Northstar Travel Media acquires digital publishing firm Your Travel Insider

June 18, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

NorthStar Your Travel InsiderNorthstar Travel Media, a business-to-business information company serving the travel and meetings industries and a portfolio company of Wicks Group, has acquired Your Travel Insider, a digital publishing firm focused on the consumer travel market. The  terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded by by Roy Weiss in 2003, Your Travel Insider publishes e-newsletters Your Travel Insider, Luxury Cruise News and Your Travel Insider – Travel Tools. Weiss becomes Group Publisher of Your Travel Insider with the acquisition by Northstar.

Your Travel Insider and Roy Weiss will report to Bob Sullivan, Executive VP, of Northstar Travel Media, LLC.

“The addition of Your Travel Insider provides Northstar with significant position in the consumer travel database market to complement our leadership in the travel trade industry,” said Thomas Kemp, chairman and CEO of Northstar Travel Media. “We’re very pleased that Roy and his talented team will be working in partnership with us to grow Your Travel Insider’s subscriber base, expand its digital footprint and continue to work with their base of blue-chip clients.”

USA, Secaucus, NJ

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Bauer Media announces full ownership of OK! Magazine in Australia and New Zealand

June 16, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

bauer mediaBauer Media has acquired the remaining 50% of the weekly title, OK!, from its joint venture partner, Northern and Shell.

As well as buying out the second half of OK! Australia, Bauer Media will now own 100% of the OK! magazine brand in Australia and New Zealand.

Matthew Stanton, Bauer Media CEO, said, “This investment in OK!, in Australia and New Zealand, once again demonstrates our commitment to the market and the long-term viability of this popular global brand. OK! is a key brand in our publishing portfolio and we look forward to taking the title to the next level, with further investment in a number of publishing initiatives across multi-platforms.”

Paul Ashford, Group Editorial Director Northern and Shell, said, “We are happy to have concluded an agreement that will allow Bauer northern & shellMedia to take OK! magazine forward in Australia where they now have a strong local operation, and we thank everyone who has worked to create OK!’s amazing Australian success story as part of the worldwide OK! family (currently reaching over 23 million readers across the globe).”

OK! was launched in Australia by Northern and Shell in 2004 with 50% of the title acquired by Bauer Media in 2007. The magazine’s circulation has fallen from 140,000 in 2007 to 90,000 in December 2012.

Two years ago Northern & Shell sold the US edition of OK! to American Media. Northern & Shell continues to own the UK edition of OK!

UK, London & Australia, Sydney

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Gannett to acquire television company Belo

June 13, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

gannettInternational media business Gannett is to acquire television company Belo in a deal that nearly doubles Gannett’s broadcast portfolio.

Gannett will acquire all outstanding shares of Belo for $13.75 per share in cash, or approximately $1.5 billion, plus the assumption of belo$715 million in existing debt for an enterprise value of approximately $2.2 billion. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, represents a 28.1 percent premium to the closing price of Belo common stock on June 12, 2013.

Belo Corp. owns and operates 20 television stations and their associated websites.  Belo stations, which include affiliations with ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and the CW, reach more than 14 percent of U.S. television households.

The Company anticipates that the transaction will generate approximately $175 million in annual run-rate synergies within three years after closing.  The transaction valuation implies a 9.4x average 2011/2012 EBITDA multiple prior to synergies, and a 5.4x multiple assuming expected synergies.

Gracia Martore, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gannett, said, “We are thrilled to bring together two highly respected media companies with rich histories of award-winning journalism, operational excellence and strong brand leadership.  We have been successfully transforming Gannett into a diversified multi-media company with broadcast, digital and publishing components across high-growth markets nationwide, and this is another important step in the process.  It will significantly improve our cash flow and financial strength, enabling us to quickly pay down debt while remaining committed to disciplined capital allocation.  By enhancing our portfolio with one of the largest, most geographically diverse and network-balanced TV station groups in the country, the new Gannett will be well positioned to lead innovation, bolster our existing growth initiatives and take advantage of new opportunities in the emerging digital media landscape.”

USA, McLean, VA & Dallas, TX

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IHS to acquire global automotive information business R.L. Polk & Co. for $1.4BN

June 9, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

ihs_logo_mpIHS is to acquire R.L. Polk & Co., a provider of automotive information and analytics solutions for $1.4 billion. 90% cash and 10% equity. The stock issuance has a 2-year lock up. 50% of shares can be sold after year one and 100% of shares can be sold after year two

R.L. Polk is headquartered in Detroit and has $400 million of current annual revenue, 75% recurring revenue with 90%-plus renewal polkrates. 60% of its revenues come from the CARFAX brand and 40% from the Polk Division.

The company is principally focused in North America, with 9% of sales in EMEA and 3% in APAC. It has an adjusted EBITDA margin in mid-20 percent range.

USA, Englewood, CO & Detroit, MI

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ICIS acquires carbon market analytics specialist Tschach Solutions GmbH

June 7, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

icisICIS, a global provider of energy market information and a division of Reed Business Information, is to acquire Tschach Solutions GmbH, a specialist carbon market analytics company based in Karlsruhe, Germany. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Tschach

Tschach Solutions, founded in 2010, offers a comprehensive portfolio of data, information and analytics products for the carbon market.Products include short and long-term price forecasts, which combine analysis of market fundamentals, policy and trading behaviour in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the global Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).  Tschach Solutions produces a range of data, delivered through online, written report and consulting propositions.

“Tschach Solutions is a fast growing business whose approach to market analysis has proved highly effective. This acquisition increases ICIS capability in short and long-term energy market analysis,” said Christopher Flook, Managing Director of ICIS. “Our collective capabilities will provide customers with unique insights”.

Dr Ingo Tschach, Managing Director of Tschach Solutions added that “ICIS’ strong position across the energy information market, coupled with its extensive sales and marketing capability, provides the opportunity to accelerate our plans for future growth. As part of ICIS, we are better positioned to capitalise on the increasing need for carbon market data and analysis”.

UK, Sutton, Surrey & Germany, Karlsruhe

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Reed Elsevier sells RBI France

June 5, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

Reed Elsevier

Reed Elsevier has sold Reed Business Information France to funds belonging to  Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners (via the Winch Capital 2 fund), BNP Paribas Développement and several managers of the company. The funds bought a 75 percent stake of RBI France, while the remaining 25 percent was purchased by managers Jean-Pierre Seguret and Alexandre Sidommo. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but is being reported that RBI France was sold for around £40 million.

Reed Business Information France provides professional information and services. Sales in 2012 amounted to EUR 62.4m and the rbigroup has 476 employees in France, Spain and Tunisia. Its main activities include a business intelligence platform which manages tenders (DoubleTrade), some of Reed Elevier’s last consumer magazines including CosmétiqueMag and Coiffure de Paris, guides and soft cover books (Prat Editions, ESF éditeur), an occupational training company (Comundi) and a lead generation company (emedia).

The deal also includes the transfer of the Reed Elsevier group’s Spanish tender management companies Manivest and Construdatos to RBI France.

RBI France is the latest disposal by Reed Elsevier as it moves away from cyclical markets  and focuses on electronic data services and research businesses.

Alexandre Sidommo, head of the Business Intelligence division DoubleTrade has been appointed chairman of Reed Business Information France. The Supervisory Board will be chaired by Jean-Pierre Seguret, former chairman of the DDB France group.

The executive team comprises Stéphane Barus, Finance and Administration director, Gianni Cavalcaselle who becomes head of the Business Intelligence division (DoubleTrade France and Spain), Thierry Lescure, head of emedia, Reed Contents, IT systems and Internet Strategy, Rémi Ramondou, head of the Publishing division, Aurélie Sornat, head of Human Resources and Anne Thomas, head of the Press division.

Pierre-Yves Poirier, Partner of Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners said, “We are very proud to assist entrepreneurs looking to boost business growth. We now share the same objective, namely helping RBI France to seize growth opportunities on its markets.”

France, Paris

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Townsquare Media Group acquires music and comic book websites from AOL

June 3, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

townsquareTownsquare Media Group is to acquire AOL Music assets The Boot, The BoomBox and NoiseCreep as well as comic book website ComicsAlliance from AOL Inc. The new digital properties will join Townsquare Media Group’s national digital business, a portfolio of  music and entertainment websites. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“The acquisition of these assets from AOL represents the continued rapid growth of Townsquare Media’s aolportfolio of owned and operated music and entertainment websites,” commented Townsquare Media Group Chairman and CEO, Steven Price. “Adding these premium brands to Townsquare Media’s comprehensive offering propels our scale beyond today’s 52 million US monthly unique visitors, allowing advertisers and agencies even greater access to this highly engaged and demographically desirable audience.”

USA, Greenwich, CN & USA, New York, NY

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CBS Corporation acquired the rest of TV Guide Digital

June 3, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

CBSCBS Corporation has wholly acquired TV Guide Digital, which includes the  TVGuide.com and TV Guide Mobile properties. In March Fusion DigiNet reported that CBS took over the TV Guide stake held by One Equity Partners, the private-equity arm of J.P. Morgan Chase, which owned 49% of the company, with the option to buy another 1%. CBS was said to be paying about $100 million for the 49% stake.

Under the terms of the new deal, CBS Corporation has acquired the remaining 50 percent stake in TV Guide Digital shares from tvguide_logo_tatLionsgate. CBS and Lionsgate’s 50/50 partnership for the highly distributed TVGN cable network, announced on March 26, will continue.

TVGuide.com and the TV Guide Mobile apps will become part of CBS Interactive’s Technology, Games and Lifestyle group.

“TV Guide is one of the most-enduring and iconic brands in the world of television and video, and we’re proud to welcome TV Guide Digital to the CBS Interactive family,” said Jim Lanzone , President of CBS Interactive. “TVGuide.com and TV Guide Mobile have the biggest and most-engaged audiences in the valuable TV information category, making them a perfect fit for our portfolio of premium content brands.”

USA, Los Angeles, CA & San Francisco, CA

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Mecom Group sells Danish free sheets to Sjællandske Medier

May 28, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

sn_logoSjællandske Medier has acquired three local free weekly titles (Freesheets) from Berlingske Media, the Danish subsidiary of  Mecom Group for a cash price of DKK 37.5 million (€5.0 million), payable in full at completion.

The Freesheets comprise three weekly publications and two media houses, which together contributed €0.9 million mecomto Mecom’s profit before tax in 2012, excluding central overhead allocations. The Sale will be a transfer of the trade and assets of these operations, and will result in the deconsolidation of approximately €2.6 million of assets from Mecom Group’s balance sheet.

Berlingske Media has also agreed to acquire the outstanding 25 per cent minority interest in a printing company subsidiary of Mecom, for DKK 6.5 million (€0.9 million).

The sale is expected to complete on 1st June 2013.

Denmark, Copenhagen

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LexisNexis acquires Sheshunoff and A.S. Pratt

May 23, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

logo-lexisnexisLexisNexis Legal & Professional, a  provider of content and technology solutions (and part of Reed Elsevier), together with Reed Elsevier Properties SA, has acquired the  publishing brands and businesses of Sheshunoff and A.S. Pratt from the Thompson Media Group. Financial details of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Widely known for its “how to” guides for compliance professionals, the Sheshunoff collection of publications includes more than 100 sheshunofftitles offering expert information critical for the financial services industry with a strong focus on federally regulated banking and credit union lending activities. The A.S. Pratt collection has established itself as the “gold standard” of analytical content for the banking and commercial practice areas and includes 40 industry-leading titles covering key legal and regulatory issues – including respected treatises, journals and newsletters such as the Banking Law Journal, Pratt’s Letter, Brady on Bank Checks, Clark’s The Law of Secured Transactions, and others.

“Sheshunoff and A.S. Pratt are highly valued brands that have built a trusted reputation by featuring some of the country’s most respected and recognized legal authorities,” said Bob Romeo, CEO, Research & Litigation Solutions at LexisNexis. “The addition of this trusted practice area content to our portfolio, and our ability to offer them through multiple channels further cements the status of LexisNexis as a premier provider of holistic banking and compliance information and analytical content.”

Both collections will continue to be offered in print format. Additionally, LexisNexis intends to offer them through digital channels, including as eBooks and online.

Other acquisitions in the past year include Law360 legal news, Knowledge Mosaic securities content and services and Oxford University Press intellectual property titles.

USA, New York, NY

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