TiVo to acquire TRA

July 17, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

TiVo is to acquire TRA, a media marketing and analytics software company whose products help advertisers, agencies and television networks improve advertising targeting, accountability and return on media investment. TRA matches television exposures from 1.5 million TV homes with specific purchase transactions. The new unit will be known as TiVo Research and Analytics.

Tom Rogers, CEO and President of TiVo said, “TV has long been the best medium for advertisers to influence what consumers buy. TRA has proven its platform can determine the effectiveness of TV advertising by connecting the exposure of ads to actual purchases, helping advertisers identify the right audience and get the most out of their ad dollars. TRA has driven a substantial client list of advertisers, agencies and networks with this proposition. With this new level of unique audience insights and analytics, TiVo will be able to provide insights nobody else has in an industry increasingly seeking alternative ways to measure audience behavior accurately while increasing efficiencies in media spending.”

TRA has more than 45 brand clients and 27 network clients including CBS, A&E Television Networks, ION Media, Procter & Gamble, Oscar Mayer and Starcom MediaVest Group, among others.

TiVo will pay approximately $20 million for TRA. TiVo expects the transaction to close this month. TRA’s revenue is on track to increase significantly in 2012.

 

USA, Alviso, CA

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Centaur Media year-end trading statement

July 17, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Centaur Media plc, the business information and events group, has issued a trading statement for the year ended 30 June 2012.

The Group expects to report profits in line with the Board’s expectations with underlying revenues 2% ahead of the prior year and EBITDA margins increased from 14% to 18%.

Trading in the last two months of the year has been in line with expectations. Digital revenues continue to show strong underlying growth rates and now account for 30% of overall revenues compared with 26% last year.  Events revenues also continue to show good underlying growth rates, with Marketing Week Live reporting revenues 23% ahead of last year.

Cash flow in the final two months of the year has been strong with net debt at 30 June lower than anticipated at £7.2m, and with leverage at approximately 0.6 times EBITDA.

Deferred revenues of approximately £11m are 20% ahead of the same period last year.

Geoff Wilmot, Chief Executive, commented, “FY12 has been a significant year of change for Centaur, culminating in the recently completed acquisition of Econsultancy. Our revenue mix has improved significantly, with a notable increase in the proportion of digital revenues. At the same time, we have delivered underlying revenue growth despite difficult trading conditions and have secured a significant improvement in margins. We look forward to building on this performance in FY13 and delivering the full benefits of our recent acquisitions.”

The Group expects to release its full year results on 13 September 2012.

UK, London

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Argus Media acquires DeWitt & Company

July 15, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus Media has acquired DeWitt & Company, a provider of market assessments and business intelligence to the petrochemical industries. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

DeWitt provides valuable and unique intelligence on the global petrochemicals markets. DeWitt’s reports cover global trade and pricing for aromatics, olefins, butadiene, methanol, MTBE, hydrocarbon resins and other petrochemicals. Founded in 1973, DeWitt publishes nearly 200 price references, which are widely used for benchmark pricing and analytical purposes. DeWitt also performs bespoke consulting services and publishes multi-client studies.

Argus Media chairman and chief executive Adrian Binks said: “We are delighted to welcome DeWitt to Argus. DeWitt is a well known and respected brand within the petrochemicals sector and is a natural complement to Argus’ existing strength in crude oil, refined petroleum products and LPG. DeWitt has an excellent reputation for providing intelligent insight and detailed analysis to its impressive range of customers. We look forward to working with DeWitt to develop our combined product offering further.”

DeWitt senior vice president Edgar Acosta said: “We are very pleased to be joining Argus and benefiting from Argus’ international reach and wide product range. We will be able to offer enhanced services to our customers and we will be developing new products together to meet the needs of our combined customer base.”

UK, London and USA, Houston

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Digg sold to Betaworks for just $500K

July 13, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Digg CEO Matt Williams has announced on the company blog that social media pioneer Digg has been sold to Betaworks. Details of the deal were not disclosed. However, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Digg, once valued at more than $160 million dollars, was sold for just $500,000. The reason for the price drop is likely due to Digg’s lack of valuable technology

Digg has raised $45 million in four rounds of venture funding since its formation in 2004. None of dig’s employees are to join Betaworks.

Betaworks founder John Borthwick, who is to be the CEO of the new Digg, said “betaworks has acquired the core assets of Digg. Digg is one of the great internet brands, and it has meant a great deal to millions of users over the years. It was a pioneer in community-driven news. We are turning Digg back into a startup. Low budget, small team, fast cycles.”

USA, New York, NY & San Francisco, CA

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CRISIL acquires Coalition Development

July 10, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., a division of Standard & Poor’s has acquired Coalition Development, a privately-held U.K. analytics company, and its subsidiaries. Coalition provides high-end analytics to leading global investment banks and other financial services firms. Coalition will be part of CRISIL’s Global Research & Analytics business.

“This acquisition reflects our commitment to helping customers succeed in the knowledge economy and also our strategic focus on high-growth businesses,” said Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McGraw-Hill. “CRISIL is a leading provider of research and analytics services to the world’s top financial institutions and corporations. The acquisition of Coalition will expand CRISIL’s presence in the fast-growing high-end analytical space to reach more global customers and markets. CRISIL already operates in research centers located in Argentina, China, India and Poland.”

Coalition provides high-end analytics, mainly to leading global investment banks. The company was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in the U.K. Coalition deploys unique proprietary analytics and algorithms covering market size, revenue dynamics and human capital. Coalition’s analytics provide a clear, actionable picture of the markets and are used by boards, strategy teams and top management at leading investment banks.

Coalition Development Limited were advised by Osborne Clarke. Mike Turner led the transaction assisted by Thomas Colmer and Mathias Loertscher and Prashant Mara and Ranjini Ghose of OC’s India desk.  Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, led by Linda Giunta Michaelson, provided US assistance.

UK, London and India, Mumbai

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A Fusion Deal: Econsultancy sold to Centaur

July 10, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Fusion Corporate Partners are pleased to announce our latest deal, the sale of Econsultancy.com Limited to business information and events group Centaur Media plc.

Econsultancy is a leading digital and events-led information provider to the global digital marketing and e-commerce community in the UK, with a growing presence in the USA, Middle East, Asia and Australia. Econsultancy’s revenues stem from subscriptions, events, training, professional qualifications and media. The company has approximately 110,000 registered users and approximately 5,000 subscribers.

Centaur are paying an initial consideration of £12m in cash, with deferred consideration of up to £38m due in 2016, based on EBITDA performance for the year ending December 2015.

Econsultancy was founded in 1999. In the financial year to 31 December 2011, Econsultancy reported revenues of £6.6m (representing an increase of 50 per cent. on the prior period) and adjusted EBITDA of £1.1m. Econsultancy’s CEO and key executives will remain with the business following the acquisition

The acquisition is a key part of the strategy to transform the Centaur Group into a predominantly digital and events-led business. The deal complements Centaur’s market-leading publications, events and digital services in the marketing, design and creative sectors.

Geoff Wilmot, Centaur Chief Executive, said, “The earnings enhancing acquisition of Econsultancy provides us with an exciting opportunity to acquire a leading information brand in a high growth sector with global potential which fits well with Centaur products including Marketing Week and New Media Age. Econsultancy is highly complementary with Centaur and gives us a prominent position in the rapidly growing digital marketing sector with the opportunity to scale internationally. We see considerable potential for collaborative growth through leveraging our existing position in marketing and the development of high value, paid-for information services.”

Paul Slight, Director at Fusion, said, “We were delighted to work with the team at Econsultancy. The company has become the leading source of independent advice and insight on digital marketing and ecommerce. It will be an excellent fit with Centaur products.”

UK, London

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OTHER FUSION DEALS:

Media and Information

Business Services
Events, Broadcast and Other deals
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dapd acquires Associated Press France

July 7, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

German news agency group dapd media holding AG, via its French subsidiary Sipa News, has taken over the French service of the international news agency Associated Press. After Sipa Press and Diora News, this is the third company dapd has taken over in France. This takeover makes dapd the largest agency partner of Associated Press worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Associated Press, a leading global news agency, entered the French market at the beginning of the 20th century. The firm has existed in its present form since 1945. Associated Press’s French office produces content in English for its worldwide service and also offers a photo and video service.

“With the purchase of Associated Press French Language Service, in the future dapd will be able to offer media and companies the whole range of agency services from one source,” said Michael Cremer, leader of dapd’s Europe expansion team. The takeover is preceded by many years of cooperation between Sipa and Associated Press. Sipa has sold photographic material from the American agency since 2001 in France. Sipa retains the exclusive right of use worldwide of international Associated Press news for francophone countries.

Germany, Berlin & France, Paris

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Progressive Digital Media Group acquires Kable from Guardian News and Media

July 5, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Progressive Digital Media Group has acquired Kable from Guardian News and Media. Kable tracks local government’s technology expenditure plans for suppliers hunting contracts. Kable provides business information, tactical intelligence, research, analysis and consultancy to a number of the UK’s leading blue chip companies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

PDMG said in their announcement that the acquisition “is in line with PDMG’s stated strategy of growing its exposure to subscription-based content revenue streams“

Kable was acquired by Guardian News and Media just five years ago in a deal managed on behalf of the shareholders by Fusion Corporate Partners.

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Hellman & Friedman takes controlling stake in Wood Mac

July 4, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Private equity group Hellman & Friedman is to take a majority stake in energy analysis group Wood Mackenzie in a deal that values the company at £1.1 billion pounds ($1.7 billion). Wood Mac produces research on the oil, gas, metals and power markets

Vendor Charterhouse will retain a 13 percent interest. The sale means Charterhouse has seen its initial investment double in value, having repaid nearly £150m of the £420m debt it used to acquire Wood Mackenzie from Candover for £553m in 2009.

Hellman & Friedman will take a 63 percent stake in the business, while Wood Mackenzie’s management and staff will hold a 24 percent interest in the company.

Wood Mac’s management and staff led by Chief Executive Stephen Halliday will hold a 24 percent equity stake in the company, valued at 132 million pounds under the Hellman deal.

Wood Mac is projected to make EBITDA of 88 million pounds in 2012, rising to 100 million in 2013.

UK, Edinburgh, Scotland

 

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Bloomsbury acquires Applied Visual Arts Publishing

July 3, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Bloomsbury announces has acquired Applied Visual Arts Publishing (“AVA”), publishers for the applied digital arts, from Applied Visual Arts Publishing SA and AVA Publishing (UK) Limited for a total consideration of CHF 2,578,930 (approximately £1,730,000). The consideration will be paid in cash in three equal annual instalments, commencing on the date of completion.

AVA, established in 2001 in Switzerland, with its English language editorial support office in Worthing, publishes between 20 and 30 books per annum for students and professionals in the applied visual arts and had a turnover of £1,820,000 for the year ended 31 December 2011. The books are written by leading academic authorities, and have been adopted by many hundreds of universities, colleges and higher education bodies around the world. AVA has a strong following within the design community.

Following the acquisition, the business will be managed by Kathryn Earle, Bloomsbury’s Head of Visual Arts, as part of Bloomsbury’s Academic & Professional division. Synergies with the recently acquired Fairchild Books list, the Fashion Photography Archive due to be launched in 2013, and the existing Berg and Visual Arts lists are significant.

Nigel Newton, Chief Executive of Bloomsbury commented, “As part of Bloomsbury’s ongoing strategy to build our Academic & Professional division, we are delighted to have acquired the AVA list and the timing could not be better. We already have a very strong presence in visual arts, which has been considerably enhanced by the recent acquisition of Fairchild Books. We are pleased to be able to follow on from the Fairchild Books acquisition so quickly with this acquisition, and to consolidate our textbook publishing in the visual arts. An added bonus is that we will be able to take advantage of new co-edition opportunities.”
Caroline Walmsley, Managing Director of AVA UK, added,

“Bloomsbury is the perfect home for the AVA list. The publishing synergies are significant – from subject matter, to marketing and the sharing of mailing lists, to distribution and representation. We are very excited to be in such a strong position to move the AVA business and to become part of Bloomsbury.”

UK, London & Worthin & Switzerland, Lausanne

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Bloomsbury Publishing acquires Fairchild Books Posted on April 16, 2012

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