Future plc to acquire Imagine Publishing for£14.2M

June 23, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

FutureFuture plc is to acquire Miura (Holdings) Ltd, the parent company of Imagine Publishing Limited in an all share deal deal valuing the company at £14.2 million.

Imagine’s portfolio includes 19 magazines, around 300 annual bookazines and a complementary web presence. The company publish in four key markets – technology, photography, video games and science. Titles include include All About History, Digital Photographer, World of Animals, GamesTM, Retro Gamer, Nowgamer.com, X-ONE, Play, For Beginners and SciFiNow.

The company was formed with private funds in 2005 by Damian Butt, Steven Boyd and Mark Kendrick. All were former directors of publishing companies.

Imagine Publishing2Imagine is expected to report revenue of £16.4m for year to 31 March 2016, with EBITA of £3.1m, margin of 19% and cash generated from operations of £3.4m

Upon completion of the Acquisition, the vendors of Imagine will own, in aggregate, c.32.8% of Future’s enlarged issued share capital

Zillah Byng-Thorne, Future plc Chief Executive said, “This is a unique opportunity to acquire a market leading knowledge, science and technology content business which will complement and expand our capabilities.

Future’s share price jumped eight per cent to 8.5p after the deal was announced.

UK, Bath & Bournemouth

Related articles:

Posted in Content Media, Games, Internet Media, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Microsoft to acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 billion

June 14, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

LinkedIn acquisitionMicrosoft Corp. is to acquire LinkedIn for $196 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at $26.2 billion, inclusive of LinkedIn’s net cash. A large premium over the company’s recent public valuation.

In their announcement, Microsoft said LinkedIn will retain its distinct brand, culture and independence.

Jeff Weiner will remain CEO of LinkedIn, reporting to Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. Reid Hoffman, chairman of the board, co-founder and controlling shareholder of LinkedIn, and Weiner both fully support this transaction. The transaction is expected to close this calendar year.

USA, Redmond, WA & Mountain View, CA

Related articles:

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

UBM divests electronics media portfolio

June 3, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

UBMUBM plc has sold its electronics media portfolio to the distributor Arrow Electronics Inc. for $23.5 million in cash.

The portfolio comprises the US and Asian versions of EE Times, EDN, ESM, Embedded, EBN, TechOnline and Datasheets.com.  In 2015 these assets generated revenues of $19 million. $16 million from online and $3 million from print.  The sale is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearance in China.

Tim Cobbold, CEO of UBM plc, said: “In line with our ‘Events First’ strategy this transaction further improves the alignment between our portfolio of Events and Other Marketing Services.”

UK, London & USA, New York, NY

Related Articles:

Posted in Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Internet Media, Publishers, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

UBM buys Business Journals Inc for $69M

April 22, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

BJIUBM plc has acquired the Business Journals Inc (BJI), a producer of fashion trade shows in New York and Las Vegas, for $69m in cash.

BJI serves the men’s apparel and women’s apparel and accessories markets under the following tradeshow brands: AccessoriesTheShow, EDIT, FAME, Moda, MRket and Stitch.  These shows run multiple times a year and in some cases are located in the same venues as UBM shows.  BJI also operates several websites and publications serving the fashion sector.

In 2015, BJI’s revenues were approximately $40m – $33m from Events and $7m from Other Marketing Services.The company is expected to make a modest post tax contribution this year.

Tim Cobbold, CEO of UBM plc, said:

“We are delighted to have acquired BJI. This transaction is very much in line with our ‘Events First’, strategy. It adds to our presence in North America and also in the fashion sector, both of which were already strong following UBM’s acquisition of Advanstar at the end of 2014. We see excellent opportunities to deliver an improved experience for customers and to realise the operational benefits which scale will bring.”

UK, London & USA, Norwalk, CT

Related Articles:

Posted in Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Publishers, ~Europe, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Sovrn acquires UK advertising technology OnScroll

April 20, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

sovrnSovrn Holdings, Inc.has acquired UK-based online advertising technology company OnScroll. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition brings to Sovrn OnScroll’s in-view ad technology as well as international expansion with an experienced London based team.

onscrollPublishers using OnScroll are able to provide advertising inventory that is viewable while the reader is actively engaged. They are also able to measure and respond to user engagement time. Buyers can utilise their specific viewability requirements.

The OnScroll team has a substantial base of professional publishers in the UK and will instantly provide Sovrn a large European market. OnScroll co-founder Andy Evans will lead Sovrn’s team in the UK and Europe as Managing Director. Co-founder Babac Vafaey will assume the role of Vice-President of Business Operations for the UK and Europe.

“With this deal, Sovrn gains an incredibly smart and dedicated group of people committed to helping publishers capture more value from the attention they create,” said Walter Knapp, CEO of Sovrn. “Andy, Babac, and the entire OnScroll team have created a fantastic product and perhaps even more importantly they are 100% culturally aligned to our mission of helping professional publishers succeed.”

Sovrn will integrate the OnScroll technology into the its Meridian platform so all publishers can access OnScroll technology for display, video and mobile advertising inventory as well as reporting on active reader engagement.

USA, Boulder, CO & UK, London

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, Publishers, ~Europe, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Zoopla Property group to acquire the Property Software Group

April 20, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

zooplapropertyZoopla Property Group Plc is to acquire Property Software Holdings Limited from LDC for £75 million in cash with £47m payable on completion, £22 million payable 6 months after completion and £3m payable each of 12 and 24 months after completion.

In the year ended 31 March 2016, PSG generated revenues of £15.9 million and Adjusted EBITDA of £5.1 million, with 84% recurring revenues and a customer retention rate of over 97%. The value of PSG’s gross assets was £28.2 million as at 31 March 2015

Property Software GroupEstablished in 2007, PSG is a provider of software solutions to property professionals, used in over 8,000 agency branches. PSG provides workflow tools to over 40,000 estate and lettings agents across the UK through its innovative cloud-based (Alto, Jupix) and desktop (Vebra, Core, CFP) software products and provides essential systems for the day-to-day management of inventory, marketing and communications as well as diary management, chain progression, business reporting tools and financial processes.

In addition to its software products, PSG’s newest products, MyPropertyFile and MoveIT, provide agents with digital platforms for engaging more effectively with their clients and generating additional revenue streams from a variety of property-related services.

PSG will continue to operate as a standalone platform. Mark Goddard, CEO of PSG, will become Managing Director of the Group’s Property Services division, reporting to ZPG Founder & CEO, Alex Chesterman.

Alex Chesterman, Founder & CEO of Zoopla Property Group Plc said, “This acquisition is a game-changer, combining ZPG’s best-in-class property marketing solutions with PSG’s best-in-class property workflow solutions, and will transform the services available for both UK agents and consumers.

UK, London

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Johnston Press completes the acquisition of i

April 11, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

Johnston Press plc has completed the acquisition of i from Independent Print Limited.

The acquisition was originally reported on 12 February 2016.

UK, Edinburgh & London

Related articles:

Posted in Content Media, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Euromoney sells Gulf Publishing Company and the Petroleum Economist

April 1, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

Euromoney plcEuromoney Institutional Investor PLC, the international online information and events group, is selling its energy publishing businesses, Gulf Publishing Company in Houston and the Petroleum Economist in London, to a consortium led by Gulf’s CEO, John Royall and media investor Russell Denson, for a cash consideration of $18 million. Euromoney has owned Petroleum Economist since 1989 and Gulf since 2001. The transaction is expected to close on April 30, 2016.

Commenting on the announcement, Euromoney CEO Andrew Rashbass, said: “In line with our strategy, we are selling these businesses because they are not core for us. We believe the new owners, with their base in Houston, Texas, are better positioned to develop these businesses. John Royall has been a valued and respected colleague at Euromoney. I have no doubt he will continue to show outstanding leadership of these businesses under their new ownership.”

John Royall said: “Euromoney has been a great home to these businesses. We and our partners look forward to building an independent and innovative media company that will take advantage of opportunities in the global energy industry.”

UK, London & USA, Houston, TX

Related articles:

Posted in Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Publishers, ~Europe, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Ten Alps acquires Straker Films

April 1, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

tenalps plcTen Alps, trading as Zinc Media, the TV and multimedia content producer, has acquired Straker Films Limited. Straker Films is a corporate video production business that works with companies and organisations to help them communicate with their customers, staff and the public through moving image.

Ten Alps are paying an initial consideration of £110,000 in cash instalments between completion and September 2016. 3 percent of total sales in the year following completion will be as a deferred consideration if the annual revenues are less than £300,000. This increases to a maximum of 10 per cent. of total sales if the annual revenues are greater than £500,000.

In the year ended 29 February 2016 Straker Films generated revenue of £0.64m and a profit before taxation of £0.19m. As at 29 February 2016 net assets were £0.75m.  Straker Films currently has one employee, who will continue post completion.

Straker Films was founded in 2004 by Nick Straker and Nicola Mann. It has a client base including Rio Tinto, National Grid, TfL, Aviva, Nationwide and The Department for Education.

 Mark Wood, CEO of Ten Alps, comments:  “Ten Alps has already broadened its range of television production through the acquisition of Reef TV and its investment in Chrysalis Vision.  The acquisition of Straker Films gives Ten Alps a significant and credible footprint in the corporate video and story-telling market and we look forward to growing our business in this high growth market.”

Straker Films will be located in Ten Alps’ London office, working with the Ten Alps corporate communications team and the Group’s TV production businesses.  Nick Straker and Nicola Mann will remain as freelance consultants to Straker Films for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition and handover.

UK, London

Related articles:

Posted in Broadcasting, Content Media, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Wilmington acquires Evantage Consulting

March 30, 2016 — Fusion DigiNet

WilmingtonWilmington plc has acquired Evantage Consulting Ltd, a UK-based provider of specialist Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Analytics solutions.

Wilmington, through its healthcare analytics subsidiary NHiS, has partnered with Evantage for over five years. The acquisition will sit within Wilmington’s Insight division.

Wilmington is paying an initial £1.4m with a deferred cash consideration of up to £4.6m by 2020 based on profit based targets.

In the year to 31 October 2015, Evantage reported revenues of £1.1 million and profits before tax of £0.9 million. Gross assets were £1.2 million.

Commenting on the acquisition, Pedro Ros, Chief Executive Officer of Wilmington, said: “I am delighted to welcome Evantage to Wilmington. With this addition to our Group we advance one of our strategic objectives of building our competency in healthcare analytics which will allow us to be even better placed to deliver our clients the insight they need to optimise their businesses.”

Evantage was established in 2001 by Julian Snape and Chris Wiggins to provide outsourced analytics and resource optimisation solutions for the UK pharmaceutical industry. Snape and Wiggins will continue in the business post acquisition.

UK, London

Related articles:

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