Aegis Group acquires Qualitè Search Marketing

May 13, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Aegis Group plc, the media communications and market research group, has acquired Qualitè Search Marketing, a performance marketing business based in Norway.

Qualitè, which specialises in search engine marketing and advertising, web analytics and social media, will be merged with iProspect’s existing business in Norway to create the market leader in performance marketing. As at 31 December 2010, Qualitè had gross assets of £0.1m.

Jerry Buhlmann CEO of Aegis Group Plc, said: “Aegis’s acquisition of Qualitè is further evidence of our strategic focus on bolt-on acquisitions which provide scale, infill and innovation. Qualitè’s client list, assets and expertise will complement iProspect’s performance marketing offering in Norway, ensuring the combined business has a market-leading presence there. This will support Aegis Media in providing an integrated service proposition to our clients in that market.”

Magne Uppman, CEO of Qualitè commented: “We are extremely proud to be joining iProspect’s leading digital search and performance network, with a presence in the world’s major digital economies. This transaction provides the opportunity to deliver market-leading solutions to our national and international clients.”

UK, London & Norway, Oslo

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Centaur Media PLC – Interim Management Statement

May 12, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Centaur Media plc, the specialist business publishing and information Group, today issues an interim management statement for the period from 24th February 2011 to date.

Highlights

Advertising

  • In the four months to 30th April 2011, advertising revenues grew 10%, compared to 17% growth in the first six months of the financial year.
  • Growth was led by digital advertising revenues which were 26% ahead in the four months, whilst print advertising grew 4% in the same period. Centaur’s strategy is to increase digital revenues to 50% of advertising revenues.

Events

  • Revenues 4% ahead of last year for the four months to 30th April 2011.
  • Centaur’s largest exhibitions, ran in the period, Business Travel Show and National Homebuilding & Renovating, delivered aggregate 8% revenue growth.

Centaur also plan to expand their share of paid content revenues from last year’s 21% to a third; and to increase their share of revenues derived from international revenues to 25%.

Actual figures were not given as this is the Interim report.

Centaur’s Interim Management Statement

UK, London

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Adconion Media Group raises £21M to support acquisition plans and general operations

May 12, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Adconion Media Group, one of the largest independent global audience and video content network, has secured nearly £21 million in financing from Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the commercial banking division of SVB Financial Group (Nasdaq: SIVB) and financial partner to technology companies worldwide. The newly secured funds will be used to support both acquisition and working capital requirements to continue the global growth of the company.

Commenting on the deal Tyler Moebius, CEO of Adconion, said: “We have benefited from a great partnership with Silicon Valley Bank since early 2010 and we are pleased to have the opportunity to develop this relationship further. It is refreshing to work with a bank that understands how technology companies operate; a bank that is able to offer flexible financing solutions to service our international needs.”

USA, Santa Clara, CA & UK, London

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Publicis Groupe acquires Beijing-based Dreams

May 12, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Publicis Groupe has acquired Dreams Communication, a Chinese agency which serves the healthcare and consumer industries.

Dreams will become part of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG) and will be renamed Publicis Life Brands Dreams. The acquisition extends the PHCG China footprint and marks the network’s second acquisition in the Asia Pacific region this year, following Watermelon in India in March.

Founded in 2003, Dreams employs nearly 50 people and offers advertising and design, digital, medical education, and event planning services to mainly pharmaceutical and healthcare clients. Its clients include Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Xian-Janssen, Beijing FH Land, and the Ministry of Culture of China.

Bin (Simon) Sun will remain at the helm of Dreams and take the title of Managing Director, Publicis Life Brands Dreams, along with Kathy Zhao, who will become General Manager, Publicis Life Brands Dreams.

Nick Colucci, CEO and President of PHCG, said, “Adding Dreams to the PHCG portfolio further advances our key strategy to enhance our presence in emerging markets. We are especially excited to have expanded our offering in China-a market we see with tremendous potential for healthcare communications.” Bin (Simon) Sun, Managing Director of Publicis Life Brands Dreams, added, “I am pleased that Dreams will become part of the Publicis Healthcare Communications Group. This is an important step in our growth strategy. Working alongside PHCG agencies allows us to benefit from the global expertise of the leading healthcare communications network and will allow us to become a leading healthcare agency in China.”

France, Paris & China, Beijing

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Emap faces a massive management overhaul after the resignation of chief executive David Gilbertson.

May 12, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

The Daily Telegraph is reporting that David Gilbertson has resigned as CEO of Emap.

Emap, was bought in 2007 by Eden Bidco Ltd, a joint venture between private equity company Apax and Guardian Media Group. They paid around £1bn. Since then Emap has struggled to meet projections and both investors have been forced to write down the value of the investment

David Gilbertson joined EMAP from Informa in 2008. It is thought he was looking to renegotiate the management award scheme. It maybe that Emap’s top 20 executives have all their equity under water.

Read the full story

UK, London

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Bertelsmann acquires digital media agency Smashing Ideas for Random House

May 10, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Bertelsmann AG has acquired digital media agency Smashing Ideas for its Random House division, the world’s largest English-language trade book publisher. The purchase was announced today by Markus Dohle, , and Stephen Jackson, President and CEO of Smashing Ideas, Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The acquisition adds significantly to the set of Random House capabilities and further signals the intention of Random House and its parent company to be leaders in digital content creation, and demonstrates their commitment to expanding revenues from mobile and interactive online products and services.

Smashing Ideas will continue to operate independently out of their Seattle headquarters, as well as their U.K. office, primarily focusing on its current and future client businesses.

Last September, Random House, Inc. established a partnership with Smashing Ideas to develop first-rate mobile applications for selected titles. The first two apps, developed with the Random House Children’s Books division, Wild About Books and Pat the Bunny, both climbed to #1 in the books category in the Apple App store.

“Bertelsmann, Random House, and Smashing Ideas are a great fit creatively and culturally, as our recently begun partnership has demonstrated to us. We are driven to create value for authors, brands, and clients, and the opportunity to do so together, through broad-based digital development of innovative and interactive engagement with consumers and readers, is enormously appealing to us,” says Markus Dohle, Chairman and CEO of Random House and Member of the Executive Board of Bertelsmann AG. “We intend to provide our new Smashing Ideas colleagues with abundant resources to help them grow as a profit center, as well as a creative force.”

UK, London & USA, Seattle, WA

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Thomson Reuter to sell its Enterprise Risk and Portia businesses

April 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Thomson Reuters is to sell its Enterprise Risk and Portia businesses. Both of these transactions are expected to close in the second half of 2011.

The announcement was made when the company reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Summary of the results:

  • Revenues of $3.2 billion, a 5% increase before currency
  • Underlying operating profit of $556 million, up 1% (8% before one-time charges)
  • Underlying operating profit margin was 17.2% (18.4% before one-time charges)
  • Adjusted earnings per share were $0.39 ($0.42 before one-time charges) vs. $0.36 in first quarter 2010
UK, London & USA, New York, NY

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Publicis Groupe acquires Tailor Made

April 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Publicis Groupe is acquiring Tailor Made, a Brazilian independent advertising agency established by Paulo Giovanni. According to the terms of the agreement, Publicis Groupe immediately acquires a minority stake of the new agency, and has the possibility of increasing its participation to 100% by 2013. The agency will be integrated into Leo Burnett Brazil, which will be renamed Leo Burnett Tailor Made. It will be chaired by Paulo Giovanni, newly named CEO of Leo Burnett Tailor Made.

Leo Burnett Tailor Made will work out of Leo Burnett’s current offices in Sao Paulo, and will provide its clients with the full range of communications services. With 160 communications professionals, the agency will service clients including Fiat, Procter & Gamble, Rossi, Samsung, Walmart / Sam’s Club, Phillip Morris, Camil, Emirates, Chrysler Group and Radio Disney.

Brazil is an important market for Publicis Groupe. Today’s announcement is the third transaction for Publicis Groupe this month in Brazil, following the acquisition of GP7, and the increased participation (60%) in the Talent Group. Publicis Groupe’s 2010 operations in Brazil include the acquisitions of Taterka (minority share) and AG2.

Tom Bernardin said: “Our objectives for Leo Burnett Brazil are bold and aggressive. With our already strong presence in the market and a reputation for creative excellence, the acquisition of Tailor Made, and most importantly the leadership of Paulo Giovanni, we are better positioned than ever to take advantage of the opportunities in this booming market. Paulo is a proven leader and I am delighted to welcome him to the Leo Burnett Worldwide leadership team.”

France, Paris & Brazil, San Paulo

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TechTarget completes acquisition of Computer Weekly from Reed Business Information

April 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Technology media company TechTarget has completed the acquisition of the websites, product offerings, and events associated with Computer Weekly and its sister channel-targeted brand MicroScope from Reed Business Information. The acquisition was first reported on DigiNet last month.

USA, Newton, MA & UK, Sutton, Surrey

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Publicis Groupe to acquire GP7

April 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Publicis Groupe is to acquire GP7, a Sao Paulo-based advertising agency focused on emerging social classes as well as travel and tourism. The agency will be renamed Publicis Red Lion (a unit of Publicis Brazil), and will be aligned with Publicis Worldwide. The CEO of GP7, Joao Fernando Vassao, will become Managing Director of Publicis Red Lion and will henceforth report to Orlando Marques, CEO of Publicis Brazil.

GP7 was established in 2004 and employs 40 communications specialists. The agency offers the full range of advertising and communications services including creative work, corporate communication, strategic planning, media buying and marketing services. Key clients include CVC Turismo (largest tour operator in Latin America), Car System (car satellite monitoring system), Yakult (dairy products), Webjet Linhas Aereas (airline company), GJP Hotels & Resorts, and GJP Participacoes (investment company).

This transaction follows Publicis Groupe’s acquisition of a majority stake in the Talent Group last week, as well as 2010 operations such as acquiring Taterka (minority share) and AG2. Bolstering its presence in Brazil remains a key strategic priority for Publicis Groupe.

Publicis Groupe has nearly 1, 200 employees in Brazil and is present through its global networks Leo Burnett, Publicis Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, VivaKi, and MSLGROUP.

Jean-Yves Naouri, Executive Chairman of Publicis Worldwide, “GP7 is yet another step forward in Publicis Worldwide’s growth strategy in Brazil which is now its third regional market. This acquisition not only bolsters our teams but also broadens the range of services we can offer our clients at local and international levels.”

France, Paris & Brazil, San Paulo

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