Publicis acquires interactive healthcare agency Digital District

December 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Publicis Groupe has acquired Digital District, an interactive healthcare agency. Digital District will be aligned under Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG) and will become part of the global digital communications arm of PHCG. Digital District will maintain its current location in Dusseldorf, Germany, and will continue to be led by General Manager Aleksandar Stojanovic.

Founded in 2002, Digital District focuses on defining and implementing digital communication strategies. The agency offers a fully integrated suite of innovative interactive solutions, including digital branding, content management, e-commerce strategies, social media, web 2.0, and online marketing. Digital District’s clients include AstraZeneca, Siemens, Bellicon, Weleda, and Sara Lee.

The acquisition of Digital District illustrates Publicis Groupe’s commitment to strengthening its digital expertise in healthcare communications. Alain Sarraf, President of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, Europe, “With the ever-increasing focus on providing our clients with dynamic digital experiences, the addition of Digital District strengthens our prowess in this sector. This move allows us to increase our global footprint and create a stronger European digital entity.”

France, Paris & Germany, Dusseldorf

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XING acquires online event management company amiando for upto €5.35 million

December 9, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Xing, the social network for business professionals acquired by Herbert Burda Media last year, is acquiring amiando AG, effective as of January 1, 2011. amiando is a of online event management and ticketing services in Europe with some 100,000 events organised and processed via the platform in 2009. This move puts XING in a position to offer its more than 10 million members integrated business event services ranging from organisation to marketing, billing and execution.

The acquisition price comprises a number of components. At the time of acquisition, XING AG will initially pay approximarely €5.1 million. An additional payment of up to €5.25 million will also be made on March 31, 2013, if various conditions are met. Examples of these conditions include the current management team remaining within the company and the achievement of specific revenue and profit targets.

Stefan Gross-Selbeck, CEO at XING AG, said: “Acquiring amiando gives XING an opportunity to meet its members’ growing need for an integrated, comprehensive event registration and ticketing service. In 2009 alone, our members organized and marketed more than 150,000 events via the XING platform. From now on, we can offer them all of the services they need including efficient registration, ticketing and billing. This in turn allows us to tap into a highly lucrative and market currently experiencing rapid growth.”

Felix Haas, CEO at amiando AG, said: “XING and amiando’s business strategies run in parallel with one another and offer huge synergy effects. This became clear right at the start of the negotiation process, and really caught the attention of the amiando management team. The XING platform’s reach and amiando’s technology and market position go together to make a perfect combination in the business event segment that will provide XING’s members with new, relevant added value. This is of course something the newly forged team intends to build on going forward.”

amiando has a staff of 35, all of whom will retain their jobs. Felix Haas will continue in his position as CEO at amiando. During the negotiation process XING was supported by Altium, while amiando was assisted by Parklane Capital.

Germany, Hamburg & Munich

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IPC MEDIA sells Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering to The Chelsea Magazine Company

December 9, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

As part of the review of IPC Media’s niche and specialist titles, the company today announces the sale of Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering to The Chelsea Magazine Company. The deal marks the completion of the final divestment as part of the IPC Media strategic review, which began in April.

The deal sees The Chelsea Magazine Company acquire the brands – currently published within the IPC Inspire portfolio – with immediate effect. There will be no interruption to the publishing schedule of either title. All staff transfer to Chelsea.

The Chelsea Magazine Company is an independent publishing company run by an experienced team of creative and marketing professionals, with offices in the United Kingdom and North America. The company publishes: Artists & Illustrators, Cruise International, Military Times, Current World Archaeology, First Eleven and Britain, the official magazine of VisitBritain. Chelsea has also recently acquired Yachts & Yachting magazine.

IPC Inspire managing director Paul Williams says: “Chelsea is a passionate independent publisher, and will provide a great new home for both these brands. I’d like to thank the teams at Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering for their hard work and commitment throughout the review and acquisition process. They have done a brilliant job and I wish them all the very best for the future.”

Chelsea managing director Paul Dobson adds: “My team has become well-known over the years for publishing fine quality magazines, from Motorsport to The English Garden. We understand and value specialist titles with a committed readership, and Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering are good examples of magazines that we publish so well. We are delighted to have added them to our rapidly expanding portfolio.”

UK, London

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Russian state-owned media may be put up for sale

December 7, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

 
Shaping the Future of the Newspaper blog is reporting that all newspapers, television channels and radio stations owned by members of the Russian government will be put up for sale. sfnblog quotes presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich, “”Right now, it’s a pointless waste of time. They are to be sold, but the date hasn’t been established yet,”.

The story is based on reports in polit.ru and Trud.ru

Read the full story

Russia

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Synovate to acquire a majority stake in COMCON

December 7, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Synovate, one of the world’s largest market research companies, is acquiring a majority stake in COMCON. Synovate’s existing Russian business and COMCON, Russia’s leading independent market research agency, will combine their capabilities and resources to leverage Synovate’s global reach and establish the leading market research player in Russia.

COMCON, established in 1991, is among the four biggest research companies in Russia with offices in Moscow and St Petersburg. The business, which is currently wholly owned by COMCON management, has significant custom and syndicated research capabilities and a high quality established customer base in a number of key industry sectors, including healthcare, FMCG, financial services and media.

Robert Philpott, Global CEO for Synovate, who announced the deal while in Moscow and welcomed COMCON to Synovate, said: “The acquisition of COMCON will make Synovate the leading market research company in Russia, with increased scale and resources, a wider range of management expertise and a more diverse client base. Our goal for the integrated business is to be number one in the Russian market – the combination of COMCON’s well-established Russian business and Synovate’s existing Russian operation creates that opportunity. Looking ahead, our significantly broader footprint in Russia will enable us to assist domestic clients to expand internationally and to support global clients in gaining access to the Russian market. This transaction therefore consolidates Synovate’s position as a leading market research provider within the Eastern European region.”

Over the coming months, the management, operations and research capabilities of both companies in Russia will be integrated into a single Synovate branded business.

Elena Koneva, General Director and Founder of COMCON, will become Managing Director of the new combined business with immediate effect. Oleg Feldman, founder of COMCON-Pharma, will continue to lead the healthcare business. Koneva has led COMCON since the company was founded in 1991, driving its performance, including through tough economic conditions in recent years. She is known as one of Russia’s most successful leaders in the industry.

Koneva said: “COMCON and Synovate represent a great fit. We have many complementary features, including our staff, services, methodologies and client sectors. This will be an exciting opportunity for us, becoming part of a leading global company and integrating the best of what we already have – great clients, great people and a great culture. We will integrate the business to create an even stronger team and ensuring our people are recognised as our most valuable business resource.”

The current Managing Director of Synovate Russia Panicos Ioannides will assist Koneva in her new role as Managing Director of the combined businesses and in the integration process over the coming months.

Russia, Moscow

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Cinven’s acquisition of Spice plc is complete

December 5, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Cilantro Acquisitions Limited, a company formed at the direction of funds managed and advised by Cinven Limited has acquired Spice PLC.

Fusion DigiNet reported the announcement of The Scheme of Arrangement on 27 September 2010. The Scheme is now Effective.

As part of the terms of the acquisition, non-executive directors, Peter Cawdron, Julie Baddeley, Michael Shallow and Timothy Huddart, have resigned from the Spice Board.

The listing of the Spice Shares on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority, and their admission to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, will be cancelled.

Spice Shareholders will receive 70 pence in cash for each Spice Share, valuing Spice at approximately £251.1 million.

UK, Morley, Leeds

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Axel Springer’s public tender offer for all outstanding shares of SeLoger.com has been cleared

November 30, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The French Securities Regulator (Autorité des marchés financiers or AMF) has cleared the offer of Axel Springer for all outstanding shares of SeLoger.com, the leading French property classifieds portal. Axel Springer offers all shareholders of SeLoger.com EUR 34.00 per share in cash, valuing the company at a total of EUR 566 million.

The AMF will set the timetable for the public tender offer shortly. With the approval of the transaction by the French Competition Authority on November 3, 2010, the offer has become unconditional. 

Ralph BüchiRalph Büchi, President Axel Springer International at Axel Springer AG: “Now the decision is solely up to the shareholders of SeLoger.com. They have the opportunity to sell their shares at a price of EUR 34.00 per share and realize an attractive cash consideration.”

Büchi added: “We continue to believe that we can be a valuable shareholder for SeLoger.com. Axel Springer has considerable digital expertise, a reach throughout all major European markets and strong financial capabilities. We will therefore be able to support SeLoger.com in its further development both in France and abroad, in case the management team of the company should decide to pursue a strategy of internationalization.”

Axel Springer already holds a 12.4 percent stake in SeLoger.com acquired from a group of shareholders, including the founders Amal Amar and Denys Chalumeau as well as other members of the supervisory board and the management board.

Germany, Berlin and France, Paris

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Yandex considering a £1bn listing in London

November 30, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Quoting City sources, thisismoney.co.uk is reporting that Russia’s largest internet firm Yandex is considering a £1bn listing in London early next year. Yandex is likely to choose London for its flotation but is also considering Nasdaq.

Fusion DigiNet reported that Russia’s second largest internet firm Mail.ru Group raised £1bn through a London Stock exchange IPO one month ago.

Russia, Moscow

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Could DMGT sell Northcliffe?

November 28, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Sunday Times is reporting that Daily Mail and General Trust may sell its regional newspaper arm, Northcliffe.

James Ashton writes in the Business section, “The Daily Mail group is preparing to water down staff pension benefits in a move that may ease the path for the sale of its regional newspaper arm.”

UK, London

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BMG Rights Management is acquiring Chrysalis for £107M

November 27, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

BMG Rights Management is acquiring independent music publisher Chrysalis. Chrysalis shareholders will receive 160 pence in cash for each Chrysalis Share held. The Acquisition values Chrysalis at approximately £107.4 million.

Hartwig Masuch, the CEO of BMG, said: “We believe that our offer represents compelling value for Chrysalis’ shareholders as evidenced by the strong endorsement BMG has received from Chrysalis’ Board and its major shareholders. The acquisition of Chrysalis represents an important step forward in our strategy as we build a major, global music rights business. Chrysalis’ extensive and high quality catalogue represents an excellent fit with our existing business. Our strategy is to provide state-of-the-art, comprehensive and transparent management of music rights and the operational excellence of Chrysalis reinforces this commitment. BMG looks forward to working with Chrysalis to build on its success to date for the benefit of all stakeholders.”

Chris Wright, Chairman and Co-Founder of Chrysalis, said: “Today’s deal marks the end of one era and the start of another for Chrysalis, a company which has been at the heart of the music industry since I founded it jointly with my original partner, Terry Ellis, more than four decades ago. Our continued progress – evolving from management, recorded music, television and radio to focus on music publishing – has been clearly recognised by BMG. As we embark together on the next chapter of the Chrysalis story, I am proud of both our track record and our future prospects in an industry in which we have both innovated and pioneered.”

UK, London and Germany, Berlin

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