 percent of our revenue,” said IHS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jerre Stead. “GlobalSpec, combined with our global scale and industry expertise, will create an even greater destination for trusted product information and technical insight for GlobalSpec’s global community of more than seven million engineers. We will market our solutions to a large segment of engineers around the world who currently do not use IHS services.”

Founded in 1996, GlobalSpec provides its registered users with a domain-specific search engine for more than 3,500 current product, service and technology vertical categories, a vibrant community of engineers helping other engineers solve important problems, and more than 70 product and industry e-newsletters that help engineers and related professionals perform their key job tasks with the highest levels of accuracy and productivity.

“The acquisition of GlobalSpec is a significant development that presents a unique opportunity for IHS to transform our existing engineering specifications and standards business to long-term double-digit growth,” added IHS President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Key. “We will leverage IHS global scale in sales and market presence to create large strategic synergies and revenues as we elevate our Product Design business to accretive growth rates and margins.”

The company is a destination for engineers as well as suppliers of products and services that support a worldwide engineering audience. It has a global user base of more than seven million registered users – a user community that grew by 500,000 new registrants during 2011. GlobalSpec is headquartered in East Greenbush, N.Y. and employs approximately 230 people.

USA, Englewood, CO & East Greenbush, N.Y

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Bloomberg Acquires PolarLake

May 22, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Bloomberg LP has acquired Dublin-based software provider PolarLake.

“The PolarLake purchase is a strong signal to the marketplace that Bloomberg intends to be a leader in the enterprise data management business,” said Thomas Secunda, Bloomberg Co-Founder and Global Head of Bloomberg’s Financial Products and Services.

PolarLake, a leader in reference data management, distribution and integration, will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Bloomberg, but will operate as an independent business unit. It will have separate facilities and operations staff, so it can provide the highest levels of security, privacy and permissioning for the data it receives. Geller & Co. advised Bloomberg on the transaction.

USA, New York, NY & Ireland, Dublin

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Chime Communications PLC acquires controlling interest in Harvey Walsh Limited

May 17, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Chime Communications PLC has acquired 51% of the share capital of Harvey Walsh Limited, a company providing market access and data services to the pharmaceutical industry and the NHS, for an initial consideration of £2.19 million.

The initial consideration comprises £2.1 million in cash and a further £90,000 in cash representing 51% of working capital of HWL at acquisition which is surplus to requirements after HWL joins the Group. A further tranche of the initial consideration of up to £1.9 million may be payable depending upon the trading performance of HWL in 2012 and 2013.

HWL reported turnover of £1.6 million for the 14 months ended 31 December 2011 and operating profit of £517,000. The gross assets of HWL were £660,000 as at 31 December 2011.

Chime is acquiring the interest in the business from HWL’s two owner directors; Sue Beecroft and Julia Wilkins. Following completion, Sue and Julia will continue to develop HWL as part of Chime’s healthcare division, OPEN Health.  HWL’s clients include: Lilly, Napp and Sanofi.

UK, London

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Acquisition of Xceligentby DMGT

April 27, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

dmg:: Information (dmgi), the Business information division of Daily Mail and General Trust, has agreed to make a strategic investment in Xceligent Inc. for a consideration of less than US$10 million.

Xceligent, based in Independence, Missouri, is one of only two companies in the United States that provide fully researched property and listing information to the commercial real estate community. The remaining shares in the company are owned by the founders, management and employees.

UK, London & USA, Independence, MI

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Thomson Reuters sells its Healthcare business to Veritas for $1.25bn

April 23, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Thomson Reuters is to sell its Healthcare business to an affiliate of Veritas Capital for $1.25 billion in cash. The sale is expected to close in the next few months. The sale is not subject to any financing condition. Veritas has obtained debt financing commitments for the transaction.

The Healthcare business provides data, analytics and performance benchmarking solutions and services to hospitals, health systems, employers, health plans, government agencies and healthcare professionals. With leading assets and solutions such as MarketScan, Advantage Suite, Micromedex, CareDiscovery and ActionOI, coupled with expert services and analysis, the Healthcare business provides its customers with solutions to identify savings, improve outcomes, fight fraud and abuse and more efficiently manage their healthcare operations.

“We are proud of our colleagues who built a very strong Healthcare business,” said James C. Smith, chief executive officer of Thomson Reuters. “I know they will continue to serve their customers with the same high standards under new ownership. With the completion of the divestiture, Thomson Reuters will be even more focused on our core global businesses.”

“The Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters is the preeminent healthcare analytics company in the industry today,” said Robert McKeon, chairman of Veritas Capital. “The acquisition will provide us with a unique and exciting opportunity to add a truly outstanding business and world-class management team to our portfolio and we look forward to building upon our experience in the healthcare analytics market. We look forward to welcoming the business and its talented employees, including its talented management team led by Mike Boswood, into the Veritas family.”

“We are excited to become part of Veritas Capital. Veritas is committed to helping us continue to grow and expand our business and our customers should expect the same level of high quality services after the transaction closes,” said Mike Boswood, president of the Healthcare business.

Morgan Stanley and Allen & Company are acting as financial advisors to Thomson Reuters for the proposed divestiture. Covington & Burling LLP is acting as legal counsel for Thomson Reuters.

USA, New York, NY

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Argus acquires Fundalytics

April 19, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus has acquired Fundalytics, a specialist European natural gas fundamentals data service. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Founded in 2009, Fundalytics compiles, cleans and publishes fundamental data for European natural gas markets. Data sets include supply and demand, inventories, interconnector flows, nominations, allocations and many other types of key information useful for planning and analysis. Data are available on an intra-day basis and can be delivered in multiple formats.

Argus Media chairman and chief executive Adrian Binks said: “Fundalytics data are a complementary service to the pricing and analysis services provided by Argus for international natural gas markets. This acquisition means that Argus can provide a fuller service to our clients. Argus prices are already used extensively as benchmarks in physical and derivative contracts for natural gas and other forms of energy. High quality fundamentals data will add a further valuable information source.”

Fundalytics director Chris Dodds said: “I am very pleased to be working with Argus. Argus has the price reporting expertise and analysis skills that will help to develop our data services further. The two companies together will be be able to offer a first-rate full service to our complementary client and prospect databases.”

UK, London

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DMGT – trading update for the six-month period to the end of March 2012

April 17, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

DMGT has issued an update on the Group’s progress in the current year. It covers the six-month period to the end of March 2012.

Summary

–       Solid Group revenue performance, up 2% underlying

–       Good underlying growth from B2B operations

–       Resilient revenue performance at Associated; circulation and digital revenue growth largely offsetting print advertising weakness

–       Active portfolio management; targeted acquisitions and disposal of non-core assets

–       Outlook for the year remains unchanged.

 

Acquisition activity

Active portfolio management has seen further bolt-on acquisitions, including:

–       Intelliworks – a top provider of relationship management solutions for higher education (dmgi – Hobsons)

–       PrepMe – a leader in adaptive learning technologies and test preparation programs (dmgi – Hobsons)

–       SpringRock – a cutting-edge provider of dynamic production forecasts for the oil & gas industry (dmgi – Genscape)

–       Global Grain Geneva and Global Grain Asia – international grain trading conferences (Euromoney) (A Fusion deal – click here for details)

–       Jobrapido – one of the world’s largest job search engines (Associated -Evenbase)

This continuing portfolio management activity has also seen A&N Media selling its interests in Top Consultant, motors.co.uk and Teletext.

Yesterday, the Office of Fair Trading gave clearance for the proposed merger between the Digital Property Group and Zoopla to go ahead.

Read the full announcement here

UK, London

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Hearst Corporation acquires 20% stake in Stylus Media Group

March 28, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Hearst Corporation has acquired a 20 percent stake in Stylus Media Group, which provides business intelligence to consumer companies. The announcement was made jointly by Frank A. Bennack, Jr., CEO of Hearst Corporation, and Marc Worth, CEO and founder of Stylus. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Stylus tracks consumer behavior and cultural shifts across consumer industries, including automotive, technology, media, retail, fashion and hospitality. Stylus is used by design, marketing, branding and business development departments inside companies to stimulate new ideas about consumer products and services.

As part of the agreement, Kenneth A. Bronfin, president of Hearst Interactive Media, will join the Board of Directors of Stylus. The Interactive Media group will manage Hearst’s stake in Stylus as it does with its numerous portfolio businesses.

Since its launch in September 2010, Stylus has grown to cover 20 sectors across 50 countries with a worldwide staff of 100. More than 200 major corporations have subscribed to Stylus data, including Saatchi & Saatchi, Starwood Hotels, Mulberry, Sony, Ford, Colombia Sportswear, The Container Store, Marks & Spencer and Interbrand. Its mission is to become a global leader in primary research, tapping into opportunities in emerging markets and meeting demand from business and design professionals for research and information.

Commenting on the acquisition, Bennack said, “For all businesses to be competitive, spotting the next trend can mean success or failure. We believe that Stylus offers information that no company should be without. The growth potential is very promising, as is the benefit to our own brands and businesses.”

“This strategic partnership signals a wealth of new opportunities for Stylus,” Worth said. “Hearst’s global presence will help drive Stylus’ business forward in Asia and Latin America as well as its core markets of U.S. and Europe. Hearst’s investment in both technology and new media businesses makes it an ideal partner and will allow us to meet demand for cross-sector, cross-country design intelligence.”

“We have been quite impressed with the tremendous amount of progress that Stylus has made since its launch in terms of content development and brand-name client acquisition,” Bronfin said. “We look forward to working with Stylus as it expands its reputation as an authoritative business intelligence resource for design and creative professionals.”

USA, New York, NY & UK, London

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IHS Acquires IMS Research for $46M

March 22, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

IHS Inc. has acquired IMS Research, an independent provider of market research and consultancy to the global electronics industry, for approximately $46 million.

“The acquisition of IMS Research will help us expand our products and services in the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) value chain, and better position IHS to deliver a more robust product offering to our customers in the global technology marketplace,” said IHS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jerre Stead. “The annual delivery nature of the IMS Research business is also an excellent fit for our subscription-based model.”

IMS Research provides research with proprietary data and market insight to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), component manufacturers and systems suppliers in the global electronics industry. The company’s products and services include syndicated market studies, custom research, consultancy services and events that deliver comprehensive, value-add data and in-depth actionable market intelligence, across the technology spectrum. It serves diverse industries across the technology spectrum, from semiconductors and wireless to industrial systems and alternative energy, helping clients in more than 50 countries better understand markets and shape strategies.

IMS Research was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Wellingborough, U.K. The company employs more than 140 people in the U.K., U.S., China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

USA, Englewood, CO & UK, Wellingborough

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