Morningstar France acquires Seeds Group, including Seeds Finance and Multiratings

July 1, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Morningstar France Holding, a subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc., the provider of independent investment research, has completed its previously announced acquisition of Seeds Group, a provider of investment consulting services and fund research in France. Terms were not disclosed.

Seeds Group was founded in 2002 and, through its subsidiary Seeds Finance, provides investment consulting services to pension funds, insurance companies, asset managers, banks, and brokerage firms. In addition to investment consulting, Seeds Group also operates Multiratings.com, a fund research and investment education website for advisor groups and institutions.

Seeds Group and its affiliates have 12 employees based in Paris. The company will become a subsidiary of Morningstar France.

Location: USA, Chicago,IL & France, Paris

Ref: F231109-473

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Amazon acquires online retailer Woot.com

June 30, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Amazon is to acquire Woot.com, an Internet retailer based in Texas. It was founded by electronics wholesaler Matt Rutledge and debuted on July 12, 2004. Woot’s main website generally offers only one discounted product each day, often a piece of computer hardware or an electronic gadget. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. Woot HQ will remain in Carrollton, Texas, and will operate as autonomously as other Amazon companies like Zappos and Audible.

Woot had plenty to say about the acquisition. See below.

Location: USA, Carrollton, TX

Ref: F231109-525

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The US M&A Market Heats Up

June 30, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

According to a report from The Jordan, Edmiston Group, the M&A market for media, information, marketing services, education and related technologies in the USA rebounded strongly in the first half of 2010, led by digital and technology‐driven businesses. 445 transactions with a total value of $21 billion were announced, reflecting a 52% increase in deal volume and a 291% surge in deal value over 1H 2009 levels.

Overall, six market sectors saw strong growth in M&A in the first half: B2B Online Media (number of deals up nearly 4x), B2C Online Media (+64%), Business‐to‐Business Media (up nearly 4x), Database & Information Services (+90%), Marketing & Interactive Services (+96%), and Mobile Media & Technology (+188%).

For more information see the Press Release.

Ref: F231109-524

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Ras2Ras comparison platform acquired by Qatari investor Ahmed Alaji

June 30, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

According to startuparabia, Ras2Ras, the Yemen-based online social rating and comparison platform, has been acquired by Qatari investor Ahmed Alaji.

Ras2Ras was founded by Amad Almsaodi in 2008. It is fun site where two comparable items are put together and readers vote on which is the best.

Some recent results

  • iPhone vs the iPad – 61.4% of readers think the iPhone is better than the iPad
  • Spain vs Brazil – 43.56% of readers think Spain will win the World Cup. 56.44% think Brazil will win.

It could have some interesting research uses.

Location: Yemen

Ref: F231109-523

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Search engine Yandex is to acquire online map provider GIS Technologies

June 30, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Accoring to Quintura, (quoting Russian newpaper Vedomosti), leading Russian search engine Yandex is to acquire online map provider GIS Technologies (ГИС Технологии) for several million dollars.

GIS Technologies supplies online city maps for Yandex.Maps (Яндекс.Карты) since 2008.    

Related news – In 2008, Yandex acquired road traffic monitoring service SMIlink.

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eBay Acquires RedLaser (barcode-scanning application for iPhone)

June 30, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

eBay has acquired RedLaser, a popular barcode-scanning application for iPhone, and related technology from Occipital (blog). With over two million downloads, RedLaser is the top-selling iPhone barcode-scanning application for comparison shopping and finding product information using a mobile device. Terms for the deal were not disclosed.

eBay plans to integrate RedLaser’s barcode-scanning technology into its iPhone applications, including its eBay Marketplace, eBay Selling, StubHub and Shopping.com applications. The eBay Selling application for the iPhone will be the first iPhone application to take advantage of RedLaser’s barcode-scanning technology for mobile users to sell items online.

eBay is immediately transitioning RedLaser from a paid application to a free standalone application. The company also plans to significantly increase selection on RedLaser by integrating more than 200 million listings from eBay, as well as product inventory from over 7,000 global merchants on Shopping.com, including 95 of the top 100 online retailers.

The RedLaser technology is being used in a wide variety of applications including grocery shopping lists, gift registries, and nutritional tracking. eBay plans on increasing developer support of the RedLaser technology in the future.

The acquisition of the RedLaser application builds on eBay Inc.’s momentum and innovation in mobile commerce. In 2010, eBay released an iPad application and three new iPhone apps: eBay Selling, eBay Classifieds and StubHub. eBay Inc. is a global leader in mobile commerce with $1.5 billion in gross merchandise volume (GMV) expected in 2010 through its mobile platforms. eBay’s mobile applications are available to millions of iPhone, BlackBerry and Android users in more than 190 countries and eight languages. A mobile purchase is made every two seconds via eBay’s mobile applications.

Location: USA, San Jose, CA

Ref: F231109-521

Related Article – eBay Inc. Completes Sale of Skype to investor group led by Silver Lake Posted on November 19, 2009

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Premiere Publishing Group sets date for closing of the BOLD TV Corp acquisition

June 29, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Premiere Publishing Group has set a definitive closing date of July 15th, 2010 for the closing of its acquisition of BOLD TV Corporation. Premiere will close the transaction in a newly formed subsidiary known as BOLD Entertainment Group, Inc.

Premiere’s president, Omar Barrientos, stated, “We are delighted to have a definitive date in which to close our aquisition of BOLD TV Corporation, Inc. and we look forward to a long and very fruitful relationship with them.

“This will be the beginning of a campaign to aggressively seek out acquisitions that will substantially increase shareholder value while minimizing dilution thru the use of our subsidiary financing model.

“We are also in the process of negotiating the restructuring of our balance sheet and we have the cooperation of the majority of our creditors. We expect to have a formal plan presented to all of the creditors in the next 30 days for their approval.

“We continue to stay current with our SOX compliance requirements and will have more details as it relates to our improving financial condition in the coming quarterly reports.

“These steps we are taking now will mark a new era for our shareholders and as we move forward with our plan for acquiring businesses. We are also speaking with several key principals with substantial backgrounds in Mergers and Acquisitions and finance to further enhance our deal team and join our Board of Directors. We expect to make these announcements in the very near future.

“We are in the process of a complete transition to utilize the talents of our constituents to create a public company that is specific to acquiring profitable businesses to increase shareholder value.”

Location: USA, Totowa, NJ

Ref: F231109-518

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ISIS invests £4 million in online retailer GettingPersonal.co.uk

June 29, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

ISIS Equity Partners, investing funds from the Baronsmead VCTs, has completed a £4 million investment in GettingPersonal.co.uk Limited, a leading online retailer which sells personalised and unique gifts.

The South Manchester based business was established in November 2005 by John Smith and Giles Harridge with just one product, a personalised calendar. GettingPersonal.co.uk now sells over 4,000 items ranging from personalised cards, notebooks, mugs and chocolate to non-personalised items for general gifting.

GettingPersonal.co.uk sells direct to consumers through its website and in 2009 had six million visitors and recorded sales of £9.6 million.

ISIS will support management to establish GettingPersonal.co.uk as the leading personalised online gifting retailer in a fast growing UK market. In doing this the Company’s focus will continue to be offering customers innovative gift ideas across a huge range of categories.

Commenting on the deal, co-founder and joint managing director, John Smith said: “The business has grown rapidly over the past five years and we still believe there is further scope for expansion in both product portfolio and our marketing capability. ISIS clearly has a firm understanding of the online retail space and we are very excited about working with them as GettingPersonal.co.uk enters the next phase of its development.”

David Cowan, who led the transaction on behalf of ISIS said: “John and Giles are exactly the sort of dynamic, forward thinking entrepreneurs that we love working with. They have taken a very simple concept and turned it in to a multi-million pound business in a very short space of time and, having worked successfully with many other leading e-tailers, we hope to be able to help management at GetttingPersonal.co.uk with the next stage of its journey.”

Following the transaction Steve Richards will join the Board as Chairman. Steve’s background includes being CEO of the hugely successful online flower retailer Interflora. Commenting on the deal Steve said “I look forward to working with John and Giles, and am impressed with the Company they have built to date. I believe my experience of online retail will be beneficial to the team and see this as an exciting opportunity within the market.”

Location: UK, Manchester

Ref: F231109-516

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Playdom aquires Hive7

June 25, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Social gaming company Playdom has acquired Hive7.com, a privately held social gaming startup based in Palo Alto, California. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2005, Hive7 focuses on building games played on Facebook and other social networks and is best known for Knighthood, a medieval themed game of combat and diplomacy. Its other titles on Facebook, Myspace, Bebo and other social networks include Youtopia, Kick-Off, and Sindicate.

“Our entire team is excited about joining forces with Playdom,” said Max Skibinsky, CEO of Hive7. “Gaining access to Playdom’s industry knowledge and resources represents a unique opportunity for our studio to operate on an entirely new scale.”

“We have moved our development studio into Playdom’s Mountain View office and are hard at work on our next title. We will continue to deliver enjoyable and engaging games to Playdom’s much larger player base,” added Dave Holt, COO and Executive Producer of Hive7.

“We welcome Hive7’s employees and contractors to our family,” said John Pleasants, CEO of Playdom. “Our studio structure enables us to add stand-alone development start-ups like Hive7 to our portfolio without disrupting the cohesion and collegiality that made it such a special place to work. By integrating with our innovative central services and business intelligence functions, Hive7 will be positioned to develop deeper and more compelling games.”

Location: USA, Mountain Views. CA

Ref: F231109-514

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Playdom raises additional £33 million

June 25, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Social gaming company Playdom has raised an additional $33,000,000 in venture capital financing. Joining Playdom’s existing cadre of venture capital backers are Bessemer Venture partners, Steamboat Ventures, and New World Ventures.

This additional financing brings the total amount raised by Playdom to $76,000,000 including amounts previously announced.

Location: USA, Mountain Views. CA

Ref: F231109-513

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