All3Media acquires Optomen Television, producer of The F Word

August 29, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Optomen, one of the UK’s top factual TV producers, has been acquired by independent television production group, All3Media.

Optomen’s joint venture with superchef Gordon Ramsay, One Potato Two Potato, also joins All3Media as does Optomen’s New York based company Optomen Productions Inc. All three companies will be wholly owned by All3Media.

Over more than a decade, Optomen has been responsible for launching the TV careers of household names including Clarissa Dickson Wright and Jennifer Paterson (Two Fat Ladies), Jamie Oliver (The Naked Chef), Gordon Ramsay (Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares) and Mary Portas (Mary Queen of Shops). Other recent hits include Heston’s Feast, Great British Menu and Market Kitchen as well as Police, Camera, Action! which has been running for 15 years on ITV. These series are distributed globally by Optomen International.

The sale of One Potato Two Potato after two years of trading is a coup for Gordon Ramsay, who in recent years has taken a keen interest in the business of television in addition to fronting an unprecedented five network TV series on both sides of the Atlantic. These include the upcoming Gordon Ramsay’s Best Restaurant on Channel 4 in the UK and Optomen’s original format, Kitchen Nightmares, alongside Hell’s Kitchen and Masterchef for Fox in the US.

Since its launch in 2002, Manhattan based Optomen Productions Inc has also produced a wide-range of factual programming for U.S. networks. The company has enjoyed continued growth and is currently in production on shows for Animal Planet, Discovery, Travel Channel and Food Network. Recent hits include Worst Cooks in America and Monsters Inside Me.

Pat Llewellyn, Managing Director of Optomen said: “The television landscape has changed dramatically and now feels like the right time to benefit from the scale and experience of All3Media. The support they’ll give us on the business side will allow us to spend more time doing what we love most, working with the best talent to make fantastic programmes that people want to watch.”

Gordon Ramsay joined her in saying: “I’m very happy to be joining All3Media and look forward to growing One Potato Two Potato in the UK and in America. Twenty years of working in kitchens has taught me that success is always a team effort, and with the help of the team at All3Media I’m confident we can take things to the next level and soon reach three potato, four potato and more.”

Steve Morrison, Chief Executive of All3Media said: “Pat Llewellyn and her team have done a wonderful job with Optomen producing long running, award winning and genre defining TV series one after another. They are a jewel in the UK’s TV crown and have a distinguished record in discovering new on screen talent and developing shows that get the best out of that talent. And with One Potato Two Potato they have created a brilliant vehicle to make the most out of the unstoppable force of nature that is Gordon Ramsay. We look forward to helping Optomen and One Potato Two Potato grow in Britain, America and around the world. We welcome them to the All3Media family.”

UK, London & USA, New York, NY

Posted in Broadcasting, Content Media, ~Europe, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Nokia to acquire Motally

August 21, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

 

Nokia has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Motally Inc., a privately-held US-based company. Motally’s mobile analytics service offers in-application tracking and reporting, and is designed to enable developers and publishers to optimize the development of their mobile applications through increased understanding of how users engage. The service offering is planned to be adapted for Qt, Symbian, Meego and Java developers, and Nokia plans to continue serving Motally’s existing customer base.

“The acquisition underpins Nokia’s drive to deliver in-application and mobile web browsing analytics to Ovi’s growing, global eco-system of developers and publishers, enabling partners to better connect with their customers and optimize and monetize their offering”,  said Marco Argenti, Vice President, Media, Nokia.

Motally currently employs a team of eight people.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close during the third quarter of 2010.

Finland, Espoo

Posted in Mobile Apps, ~Europe, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Heightened M&A activity in the Alternative Energy Global

August 19, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

In 2009, the demand for worldwide energy saw its first decline since 1982, according to a new report from IMAP. However, the combined revenue of the three major sources of alternative energy was $144.5 billion, up 15.8 percent from 2008. Government support, including stimulus packages, helped to boost the global capacity for wind by 31 percent, solar by 47 percent and biofuels by 21 percent. Additionally, for the first time in 2009, energy smart technologies such as digital energy applications, power saving appliances and electric vehicles attracted more venture capital and private equity investment than any other renewable energy technology. Although the industry faced the 2009 financial crisis in North America and Europe, its long-term growth fundamentals remain intact.

From the second quarter of 2009 through the second quarter of 2010, the industry saw 391 transactions, valued at $20.4 billion in total transaction value, up 54.8 percent in deal value versus the previous period. Solar and wind accounted for nearly 58 percent of total dollar volume for the period. In terms of country, China saw the highest transaction value of $5.4 billion with a total of 23 transactions during the last 12 months. The U.S. came in second with a transaction value of $2.6 billion from 72 transactions, followed by Spain, the Philippines and India. Among regions, Asia led with a total of 63 transactions, followed by Europe with 183, North America with 110 and the Middle East with 4.

In the future, the growth of energy demand will be largely concentrated in developing economies due to the high demand in these regions. As emerging markets rapidly expand their power generation capacity, IMAP advisers predict they will focus on wind, solar, bio and hydropower.

For more information about the The 2010 Alternative Energy Global Report go to www.imap.com

Posted in B2B Services, Energy & Environmental Services, ~Asia, ~Europe, ~Latin America and Caribbean, ~Middle East & Africa, ~North America, ~Oceana. Leave a Comment »

GMT and VSS sell German cable TV operator PEPcom

August 13, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

GMT Communications Partners (“GMT”) and Veronis Suhler Stevenson (“VSS”), both leading private equity investors in the media and communications sector, have sold PEPcom GmbH (“PEPcom”) to STAR Capital Partners (“STAR”) for an undisclosed sum. PEPcom is Germany’s sixth-largest cable TV operator, with more than 630,000 subscribers of video, broadband and voice services.

Both GMT and VSS were the control investors in PEPcom, holding equal stakes in the company amounting to an 81 percent interest, with the remaining 19 percent in the hands of PEPcom’s senior management and other individual shareholders. Under the terms of the agreement, senior management will roll-over a substantial part of their proceeds into the new investment vehicle controlled by STAR.

Set up as a platform investment designed to consolidate the fragmented German cable TV market, VSS and GMT built PEPcom through organic growth and the completion of 12 bolt-on acquisitions, targeting fully integrated regional networks in small towns where a strong market position existed. These included the 2005 purchase of Kabelfernsehen München ServiCenter GmbH & Co. KG (KMS), a Bavarian cable TV and broadband operator which more than doubled PEPcom’s business.

GMT and VSS provided financial support for PEPcom’s growth, reinvesting in the business to develop PEPcom’s product suite. Today, the company provides HD-ready TV delivery as well as analogue cable and digital pay TV, Internet services and VoIP telephony. PEPcom’s existing network was upgraded, and its own HFC network was built to meet consumer demand for HD-ready infrastructure.  

Jeffrey Montgomery, Managing Partner of GMT commented:
“Against the backdrop of the toughest macro-economic environment in memory, we are delighted with this exit, which will help PEPcom accelerate its plans for future growth.

PEPcom is a great example of the investment opportunities available to investors with strong industry sector experience. Our deep understanding of the fragmented German cable TV market and our experience of the sector gave us the initial vision and subsequent commitment to build a consolidator that is now the sixth-largest operator in the main European market.  We wish the team every success for the future.

PEPcom exemplifies GMT’s ability to identify and make platform investments and to support continuing additional investment, as part of a long-term strategic plan. GMT’s ability to identify a growth market investment opportunity, as well as the managerial talent to drive the business, is rooted in the strength and depth of its industry experience, its pan-European reach and its transaction experience.”

Johannes von Bismarck, Managing Director, and Morgan Callagy, Partner of VSS Europe, commented:
“PEPcom is a classic example of how VSS applies its proven buy-and-build investment strategy to small and mid-sized businesses that are profitable, often times operate in highly fragmented markets, yet can significantly benefit from our know-how and experience in developing them into market leaders through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. We had similar positive outcomes with other investments in the German language markets, including in the newspaper and the directory services sectors.

We are very pleased with this successful outcome – the result of a joint investment with our partners at GMT and PEPcom management, a seasoned leadership team with more than 20 years of experience in the cable TV and broadband industry. Together, we have been able to build an industry-leading high-growth and high-margin role-model for an industry consolidation, combining the deployment of state-of-the-art cable network technology, product development and marketing.

The PEPcom investment illustrates our diversified and regional investment approach in various parts of Europe where we have created value in geographies with different media consumption habits, business models and communication technology advances.”

Legal advice on the transaction was provided by Noerr LLP, Weil Gotshal & Manges, and Baker McKenzie.  Deloitte served as a financial advisor. 

Location: Germany

Posted in Broadcasting, Content Media, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

SKM acquires sustainability, environmental and health and safety consultancy Enviros

August 13, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) has acquired Enviros, a multi-disciplinary sustainability, environmental and health and safety consultancy in the UK.

Enviros has leading capabilities in climate change and renewables, compliance management, health and safety, sustainable development, and waste and resource management. The firm works across many industries in both the public and private sectors.
  
Since 1996 SKM has completed 57 mergers and acquisitions which have been central to the firm’s strategy to grow with its clients and deliver the world’s leading skills locally.

SKM Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Paul Dougas said: “The synergies are powerful and obvious. Our growth continues to be driven by the expansion of our clients’ needs and operations. We remain in a perfect storm of economic, social and environmental challenges. Helping our clients meet those challenges and making the most of the opportunities they represent is part of our DNA.

“The fact is that Europe leads the world in sustainability, climate change and environment, and Enviros is a leading firm in this space. This expands our strategic consulting capability which we already export globally through our virtual teaming approach and many centres of excellence.”

Peter Portlock, Enviros Managing Director said: “I am delighted that Enviros has joined the SKM Group. Business needs and cultures are perfectly aligned with this transaction. The Enviros mission to ‘help our clients do business today and have the world they want tomorrow’ fits perfectly with SKM’s business, culture and values.”

Recent feedback from SKM clients indicated that almost half think that climate change is a significant short-term risk, with this concern increasing to seven in ten when a 10 year time frame is considered. This acquisition is an immediate response to client need and expands SKM’s capabilities, with Enviros people bringing great skills in sustainable development, climate change and strategic consulting generally, and bolstering the firm’s European presence.

More about Sinclair Knight Merz: SKM is a leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm, founded in 1964. Its purpose is to deliver a positive and enduring impact on the world. With 6,500 people in offices across Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia, it serves clients in the Buildings & Infrastructure, Power & Energy, Mining & Metals and Water & Environment sectors. SKM has been operating in the UK since 1997 and employs 350 people across eight offices in the UK and Middle East. Website: www.skmconsulting.com

Location, UK, London

Posted in B2B Services, Consultancy, Energy & Environmental Services, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Mecom exceeds market expectations

August 13, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Newspaper publisher Mecom beat market expectations to report pre-tax profits of €29.5m (£24.6m) in the first six months of the year. Highlights from Interim Results Statement are below:

  • Adjusted EBITDA of €70.1 million (2009: €47.4m) up 48%
  • Circulation revenue of €280 million (2009: €275.1m) up 2 per cent
  • Advertising revenue of €334.7 (2009: €346.5m) down 3 per cent
  • Operating costs of €638.2 (2009: 677.4) reduced by 6 per cent
  • Adjusted earnings per share of 14.8 euro cents (2009: loss of 71.5 euro cents)
  • Net debt of €354.9 million (30th June 2009: €443.8m; 31st December 2009: €373.4m)
  • Gearing (net debt / adjusted EBITDA) reduced to less than 2.5 times
  • Good progress towards achieving 2012 targets set in March 2010

Alasdair Locke, Chairman, said:

‘This set of interim results continues the good progress made in the second half of 2009 and emphasises the stability and security of these businesses.  Given continuing advertising uncertainty, the Group continues to exercise tight cost discipline while the operating model is being transformed to meet the competitive trends in the media sector.’

David Montgomery, Chief Executive, said:

‘The circulation and cost performance in these six months demonstrates the robustness of our business and its assets.  We are especially pleased with the reduced rates of attrition in subscription volumes and the related growth in revenues.  Management and staff continue to focus on extracting new revenues from the wider consumer market, particularly online.’

Location: UK, London

Posted in Content Media, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

BSkyB to sell Easynet Global Services to LDC

August 13, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

BSkyB (Sky) has reached an agreement over the proposed sale of its business-to-business telecommunications operation, Easynet Global Services, to Lloyds Development Capital (LDC).

LDC will pay Sky £100 million for the business on completion of the transaction. LDC, which is fully funded by the Lloyds Banking Group, is backing current Easynet CEO David Rowe and his management team.

Related article

Under the proposal, Sky will retain the UK network assets that it acquired as part of the original acquisition of Easynet Group in 2005. As part of the proposed sale, Sky and LDC will enter into a long-term supply agreement to grant Easynet Global Services continued access to Sky’s fibre network, which continues to support the fast-growing Sky Broadband and Sky Talk services. Easynet will also continue to be a key supplier to Sky.

Andrew Griffith, Sky’s Chief Financial Officer, said: “The acquisition of Easynet was central to the early success of Sky Broadband and Sky Talk. Whilst retaining the UK network assets to support the continued growth of our residential customers, we propose to exit the B2B segment with the sale of the business to a credible team and on attractive terms.”

Peter Brooks, Managing Director, LDC London , adds: “Easynet is a great example of LDC’s approach to TMT investments. Leveraging our sector knowledge and deliverability as an investor, we seek to back best-in-class management teams. Easynet provides innovative services to multinational clients across the attractive data networking and managed hosting sectors. Management consistently deliver industry leading levels of service whilst generating strong financial returns. We look forward to supporting David and his team as Easynet begins its next phase of development.”

UK, London

Posted in Broadcasting, Content Media, Internet Media, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC acquires Arete Consulting

August 13, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC (“Euromoney”), the international publishing, events and electronic information group, isd to acquire Arete Consulting Limited (“Arete”), the leading database of retail structured investment  products. The acquisition is in line with Euromoney’s strategy of investing in high-growth online subscription data businesses. This is Euromoney’s first sizeable acquisition since the purchases of Metal Bulletin and Total Derivatives in October 2006.

Arete is the definitive global data and news source covering structured retail products. The business was founded in 2001 by its managing director and principal shareholder, Robert Benson, formerly Global Head of Structured Products at HSBC. Arete’s proprietary Structured Retail Products database – www.StructuredRetailProducts.com – contains information on over 1.3 million products with significant derivative features from 33 countries, dating back nearly 20 years. Product information is given in both English and the original language, with source documentation provided in addition to data analysis. Its customers are in 52 countries, including emerging markets, and are mostly investment banks, issuers of structured retail products, regulators and financial indices. The business has operations in London, New York and Hong Kong and a full-time staff of 37.

Euromoney has acquired a 100% interest in Arete. The final price is dependent on Arete’s audited profits for its financial year to 28 February 2011. The acquisition will be financed from Euromoney’s existing borrowing facility.  Arete has gross assets of £1.1 million (derived from its audited accounts to 28 February 2010) and net liabilities of £183,000.

“We are delighted to acquire Arete and to receive the continuing support of Robert Benson and his excellent teams in London, New York and Hong Kong,” said Padraic Fallon, Chairman of Euromoney.  “We look forward to helping this high-quality subscription data business to grow and to develop additional sources of revenue. This acquisition fits our strategy perfectly.”

Robert Benson, who will stay with the business, until at least the end of June 2011, said: “We are excited about becoming part of the Euromoney Institutional Investor group. Working with Euromoney will enable us accelerate our geographical coverage and develop new products to deliver a significantly enhanced service to our subscribers.”

Location: UK, London

Related article

Posted in Content Media, Market Data & Information, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Tiger Global Management acquires 50% stake of Wikimart

August 13, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Quintura reports that private equity firm Tiger Global Management has invested $5 million in exchange for a 50% stake in Russian online mall Wikimart. the article refers to a report in Russian language newspaper Vedomosti. 

Location: Russia, Moscow

Posted in Content Media, e-Commerce, Internet Media, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Faversham House acquires Utility Week from RBI

August 13, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Faversham House, the Croydon-based media company, has acquired the Utility Week portfolio from Reed Business Information (RBI).

Utility Week provides news, analysis and comment on Britain’s major electricity, gas and water utilities. The acquisition includes the Utility Week website www.utilityweek.com, the Utility Week Achievement Awards (6 December 2010) and the Utility Week Debt Conference (2 November 2010).

Faversham House Chief Executive Amanda Barnes, said: “We were delighted when RBI responded positively to our approach to acquire the Utility Week portfolio. We are extremely pleased to welcome the Utility Week team into our already successful and extensive portfolio of water, environment and sustainability titles. This acquisition underlines our commitment to grow our position as the premier provider of information into this market. There is considerable synergy with our Sustainabilitylive! exhibitions and with our world-leading edie.net environmental information portal. We look forward to working with the talented Utility Week team to maximise the opportunities this gives us.”

Jane Burgess, Managing Director of RBI said: “I’d like to thank the Utility Week team for their contribution to RBI – they are a talented team with deep experience in their sector and we wish them every success at Faversham House”

The seven-strong team joined Faversham House on Monday 26 July 2010.

How Utility Week reported the news.

Posted in B2B Services, Content Media, Energy & Environmental Services, Internet Media, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »
« Older posts
Newer posts »