Cleantech startup SenseLogix raises £1 million

SenseLogix, a provider of retrofit energy reduction products, has secured a 1M series A investment round led by international venture capital firm, Beringea and regional equity company, North Star Equity Investment Partners. The series A funding round contains a mixture of private and public funding and was completed to accelerate company growth and support new technology developments.

The round also included support from the Welsh Assembly Government, which is directly linked to the creation of new jobs. SenseLogix plans to create more than 12 new jobs over the next 12 months.

Jonathan Luke, SenseLogix’s Chief Executive Officer, says: We are delighted to announce that to build upon recent successes the company has closed a series A investment round to accelerate company growth and support future technology developments. It is exciting times at the company, following our successful launch at SustainabilityLive earlier this year, our recent award win, and our securing a product partnership with Marshall Tufflex for a range of pre-wired, SenseLogix powered cable management solutions.

Luke continued: What is extremely encouraging is that the investment has been completed in difficult economic market conditions, which is a testament to our technology and business model. We have seen strong early stage market traction from both end users and service partners, and we are confident our technology will provide good energy savings to end users and assist our service partners in providing enhanced, low carbon energy services to their clients.

The investment round will see the appointment of Stuart Veale, Managing Partner, Beringea, as a non-executive board member.

UK, Conwy, North Wales

Climate Energy acquires Solutions 4 Energy

According to Private Equity Wire, Carbon reduction agency Climate Energy Holdings has acquired Solutions 4 Energy, a UK-based energy funding and project management provider.

Climate Energy says the acquisition will allow it to create a more robust business in order to weather future changes in funding availability and improve its geographical reach.

Climate Energy managing director Andrew Holmes says: “We are delighted to be purchasing a business which has at its core, a responsibility to reduce carbon emissions. We saw this as an opportunity to further consolidate our position in a very exciting but volatile sector. This acquisition positions our group to deliver a wider range of funding and services and will ensure that our customer base will be rewarded by the increased resources.”

Climate Energy was supported by Climate Change Capital Private Equity in a management buy out in July 2009.

Like Climate Energy, Solutions 4 Energy is an organisation delivering a range of services to engage householders, businesses and communities in environmental and social improvement. Operating nationally across Great Britain, Solutions 4 Energy provides funding and project management services to social housing providers and contractors for the delivery of energy related projects.

Terry Bentley, director of Solutions 4 Energy, says: “Our company has been developing and delivering energy efficiency projects for various initiatives including the current CERT programme. We have assisted with the energy efficiency improvement of thousands of homes in the UK and our funding services have enabled us to locate and deliver the most beneficial funding available to clients. We are very proud of our accomplishments and are delighted to have investment from a company which understands our business and market.”
UK, Essex & Suffolk

Telegraaf Media Group acquires Hyves

Telegraaf Media Group, publisher of Dutch newspaper de Telegraaf, is acquiring Amsterdam based social network Hyves.

The acquisition of Hyves is an important strategic step towards TMG’s stated aim of achieving a larger share of its profits from digital media. Hyves and TMG currently have a joint net monthly internet reach of over 8.5 million Dutch residents of 13 years and older. Furthermore, partnering with TMG’s print and radio brands willoffer new cross-media exploitation opportunities.

Hyves expects revenues of approximately €20 million in 2010 and has a  workforce of around 140. Hyves management team will remain in place.

The Hyves acquisition is funded by TMG from its cash flows and is earnings per share enhancing. The acquisition is currently subject to advice from TMG’s Central Works Council.

The Netherlands, Amsterdam

Omnicom Group’s Diversified Agency Services acquires The Core, a UK design and communications agency

Diversified Agency Services (DAS), a division of Omnicom Group has acquired The Core, an award-winning design and communications agency with offices in Hull, Leeds and London, UK.

The Core will remain an independent brand, but will operate as an aligned agency to DAS’s Hornall Anderson in Seattle, WA.

Founded in 1990 by Creative Director Alastair Whiteley, The Core offers clients a range of services including branding, packaging design, innovation and advertising.

“It has been great to see The Core grow and develop as an agency over the last 20 years,” said Tom Harrison, CEO of DAS. “We have been impressed with their approach to creative development and client service. They are producing innovative work that is adding value to their clients across existing and emerging channels.”

Whiteley, who will continue in his current position, noted, “We are honored to be joining the group – one of the largest and most respected agency networks in the world. Our ambition is to continually improve our business while exploring ways we can mutually benefit from geographic reach, expertise and client base. We will continue to strive to deliver exceptional, relevant work and provide our clients with the high level of personal service they have come to expect.” For more information visit  www.coredesign.co.uk

UK, London & USA, New York, NY

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UBM acquires Lead in Research for £1.45m

United Business Media has acquired Lead in Research (LIR), a boutique sales leads business on behalf of UBM Built Environment from its founder, Mark Hurley. The consideration will be satisfied by an initial cash payment of £1.15 million with a further deferred performance-related consideration of up to £300,000, payable at the end of 2010.

The acquisition of LIR is a complementary addition to UBM Built Environment’s existing Barbour ABI business, facilitating expansion beyond ABI’s construction leads offering into the post-construction lead supply market.

LIR uses planning applications and a wide range of other sources to compile detailed information on relocation, refurbishment and business expansion projects taking place across the UK. LIR’s analysis identifies businesses in likely imminent need of products and services relating to new, relocating and expanding operations. LIR’s subscription-based customers are principally providers of goods and services to commercial properties, with a focus on the furniture, telecoms and recruitment sectors. LIR also provides data to its customers via its website, weekly HTML bulletins and newsletters.

LIR employs five staff and in the financial year to May 2010 generated revenues of £0.4 million. The acquisition is anticipated to exceed UBM’s cost of capital criterion in its first full year of ownership.

Adrian Barrick, CEO of UBM Built Environment, said, “I am very pleased to announce this acquisition, which will enhance our current product offering and complement UBM Built Environment’s existing ABI business. We are pleased to have acquired a high quality product that we can use to respond to our clients’ requests for additional product offerings in post-construction lead supply, as well as helping us to attract new customers. We believe that LIR will provide further synergies – for example, with our Property Week brand – and generate strong revenue growth in the future”.

UK, London & Warwick

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IPC Media sells Railway Magazine to Mortons Media Group

IPC Media has sold The Railway Magazine to Mortons Media Group. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Railway Magazine is renowned for offering a clear and trusted voice for the railway community, covering all aspects of the scene: from steam through to modern rail developments.

The deal sees Mortons acquire the brand – currently published within the IPC Inspire portfolio – with immediate effect. There will be no interruption to the publishing schedule of the title.

Part of the Mortons of Horncastle Limited group, Mortons Media Group is one of the UK’s largest independent publishers, producing a large range of magazine titles in classic and modern motorcycle sectors, scootering, heritage railways, heritage transport, lifestyle and farming.

IPC Inspire managing director Paul Williams says: “With brands like Heritage Railway and Rail Express in its portfolio, Mortons provides an ideal home for The Railway Magazine. The continued commitment and focus of the magazine’s team through IPC’s strategic review is a real credit to their professionalism. I’d like to thank them personally and wish them all the very best for the future.”

Mortons managing director Brian Hill adds: “We are proud to welcome such an historic and authoritative title as The Railway Magazine into the Mortons family. We look forward to working with Nick Pigott and his editorial team to further develop its position as the market leading title in the railway sector.”

Staff transfer to Mortons with immediate effect.

UK, London & Lincolnshire
 

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IPC Media sells Hi-Fi News to MyHobbyStore

As part of the review of IPC Media’s niche and specialist titles, the company has sold Hi-Fi News to MyHobbyStore.

Published since 1956, Hi-Fi News delivers the latest news, analysis and opinions on new technologies, products and formats from hi-fi to home entertainment.

The deal sees MyHobbyStore acquire the brand – currently published within the IPC Inspire portfolio – with immediate effect. There will be no interruption to the publishing schedule of the title.

MyHobbyStore publishes some of the best known specialist hobby magazines in the UK, including titles such as RCM&E, Model Engineer, Model Boats and Good Woodworking. IPC Media announced the sale of Model Collector and Stamp Magazine to MyHobbyStore earlier this month.

IPC Inspire managing director Paul Williams says: “MyHobbyStore, with its passion for hobby brands, is the perfect new home for Hi-Fi News. As Hi-Fi News joins Stamp Magazine and Model Collector at MyHobbyStore I’d like to thank the team for all of their hard work, particularly over the course of the review process and acquisition negotiations. They have done a fantastic job and I wish them all the very best for the future.”

MyHobbyStore CEO Owen Davies adds: “Hi-Fi News is an outstanding magazine written for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. We are delighted to welcome the highly dedicated and experienced team to join our growing number of specialist titles.”

Staff transfer to MyHobbyStore with immediate effect.

UK, London

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Apax to sell Hit Entertainment

According to the Telegraph, private equity firm Apax will put Hit Entertainment – owner of Bob the Builder and Angelina Ballerina – up for sale following interest from US groups including Mattel and Disney. Apax is close to appointing either UBS or Bank of America Merrill Lynch after shortlisting the two banks to manage the sales process. The private equity group hopes to sell the business for as much as $1.5bn (£950m).

UK, London

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Apax Partners target Moneysupermarket

According to the Telegraph, Moneysupermarket has been targeted by private equity group, Apax Partners, as it seeks to combine the price comparison site with its US business, Bankrate.

The Telegraph also reports industry sources as saying that the group could also prove interesting to other private equity groups and trade players such as Google and Barry Diller’s InterActiveCorp: and that other private equity groups have been running the slide rule over it.

UK, London

Mail.ru Group announces price range for initial public offering of $23.70 TO $27.70 per share

As previously reported on Fusion digiNet, Mail.ru Group is seeking an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. They have now announced  the indicative price range for the offering of ordinary shares.

The indicative price range for the Offering has been set at US$23.70 to US$27.70 per GDR.  The indicative price range implies an equity value for the Company of $4.78 billion to $5.63 billion prior to new share issue and $4.86 billion to $5.71 billion post new share issue.
 
The Offering comprises a primary offering of 3.03 million ordinary shares by the Company in the form of GDRs and a sale of 28.59 million ordinary shares by existing shareholders in the form of GDRs.  This will represent a free float, post new share issue, of approximately 16%.  The final number of shares being sold in the Offering will be confirmed prior to admission.
 
The net proceeds to the Company from the primary portion of the Offering will be used to fund, in part, the agreed acquisition of an additional 7.5% equity stake in vKontakte for $112.5 million. After the closing of the Transaction, the Company will own 32.49% of vKontakte. The Company is also purchasing an option to acquire an additional 7.5% equity stake in vKontakte over the next year, which if exercised would bring its stake to 39.99%.
 
The Company has appointed Goldman Sachs International and J.P. Morgan as Joint Global Co-ordinators and, together with Morgan Stanley and VTB Capital, Joint Bookrunners in connection with the Offering. Pacific Crest Securities has been appointed Co-lead Manager in connection with the Offering.

UK, London & Russia, Moscow

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