kgb Acquires Centroid Media, Netherlands Internet Vertical Search Specialist

kgb has acquired 100 percent of the outstanding shares of Centroid Media, the specialist Internet business best known for the people search engine and online reputation sites, Wieowie in the Netherlands, and Whoozy across other territories. Their Network also includes www.kamer.nl, www.huizenvinder.nl , www.kamerplanet.nl, www.huizenmailer.nl, www.hotelvinder.nl, www.autorunner.nl, www.cuisinio.nl.

Centroid’s real-time data analysis, spidering and data extraction technology is a strong strategic and capability fit within the growing portfolio of online information and transactional services provided by kgb and its subsidiaries.

“We are delighted to be bringing the Centroid Media team within the kgb family of businesses,” said Trevor Saadi, kgb’s Head of Online Business. “This isn’t about acquisition, but the merging of talent in the exciting frontier territory of value living enabled by advanced Internet optimization. Centroid Media is a strong strategic fit and will accelerate our commercial roll-out plans, both in terms of capabilities and territories.”

Bart Kappenburg, Founder and Chief Executive of Centroid Media, added: “I’m very pleased with this great opportunity for our technology to be rolled out internationally. This opens up the scope of delivery for our talented team in a very exciting area of innovation where things are moving quickly. Centroid has already made strong progress to advance search capability in niche-markets, like people, cars and houses. Now, with kgb, everything will expand rapidly.”

Location: USA, New York, NY & Netherlands, Groningen

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EA Technology Ventures has appointed Stuart Thompson as managing director

EA Technology Ventures has appointed Stuart Thompson as managing director. EA technology Ventures is a specialist company which works with businesses and investors from the clean and new energy sector to take innovative ideas to market. It is a subsidiary of the EA Technology Group, which is based in England’s Northwest and has over 40 years’ of research and development in the electricity industry.

Stuart brings together a wealth of experience from the engineering, electricity and telecommunications sectors, and has worked alongside several of the world’s leading solutions providers in the development of high specification telecom and data networks.

In his previous role, as Head of Business Development at EA Technology Consulting, Stuart was instrumental in increasing the revenues of the business by over 100%.

Stuart is on the committees of the Institute of Asset Management and the Institute of Engineering and Technology. He is a Chartered Marketer with an MBA and is also a member of the Institute of Directors.

Location: UK, Chester

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Morningstar Europe acquires the remaining ownership interest in Morningstar Danmark

Morningstar Europe, a subsidiary of Morningstar Inc., a provider of independent investment research, has completed the previously reported acquisition of a 75 percent ownership interest in Morningstar Danmark A/S from Phosphorus A/S, bringing its ownership to 100 percent. Morningstar paid Phosphorus U.S. $15.2 million, or approximately DKK 91 million, plus an amount for its share of first-half 2010 net profits.

Located in Copenhagen, Morningstar Danmark was established in 2001 by Morningstar Europe and Phosphorus, a Danish company. Peter Meyer, chief executive officer, and Torben Bruun, chief operating officer, will continue to lead the company.

Location: USA, Chicago,IL & Denmark, Copenhagen

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Morningstar France acquires Seeds Group, including Seeds Finance and Multiratings

Morningstar France Holding, a subsidiary of Morningstar, Inc., the provider of independent investment research, has completed its previously announced acquisition of Seeds Group, a provider of investment consulting services and fund research in France. Terms were not disclosed.

Seeds Group was founded in 2002 and, through its subsidiary Seeds Finance, provides investment consulting services to pension funds, insurance companies, asset managers, banks, and brokerage firms. In addition to investment consulting, Seeds Group also operates Multiratings.com, a fund research and investment education website for advisor groups and institutions.

Seeds Group and its affiliates have 12 employees based in Paris. The company will become a subsidiary of Morningstar France.

Location: USA, Chicago,IL & France, Paris

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Search engine Yandex is to acquire online map provider GIS Technologies

Accoring to Quintura, (quoting Russian newpaper Vedomosti), leading Russian search engine Yandex is to acquire online map provider GIS Technologies (ГИС Технологии) for several million dollars.

GIS Technologies supplies online city maps for Yandex.Maps (Яндекс.Карты) since 2008.    

Related news – In 2008, Yandex acquired road traffic monitoring service SMIlink.

ISIS invests £4 million in online retailer GettingPersonal.co.uk

ISIS Equity Partners, investing funds from the Baronsmead VCTs, has completed a £4 million investment in GettingPersonal.co.uk Limited, a leading online retailer which sells personalised and unique gifts.

The South Manchester based business was established in November 2005 by John Smith and Giles Harridge with just one product, a personalised calendar. GettingPersonal.co.uk now sells over 4,000 items ranging from personalised cards, notebooks, mugs and chocolate to non-personalised items for general gifting.

GettingPersonal.co.uk sells direct to consumers through its website and in 2009 had six million visitors and recorded sales of £9.6 million.

ISIS will support management to establish GettingPersonal.co.uk as the leading personalised online gifting retailer in a fast growing UK market. In doing this the Company’s focus will continue to be offering customers innovative gift ideas across a huge range of categories.

Commenting on the deal, co-founder and joint managing director, John Smith said: “The business has grown rapidly over the past five years and we still believe there is further scope for expansion in both product portfolio and our marketing capability. ISIS clearly has a firm understanding of the online retail space and we are very excited about working with them as GettingPersonal.co.uk enters the next phase of its development.”

David Cowan, who led the transaction on behalf of ISIS said: “John and Giles are exactly the sort of dynamic, forward thinking entrepreneurs that we love working with. They have taken a very simple concept and turned it in to a multi-million pound business in a very short space of time and, having worked successfully with many other leading e-tailers, we hope to be able to help management at GetttingPersonal.co.uk with the next stage of its journey.”

Following the transaction Steve Richards will join the Board as Chairman. Steve’s background includes being CEO of the hugely successful online flower retailer Interflora. Commenting on the deal Steve said “I look forward to working with John and Giles, and am impressed with the Company they have built to date. I believe my experience of online retail will be beneficial to the team and see this as an exciting opportunity within the market.”

Location: UK, Manchester

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Interpublic to acquire Delaney Lund Knox Warren for $40 million

The Interpublic Group has reached agreement to acquire Delaney Lund Knox Warren (DLKW), a premier full-service communications agency based in London, from Creston Group. A top-10 U.K. agency, DLKW works with leading marketers across the full-range of communications disciplines, from advertising and public relations, to promotions and digital marketing campaigns.

DLKW will be combined with Lowe London, which will be re-named DLKW Lowe and serve as one of the Lowe Worldwide network’s key “hub market” agencies. In this capacity, DLKW Lowe will continue to provide a full range of marketing communications services to its current roster of clients, which includes many leading British companies and brands, as well as to existing Lowe multinational clients, such as Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Electrolux, Nestlé, Ericsson and Pfizer.

Interpublic will pay approximately $40 million in cash for DLKW. This includes a minority investment on the part of the agency’s current senior executive team, led by Chairman Greg Delaney and Joint-CEOs Tom Knox and Richard Warren, who will all continue to serve in their existing management roles at the new DLKW Lowe and will report to the Lowe Worldwide management of Chairman Tony Wright and CEO Michael Wall. The DLKW management team was advised by Clarity. Completion of the transaction is subject to approval by Creston shareholders, which is expected to occur at a shareholder meeting on July 13th, 2010.

“The progress we have seen at Lowe in recent years continues to be an important part of the larger IPG story. The agency is a global creative powerhouse, it has been growing with key multinationals and it has a great leadership team in Tony and Michael,” said Michael I. Roth, Interpublic’s Chairman and CEO. “When they told us of the opportunity to bring an agency of DLKW’s caliber into the Lowe network, it was clearly something that we had to pursue. The strength of the new management team and the combined agency in the key London market will accelerate the positive trajectory that Lowe is on. This move will also complement the steps we’ve taken over the past 24 months to create strong and vital Lowe hub agencies in Brazil, India and the United States. The enthusiasm of the DLKW team for Lowe as an international partner was such that they have chosen to join us as investors. This is particularly noteworthy as it demonstrates the strength of our alignment and of our commitment to making DLKW Lowe a great success story.”

Lowe Worldwide CEO Michael Wall added, “DLKW have a celebrated history of successful, populist creative campaigns that deliver in-market for a broad range of major clients. We are pleased to be in a position to work with such an established senior team, who are high caliber professionals with a proven record of performance and growth, as well as good people. This combination of great talent and complementary cultures is why I believe that both agency brands will inspire each other to achieve more – as both a leading UK agency and as an important part of Lowe’s global network.”

“We have been looking for a strong international partner for some time,” said Greg Delaney, “and this provides us with exactly what we wanted. It also gives partners here the opportunity to invest in a new entity that combines the strength, energy and diversity of DLKW with the well recognized creative achievements and global reach of Lowe. We are very excited about the many benefits this partnership can bring.”

Location: UK, USA, New York, NY & UK, London

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TripAdvisor acquires Holiday Lettings, the U.K.’s largest independent vacation rental website

Travel website, TripAdvisor, an operating company of Expedia, has acquired the United Kingdom’s largest independent vacation rental website, holidaylettings.co.uk.

The acquisition follows the launch of vacation rentals on TripAdvisor in 2009, and the purchase of a majority stake in U.S.-based FlipKey.com in 2008. Holidaylettings.co.uk will continue to be operated as an independent site. Terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed.

Including holidaylettings.co.uk, TripAdvisor Media Group now 17 travel brands and attracts nearly 46 million unique monthly visitors.*

“Our acquisition of Holiday Lettings significantly enhances the choice of fantastic vacation rentals available to the TripAdvisor community, particularly within Europe. It will also enable travellers to benefit from a wealth of destination information from fellow travellers to help them plan their perfect trip,” said Steve Kaufer, founder and CEO of TripAdvisor.

“TripAdvisor for Business, a new division of TripAdvisor, is a pioneer offering hospitality businesses the opportunity to target the world’s largest travel community with best-in-class marketing services. As part of TripAdvisor for Business, Holiday Lettings will add to our momentum and keep us at the forefront of innovation in the travel industry,” said Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business. “This exciting acquisition will expand our services for home owners and property management companies in the vibrant European marketplace and build on the strength that FlipKey has established in the U.S. market.”

Holiday Lettings was established in 1999 and the co-founders and management will continue to lead the business as an independent brand from its offices in Oxford. Holiday Lettings currently advertises more than 40,000 vacation rental properties on behalf of private owners, property managers and letting agents. The homes stretch across 116 countries and range from villas, apartments and farmhouses to windmills, yurts and houseboats with options available for all budget ranges. Twenty-five million visitors use the site every year.

“The combination of our vacation rental marketing expertise with TripAdvisor’s leadership in the travel community is a natural fit certain to benefit both holiday home owners and those looking for a great hotel alternative,” said Ross Elder, co-founder and managing director of holidaylettings.co.uk. “We are delighted to have the support of TripAdvisor and are excited to enhance our offering to our customers.”

*Source: comScore Media Metrix, Worldwide, May 2010

Location: USA, Newton, MA & UK, Oxford

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Archant acquires KOS Media publisher of The Kent on Sunday newspaper

Archant has acquired KOS Media Publishing Limited, in which it has had a minority interest since 2005. the terms of the deal were not disclosed.

KOS Media publishes the Kent on Sunday newspaper, launched in 2002, and a series of free weekly newspapers, magazines and associated websites and mobile products. Its magazines and supplements include the Review lifestyle, entertainment and property guide, Isle Magazine, Visit Kent and Taste of Kent.

The company produces YourkentTV, an internet-based TV service providing regional features, business and sport, plus websites for jobs, property and motors.

The company employs around 70 full-time staff and is based at Smeeth near Ashford in Kent.

Archant Chief Executive, Adrian Jeakings, said: “We are delighted to bring KOS Media fully into our portfolio of regional titles. This acquisition strengthens Archant’s existing presence in Kent and provides a springboard for further investment. We look forward to working with the Managing Director Paul Stannard and his team, to develop this vibrant business.”

KOS MD, Paul Stannard commented: “I am delighted Archant has taken on full ownership of KoS Media. We will benefit from ownership by a large, well financed, independent group with ambitious plans to grow the business.”

Location: UK, Asford, Kent

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A Fusion Deal: Encore International sold to McKinnon and Clarke

Fusion Corporate Partners are pleased to announce our latest deal, the sale of energy price risk management company Encore International for £6.25 million to McKinnon & Clarke, an energy procurement and compliance specialist headquartered in Edinburgh. McKinnon and Clare are a portfolio company of private equity business, Lyceum Capital. The enlarged business will be re-named M&C Energy Group on the 1st of July.

Fusion Corporate Partners acted as exclusive advisers to the shareholders of Encore International.  Paul Kelly (pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk) led the transaction at Fusion. It is the third energy consultancy sector deal completed by Fusion. Previous deals were;

As previously reported on Fusion DigiNet, Lyceum Capital acquired McKinnon and Clark in January this year for £22 million.

Founded in 2001, London-headquartered Encore is an independent advisor with a major operational base in Budapest and sales offices in the Netherlands and Germany. Its services include developing control policies, tendering and negotiating contracts, budget risk analysis, environmental auditing and reporting and live market transaction support and invoice settlement. Encore handles more than €2.4 billion of procurement annually on behalf of over 150 blue chip customers across 16 European countries.

markdickinsonEncore International’s Managing Director, Mark Dickinson, and European Sales Director, Colin Gebhard, will join the management team of M&C Energy Group.

The acquisition increases McKinnon and Clarkes turnover to more than £30 million and creates significant geographical and cross-selling synergies which will open up new commercial opportunities within the client base.

Dan Adler, Partner at Lyceum Capital, said: “The volatility and complexity of the global energy markets require large corporates to manage risks associated with energy procurement with the same rigour as they do in other areas such as interest rates and foreign exchange.

“With its ability to monitor and alter risk positions on a 24/7 basis, Encore International has unparalleled market coverage and is the only business capable of providing clients with round the
clock access to the latest data and advice.

“Encore will now benefit from the investment we’ve made in M&C’s infrastructure and the deal demonstrates our ongoing commitment to consolidating this highly fragmented market around a robust platform business.”

Simon Northrop, CEO of M&C, said: “Like McKinnon and Clarke, Encore has over the years justifiably earned a place as one of the best respected companies working within the industry.

“Now by combining our complementary skills and experience, I am confident that we can deliver additional benefits to current clients of both companies and of course also to future clients across
the globe.

“As environmental legislation rises higher up the business agenda, organisations will need our services to ensure they are operating to maximum efficiency and within the law. M&C is making sure that, through acquisitions and significant investment in infrastructure, we are well placed to offer our clients unrivalled scale and expertise.”

Paul Kelly, Senior Associate at Fusion, said “We were delighted to work with Mark Dickinson and his team at Encore International. They have built a great business and the fit with McKinnon and Clarke is excellent. The energy services sector is a fragmented market where even the biggest players only have a small market share. Fusion expects to see further consolidation in the market. I expect Fusion to continue to be active in the space over the coming years”.

Location: UK, Edinburgh and London

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