Market America to acquire Shop.com

December 15, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Market America, an Internet marketing and product brokerage company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the business of online comparison shopping comparison business Shop.com. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

MarketAmerica.com and Shop.com will continue to operate as separate websites through a transition period.  Market America’s headquarters will remain in Greensboro, NC, while Shop.com’s facilities in Monterey and Pasadena, CA and London, UK will continue without disruption.  The combined entity will have in excess of 650 employees. The transaction is expected to be completed by year-end 2010.

“Together, Market America and Shop.com are creating a new ‘social shopping’ movement,” said James Ridinger, President and CEO of Market America.  “To date, no one has truly harnessed the power of technology to provide a high touch, personal shopping experience combined with the depth of selection available through instant search of the more than 43 million products in our database.  Our business model rewards customers at every stage – by making their shopping easier and more efficient, and rewarding them with cash back for shopping with us.  This unique strategy positions us for explosive growth and to compete head-to-head with the biggest, most dominant shopping sites on the Internet.”
“Market America and Shop.com are online shopping pioneers with distinct areas of expertise,” added Ken Goldstein, Chairman & CEO of Shop.com who will depart his current role and become a strategic advisor to Market America as part of the transition.  “By bringing our companies together, we are creating a game changing shopping experience with transformative potential to our customers, retailers, consumer brands and business partners.”

USA, Greenboro, NC

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Hi-Media Group is considering a sale of its micropayment platform

December 15, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The on-line media group Hi-Media has announced that “given the tremendous opportunities offered by the e-payment market dynamism, it has asked the investment bank NIBC Bank to study different possible industrial and financial partnerships with respect to its leading micropayment platform Allopass and its e-wallet Hipay.”
 
Hi-media, is an online media group with more than 50 million unique visitors per month on its proprietary websites. Hi-media is a large leading European player in online advertising and electronic payment. Its business model relies thus on two different sources of revenues: online advertising via its dedicated ad network Hi-media Advertising and online content monetization via its micropayment platform Allopass. The group which operates in 9 European countries, USA and Brazil employs more than 500 people. In 2009 Hi-Media achieved €206 million in sales.

France, Paris

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Navteq to acquire Trapster

December 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

autoblog is reporting that Navteq, a wholly owned subsidiary of of Nokia, is to acquire Trapster, the speed trap and road hazard tracking company that makes GPS apps for iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

According to Autoblog, five companies were interested in acquiring Trapster.

Read the full story

USA, Cardiff by the Sea, CA

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Meredith acquires Real Girls Media Network

December 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Meredith Corporation a media and marketing company serving American women, has completed the acquisition of Real Girls Media Network, a social content hub for women online. The acquisition continues Meredith’s strategy of deepening its portfolio of content and social media offerings through the Meredith Women’s Network of digital media, which also includes powerhouse sites BHG.com and Parents.com.

Real Girls Media Network, founded in 2006, will continue to be based in San Francisco. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and it will not have a material effect on Meredith’s fiscal 2011 financial performance.

The Real Girls Media Network includes DivineCaroline.com as well as a premium network of branded sites for women. DivineCaroline.com is a unique platform that publishes user-generated content, alongside expert-guided editorial, to offer women a community in which to share experiences and form connections.  The addition of the Real Girls Media Network – which averages approximately 4 to 5 million monthly unique visitors – increases the reach of the Meredith Women’s Network to nearly 25 million monthly unique visitors, according to Omniture SiteCatalyst measurements.

“This acquisition builds on our digital footprint and reinforces Meredith as the leading provider of authoritative and engaging content for women on the topics that matter most to them and their families,” says Liz Schimel, EVP, Consumer Relationship Management and Digital Media, Meredith National Media Group.

USA, New York, NY & San Francisco, CA

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Platts to acquire BENTEK Energy

December 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Platts, a global provider of energy and metals information and a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is to acquire BENTEK Energy, a privately held energy market analytics company headquartered in Evergreen, Colorado. The purchase price was not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to be completed in early 2011.  Following the closing, BENTEK will continue to operate under its current name with its current management.

BENTEK, founded in 1985, offers a portfolio of data, information and analytics products in the natural gas and liquids sector.  Its customers include the majority of the top firms in the energy industry, including independent producers, pipeline companies, and utilities, as well as industry regulators, financial institutions, and the largest energy hedge funds.

“BENTEK is a highly successful company whose leadership position has been attained through its deep understanding of energy industry dynamics, of the data reflecting those dynamics, and of the requirements of customers,” said Larry Neal, president of Platts.  “By combining BENTEK’s analytical expertise with Platts’ products, we can offer customers a comprehensive view of the North American natural gas market.  Our collective capabilities will provide them with a unique lens on the market – from underlying supply/demand fundamentals to real-time news and price information – and deepen our coverage of other complex commodity markets.”

Porter Bennett, BENTEK’s president and CEO, added that Platts’ current position in power, coal and liquefied natural gas, coupled with its global sales force, provides the opportunity to accelerate BENTEK’s plans for expanding into new commodities and international markets.  “As part of Platts, we are better positioned to capitalize on the increasing internationalization and interdependence of the natural gas and liquids markets and address the growing global demand for fundamental market data and analysis.”

The BENTEK acquisition follows Platts’ announcement, reported on Fusion DigiNet, last week that it plans to acquire Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), a leading provider of news and price information to the wholesale and retail petroleum markets in North America. With the BENTEK and OPIS acquisitions, Platts will deepen its power coverage and broaden its oil coverage in the North American market.

USA, New York, NY & Evergreen, CO

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XING acquires online event management company amiando for upto €5.35 million

December 9, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Xing, the social network for business professionals acquired by Herbert Burda Media last year, is acquiring amiando AG, effective as of January 1, 2011. amiando is a of online event management and ticketing services in Europe with some 100,000 events organised and processed via the platform in 2009. This move puts XING in a position to offer its more than 10 million members integrated business event services ranging from organisation to marketing, billing and execution.

The acquisition price comprises a number of components. At the time of acquisition, XING AG will initially pay approximarely €5.1 million. An additional payment of up to €5.25 million will also be made on March 31, 2013, if various conditions are met. Examples of these conditions include the current management team remaining within the company and the achievement of specific revenue and profit targets.

Stefan Gross-Selbeck, CEO at XING AG, said: “Acquiring amiando gives XING an opportunity to meet its members’ growing need for an integrated, comprehensive event registration and ticketing service. In 2009 alone, our members organized and marketed more than 150,000 events via the XING platform. From now on, we can offer them all of the services they need including efficient registration, ticketing and billing. This in turn allows us to tap into a highly lucrative and market currently experiencing rapid growth.”

Felix Haas, CEO at amiando AG, said: “XING and amiando’s business strategies run in parallel with one another and offer huge synergy effects. This became clear right at the start of the negotiation process, and really caught the attention of the amiando management team. The XING platform’s reach and amiando’s technology and market position go together to make a perfect combination in the business event segment that will provide XING’s members with new, relevant added value. This is of course something the newly forged team intends to build on going forward.”

amiando has a staff of 35, all of whom will retain their jobs. Felix Haas will continue in his position as CEO at amiando. During the negotiation process XING was supported by Altium, while amiando was assisted by Parklane Capital.

Germany, Hamburg & Munich

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IPC MEDIA sells Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering to The Chelsea Magazine Company

December 9, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

As part of the review of IPC Media’s niche and specialist titles, the company today announces the sale of Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering to The Chelsea Magazine Company. The deal marks the completion of the final divestment as part of the IPC Media strategic review, which began in April.

The deal sees The Chelsea Magazine Company acquire the brands – currently published within the IPC Inspire portfolio – with immediate effect. There will be no interruption to the publishing schedule of either title. All staff transfer to Chelsea.

The Chelsea Magazine Company is an independent publishing company run by an experienced team of creative and marketing professionals, with offices in the United Kingdom and North America. The company publishes: Artists & Illustrators, Cruise International, Military Times, Current World Archaeology, First Eleven and Britain, the official magazine of VisitBritain. Chelsea has also recently acquired Yachts & Yachting magazine.

IPC Inspire managing director Paul Williams says: “Chelsea is a passionate independent publisher, and will provide a great new home for both these brands. I’d like to thank the teams at Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering for their hard work and commitment throughout the review and acquisition process. They have done a brilliant job and I wish them all the very best for the future.”

Chelsea managing director Paul Dobson adds: “My team has become well-known over the years for publishing fine quality magazines, from Motorsport to The English Garden. We understand and value specialist titles with a committed readership, and Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering are good examples of magazines that we publish so well. We are delighted to have added them to our rapidly expanding portfolio.”

UK, London

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Russian state-owned media may be put up for sale

December 7, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

 
Shaping the Future of the Newspaper blog is reporting that all newspapers, television channels and radio stations owned by members of the Russian government will be put up for sale. sfnblog quotes presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich, “”Right now, it’s a pointless waste of time. They are to be sold, but the date hasn’t been established yet,”.

The story is based on reports in polit.ru and Trud.ru

Read the full story

Russia

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Synovate to acquire a majority stake in COMCON

December 7, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Synovate, one of the world’s largest market research companies, is acquiring a majority stake in COMCON. Synovate’s existing Russian business and COMCON, Russia’s leading independent market research agency, will combine their capabilities and resources to leverage Synovate’s global reach and establish the leading market research player in Russia.

COMCON, established in 1991, is among the four biggest research companies in Russia with offices in Moscow and St Petersburg. The business, which is currently wholly owned by COMCON management, has significant custom and syndicated research capabilities and a high quality established customer base in a number of key industry sectors, including healthcare, FMCG, financial services and media.

Robert Philpott, Global CEO for Synovate, who announced the deal while in Moscow and welcomed COMCON to Synovate, said: “The acquisition of COMCON will make Synovate the leading market research company in Russia, with increased scale and resources, a wider range of management expertise and a more diverse client base. Our goal for the integrated business is to be number one in the Russian market – the combination of COMCON’s well-established Russian business and Synovate’s existing Russian operation creates that opportunity. Looking ahead, our significantly broader footprint in Russia will enable us to assist domestic clients to expand internationally and to support global clients in gaining access to the Russian market. This transaction therefore consolidates Synovate’s position as a leading market research provider within the Eastern European region.”

Over the coming months, the management, operations and research capabilities of both companies in Russia will be integrated into a single Synovate branded business.

Elena Koneva, General Director and Founder of COMCON, will become Managing Director of the new combined business with immediate effect. Oleg Feldman, founder of COMCON-Pharma, will continue to lead the healthcare business. Koneva has led COMCON since the company was founded in 1991, driving its performance, including through tough economic conditions in recent years. She is known as one of Russia’s most successful leaders in the industry.

Koneva said: “COMCON and Synovate represent a great fit. We have many complementary features, including our staff, services, methodologies and client sectors. This will be an exciting opportunity for us, becoming part of a leading global company and integrating the best of what we already have – great clients, great people and a great culture. We will integrate the business to create an even stronger team and ensuring our people are recognised as our most valuable business resource.”

The current Managing Director of Synovate Russia Panicos Ioannides will assist Koneva in her new role as Managing Director of the combined businesses and in the integration process over the coming months.

Russia, Moscow

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Specific Media acquires AdCombination

December 7, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Specific Media, a next generation media platform company, has acquired Amsterdam-based AdCombination in a move to expand its operations into the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. AdCombination is a leading display network in the region, with a premium publisher network and strong industry relationships. With the acquisition, Specific Media extends its foothold as the largest independent digital media platform in Europe.

The acquisition follows Specific Media’s expansion into the Nordic region with office openings in Norway and Denmark in 2009 and Sweden in 2010. Specific Media’s move into the Benelux region reflects the company’s strong performance and focus on European growth, with the AdCombination business being integrated into the Specific Media brand.

“Specific Media continues to strategically build out its media platform on a global scale, and our move into the Benelux will provide tremendous opportunities for advertisers in the region while bolstering our industry-leading capabilities in Europe,” said Tim Vanderhook, co-founder and CEO of Specific Media. “By bringing together Specific Media’s next generation media platform with AdCombination’s executive leadership and presence in the market, we are able to provide our customers worldwide the advantages of a global media platform, presenting a value proposition that is simply unmatched in the industry.”

“AdCombination has built a strong customer base in the Benelux, and I am extremely pleased that we are becoming part of Specific Media to continue our growth as part of a leading, global brand,” said Tim Van Der Bilt, Managing Director of AdCombination. “Marketers across Europe are recognizing Specific Media’s superior product offering and levels of service, and I am looking forward to bringing this to customers across the Benelux.”

Netherlands, Amsterdam & Irvine, CA

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