A Fusion Deal: Sale of 50.1% stake in Global Pacific & Partners’ worldwide conference portfolio to ITE Group plc

March 13, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

22 AOWFusion Corporate Partners are pleased to announce the sale on behalf of its client Global Pacific & Partners (GPP) of a 50.1% shareholding in their worldwide oil & gas event portfolio to ITE Group Plc, a major London-listed international events company with significant capacity in global oil and gas.

The portfolio of events includes GPP’s market leading Africa Oil Week (AOW) conference held in Cape Town for the last 21 years. AOW incorporates Africa Upsteam and the Africa Independence Forum, other events in the portfolio include established oil & gas events in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

ITE2The cash consideration paid on completion for 50.1% is £16 million, with put and call options in place over a maximum of ten years, to enable ITE to acquire the remainder of the shares. The overall consideration to be capped at a maximum of £50 million.

Fusion acted exclusively for the shareholders of GPP. The shareholder founders and existing organisers of the event, will remain with the portfolio for the next few years at least.

GPP Chairman, Dr Duncan Clarke and CEO, Babette van Gessel said “We are all delighted to join forces with ITE to work together on developing the events in our conference portfolio. ITE has significant capacity and an excellent reputation in global oil and gas to carry forward the growth achieved over the last two decades for our portfolio in Africa, Asia and Latin America.”

ITE Oil &Gas Portfolio Director, Daniel Read said “I am very pleased with the acquisition of a majority stake in a series of events that includes Africa Oil Week/Upstream Africa. It is the jewel in the crown of GPPs portfolio and takes our services to a number of new territories. We have a global network of staff, exhibitions and conferences that will promote Africa Oil Week to a huge worldwide audience. The scale of the industry in Africa and its potential for future growth is enormous. It’s great to know that we will be involved in keeping the leading stakeholders in the continent’s energy community connected and informed. I’m also looking forward to working closely with the team at GPP who have created and nurtured the growth of what has become the leading event for the industry in Africa.”

paul-slight_f_1_120_1Paul Slight, Director at Fusion, said “We were delighted to have worked with Duncan Clarke and Babette van Gessel and the rest of the team at GPP. The Africa Oil Week/Africa Upstream Conference is the longest-running and most prominent event held worldwide for Africa’s fast-growing oil, gas, LNG and energy industry. It will be an excellent fit with ITE’s events portfolio.”

The 22nd Africa Oil Week/Africa Upstream Conference, with the 13th Africa Independents Forum, takes place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 26th-30th October 2015 at the CTICC, with over 100 speakers, 150+ Exhibitors, and around 1,600 delegates.

UK, London & Africa, Cape Town & The Netherlands, The Hague

Other Fusion Deals:

Media & Business Information

Business Support Services and Energy & Environmental Services

Exhibitions & Conferences

Healthcare

Broadcast

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Moody’s to acquire Equilibrium in Peru

March 12, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

moodysMoody’s Corporation is to acquire Equilibrium, a provider of credit rating and research services in Peru and other countries in Latin America.

Based in Peru, Equilibrium has operated since 1996. Following the acquisition, Equilibrium will continue to issue domestic ratings in Peru and Panama with an independent analytical and rating committee process. Renzo Barbieri will continue to lead Equilibrium’s operations following the acquisition.

equilibriumThe acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015. Equilibrium’s operations in El Salvador will not be acquired; the other terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“Equilibrium is highly-regarded for the quality of its credit ratings and research and the broad scope of its analytical coverage,” said Raymond McDaniel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s. “This acquisition positions Equilibrium to serve the growing needs of issuers and investors across Latin America while deepening Moody’s presence in this dynamic and expanding market.”
Equilibrium and Moody’s Investors Service have had a technical services agreement since 2007, through which Moody’s has provided Equilibrium with technical support .

USA, New York, NY & Peru

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ITV acquires The Voice creator Talpa Media

March 12, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

itvITV plc is acquiring Talpa Media B.V., the entertainment show producer behind The Voice. Established by Big Brother creator John de Mol, Talpa is a Netherlands based production and distribution business, focused on developing new formats that attract large audiences and have significant global commercial potential. Over the last six years, Talpa has created 75 shows airing in more than 180 countries, with 16 new formats broadcast last year. 

TalpaITV will pay an initial cash consideration of €500 million (approximately £355 million) with further payments dependent on Talpa’s future performance. The total maximum consideration, including the initial payment, is up to €1.1 billion (approximately £781 million).  This total is contingent on Talpa continuing to deliver significant profit growth over an eight year period as well as John de Mol’s continued commitment to the business during this time.

In the financial year to 31 December 2014, the company generated €233 million revenue from productions, format fees and new revenue sources, delivering €61 million EBITA.  

The transaction will be financed through existing cash resources and new debt facilities, and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2015.

Adam Crozier, Chief Executive of ITV, said: “Great content is at the heart of ITV’s growth strategy and the acquisition of Talpa builds on the success of our international content business and is absolutely in line with our desire to create and own formats that travel.  John de Mol and his team have an incredible track record of doing that consistently over many years and I’m delighted to welcome them to the ITV family. This is a great opportunity for ITV to accelerate its progress in building a global content business of scale.”

UK, London & The Netherlands, Hilversum

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Verisk Analytics to acquire Wood Mackenzie

March 10, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

logo_verisk-t1Data analytics provider Verisk Analytics is acquiring Wood Mackenzie from private equity firm Hellman & Friedman and other Wood Mackenzie shareholders. Wood Mackenzie provides data analytics and commercial intelligence for the energy, chemicals, metals and mining verticals.

The purchase price is £1.850 billion (approximately $2.8 billion) to be paid in cash. Verisk intends to finance the transaction through a combination of about $2 billion in debt and up to $800 million in equity.

For the year ended December 31, 2014, Wood Mackenzie’s revenue and EBITDA were £2woodmac_logo27 million and £107 million, respectively, representing an EBITDA margin of 47.1%. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2015. Stephen Halliday, Wood Mackenzie’s CEO, will continue to lead the business, reporting to Verisk president and CEO, Scott Stephenson.

In July 2012 Fusion DigiNet reported that private equity group Hellman & Friedman had taken a 63% stake in Wood Mackenzie in a deal that valued Wood Mackenzie at £1.1 billion pounds (approximately $1.7 billion). Vendor Charterhouse retained a 13 percent interest. Wood Mackenzie’s management and staff held a 24 percent interest.

Based in Edinburgh, Wood Mackenzie’s customer base includes 800+ international and national energy and metals companies, financial institutions, and governments. Wood Mackenzie works with strategy and policy makers, business development executives, market analysts, corporate finance professionals, risk teams, and investors. The company has approximately 1,000 employees worldwide with offices in Edinburgh, Dubai, Houston, London, Singapore, and Sydney.

“Wood Mackenzie is a world-class company and an excellent addition to the Verisk family,” said Scott Stephenson, president and chief executive officer of Verisk Analytics. “The company has significant opportunities in the global energy, chemicals, metals and mining verticals, a track record of consistent revenue growth and profitability, distinctive and mission-critical solutions, and an impressive management team. Those are all features of a unique and wonderful business.”

USA, Jersey City, NJ and UK, Edinburgh

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WPP to acquire minority stake in FlowNetwork in Sweden

March 10, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

wppWPP is to acquire a minority stake in FlowNetwork, a Swedish broadcast content provider. FlowNetwork delivers its programmes via the internet and supplies Sweden’s regional newspapers with technology and content.

Newspapers served by FlowNetwork include Norrköpings tidningar, Folkbladet, Motala Vadstena Tidning, Norrländska Socialdemokraten, Östgöta Correspondenten, Norrbottens-Kuriren, Västervik-Tidningen, Hela Gotland and UNT. FlowNetwork is co-producer of the new Swedish drama series “Gåsmamman”.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

UK, London & Sweden

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Evolve Media acquires Total Beauty Media Group

March 5, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

evolve mediaEvolve Media LLC has acquired Total Beauty Media Group, owner of TotalBeauty.com. The term of the deal were not disclosed.

This is the third acquisition for Evolve Media in the last five months, having recently acquired Dogtime Media and AfterEllen.com (formerly of Viacom).

total beautyFounded in 2007, TotalBeauty.com has 3.5 million monthly users (comScore, January 2015). It features daily editorial coverage of beauty news and trends, along with thousands of user-generated reviews, spanning more than 55,000 products that include well-known prestige, mass-market, salon, and spa items. The acquisition of Total Beauty Media Group also includes BeautyRiot.com, a website that offers celebrity hairstyle how-tos and tips from top hairstylists, fashion stylists, and makeup artists.

 

TotalBeauty.com will eventually be housed under the comScore property, TotallyHer – Beauty & Style Portfolio. In addition, Total Beauty personnel will join Evolve Media’s staff in the Los Angeles and New York offices.

“The acquisition of Total Beauty Media is another important milestone for Evolve Media and reaffirms our commitment to consolidate the most influential lifestyle publishing brands online. The Total Beauty team has done a fantastic job of building the most comprehensive and authoritative beauty site on the web,” said Aaron Broder, CEO and Co-Founder of Evolve Media.”

USA, Los Angeles, CA

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Multimedia Platforms acquires FunMaps

March 4, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Multimedia Platforms Inc. has acquired Columbia FunMap, Inc., a 33-year-old LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) travel and leisure publishing company, delivering local and regional maps, information and advertising to more than forty key North American cities. Since the January signing of the letter of intent to acquire FunMaps, MMP has begun the process of integrating FunMaps’ content, sales program and staff contributions into the structure and operations of MMP’s programs. MMP is filing an updated 8K this week.

“FunMaps was our first acquisition target after going public because we believe it brings key components to the company,” stated Bobby Blair, CEO of MMP. “Through FunMaps we have inherited an expanded market for our content-rich Agenda newspaper, with its world-renown writers and globally-relevant content, plus the existing FunMaps print publication, with a readership of over five (5) million per year, thousands of vendors and advertisers in established markets throughout United States and Canada. FunMaps’ robust online directory/city guide, Gayosphere.com, features largely in our new social media network — launching in 2015,” added Blair.

FunMaps’ award-winning publisher, Alan H. Beck, will remain with the company for a period of at least three years, and will provide leadership and liason for MMP with his established market. As an integrated part of MMP, FunMaps’ established distribution territory, to popular destinations including Atlanta, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Toronto, Vancouver, BC, Victoria, BC, Halifax, NS, Quebec City, QC, Ottawa, ON, Edmonton, AL, Calgary, AL, and Washington, DC, become part of the Multimedia Platforms market footprint.

With the integration of FunMaps completed, Multimedia Platforms Inc. plans to acquire further LGBT media companies

USA, Fort Lauderdale, FL & Maplewood, NJ

 

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Haymarket Media acquires Group DCA

March 3, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

haymarket_groupHaymarket Media, Inc. has acquired Group DCA—an interactive digital communications agency specialising in multi-channel engagement of health care providers—from PDI Inc. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Group DCA staff will relocate from Parsippany, NJ to Haymarket’s Paramus, NJ office.

The assets acquired include Group DCA’s proprietary DIAGRAM (DIAlog, GRAphics and Motion) Platform and The Medical Bag, a general interest website for health care professionals (www.themedicalbag.com), along with the staff to support the business. The website will continue to run as an independent platform that also supports e-detailing programs.

Ron Scalici, the first Group DCA employee to join the organization in 1999 and most recently Chief Innovations Officer at PDI, will oversee Group DCA’s day-to-day operations. Group DCA will operate within Haymarket’s custom medical communications division, PRI Healthcare Solutions (PRI HCS). Group DCA will retain its name, and its operations and services will remain intact.

“Adding Group DCA to our already robust digital offerings will position us strategically for continued leadership in health care communication,” said Haymarket CEO Lee Maniscalco. “Group DCA’s products naturally complement our own digital products and services, and our cultures of high-energy creativity and innovation are highly compatible and mutually reinforcing. It is a perfect strategic and cultural fit, one that will help to accelerate our growth.”

USA, New York

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Bauer Media buys Beautyheaven Group

February 26, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

bauer mediaBauer Media has acquired the Beautyheaven Group which comprises of Beautydirectory, BeautyHeaven and the recently launched Homeheaven. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

David Goodchild, CEO of Bauer Media Australia and NZ, said: “The acquisition of this market leading online business supports our strategy to be the No. 1 digital destination for Australian women. With Bauer Media already No.1 in print we see many opportunities to leverage our existing assets, experience and resources to add considerable value and scale to these growing digital businesses. The beautydirectory, beautyheaven and homeheaven teams have created highly impressive products and I look forward to working with them to take the business even further.

beauty heavenThe Beautyheaven Group’s web, mobile and social media platforms host product information, industry news, reviews, expert tips and advice, shopping directories, advertising and sampling opportunities.

The Beautyheaven Group will continue to operate as is, with founder Jackie Maxted reporting directly to Goodchild.

The beautyheaven Group was founded by former Public Relations agency owner Jackie Maxted in 1999.

Australia, Sydney

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Ebiquity acquires Media Value 

February 26, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

ebiquityEbiquity plc has acquired Media Value SL in Spain.  MV has operated as Ebiquity’s franchise partner for media auditing in the Iberian market since approximately 2008 and has been operating under the Ebiquity name.

MV is being acquired for an initial cash consideration of €743,000. The maximum total consideration is up to €6m, payable in cash, depending on the performance of the MV business in the three financial years ending 30 April 2016. 

MV is being acquired from shareholders including its co-founder Mauricio Barange. Following completion of the Acquisition, Mr Barange will remain as Chief Executive of MV. 

MV comprises two divisions. The first is an independent media auditing and benchmarking business.  This business will be included in Ebiquity’s Media Value Measurement division. MV’s second business comprises an ROI/effectiveness practice, which will be included in Ebiquity’s Marketing Performance Optimization division. MV has offices in Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon. 

MV’s unaudited revenue for the year ended 30 April 2014 was approximately €2.3m and it generated an operating profit before highlighted items of approximately €0.3m. MV had unaudited net assets of approximately €0.5m at 30 April 2014 and employs 32 people. 

Michael Greenlees, Chief Executive Officer of Ebiquity, said, “I am delighted that Mauricio Barange and his colleagues have now formally joined our growing business. MV has been operating under the Ebiquity name for some time and has played an important part in the European development of the Ebiquity group. The Iberian business has performed well and this acquisition marks another step in the development of Ebiquity’s leading position in marketing and media data analytics across Europe.“

UK, London & Spain, Madrid

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