Qlipso acquires the assets of Internet Television company Veoh

April 8, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Qlipso, a social feature-rich multi-party content-sharing platform with 3D avatars, webcam and voice, today announced its purchase of substantially all of the assets of Veoh, an Internet Television company delivering broadcast-quality video programming. The purchase enables Qlips0’s unique synchronized media sharing and socially-interactive environment to tap into Veoh’s library of more than one million videos, TV shows, online games and other interactive content, as well as Veoh’s tens of millions of active monthly users. Qlipso is backed by Jerusalem Venture Partners, an Israeli venture-capital fund.

“By bringing together features of both Qlipso and Veoh, we are taking the best of social, multiplayer online gaming and applying that to mainstream digital content, such as videos and music, for a mainstream audience,” said Jon Goldman, CEO of Qlipso. “This provides not only a terrific user experience, but also a vastly improved target audience for advertisers.”

As part of the transaction, key former Veoh executives will help shape the new vision of Qlipso.

Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Acquirer:  Qlipso
ACQ Web:  http://www.qlipso.com 
Location:  Israel, Jerusalum
Region:  Middle East & Africa, Europe
Description:  Qlipso allows users to share any type of Flash-based media live and synchronized with friends in a secure online social setting. Personalization options include avatar creation and webcam support, thereby enabling users to interact with each other while viewing the media simultaneously. As a business partner, Qlipso integrates with web sites to allow their audience to invite friends to share content, as well as to open up new revenue streams, like virtual item sales.
Category:  Technology, Media
Contact 1:  Jon Goldman, CEO and founder
Contact 2:  Ishay Pnuelli, Chief Technology Officer  and founder
Contact 3:  Erel Margalit, Jerusalem Venture Partners founder and managing partner 
 
Vendor:  Veoh
Vendor Web:  http://www.veoh.com
Location:  USA, Los Angeles, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Veoh is an Internet Television company that delivers broadcast-quality video programming via the Internet. Veoh has more than 100,000 content publishers – from CBS, Viacom’s MTV Networks, ABC, Warner Bros. Television Group, ESPN and Lions Gate to thousands of independent filmmakers and content producers – and attracts over 28 million unique users per month worldwide.
Category: Television

About Jerusalem Venture Partners: A venture-capital fund based in Israel. The Fund operates from Jerusalem and manages more than USD$800 million. JVP focuses on building market leaders in the fields of digital media technology, including gaming and virtual worlds, mobile media, software and hardware applications and Internet advertising.
 
Links: 

FDN Database Reference:  F231109-381
 

Contact us at pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit the Fusion Corporate Partners website

Posted in Broadcasting, Content Media, Internet Media, ~Europe, ~Middle East & Africa, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Burst Media acquires On The Phone Media Limited

April 7, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Burst Media, a leading provider of advertising representation, services and technology to independent Web Publishers, today announced it has completed the acquisition of On The Phone Media Limited – which conducts business as OTP Media (OTP). The strategic acquisition reinforces Burst Media’s position as the primary enabler of vertical content online and its 15-year commitment to providing complete advertising solutions to web publishers and advertisers.

Burst Media was the 16th largest ad network in the U.K. in February 2010, reaching nearly 12.3 million unique viewers. OTP will further enhance Burst’s presence in the U.K. market while providing a platform to expand the services it provides web publishers and advertisers. Advertisers will now have broader solutions to reach their target audiences, and OTP will gain access to Burst’s proven resources, processes, systems and technology.

Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Acquirer:  Burst Media
ACQ Web:  http://www.BurstMedia.com
Location:  USA, Burlington, MA
Region:  North America
Description:  An online media and technology company founded in 1995, Burst Media is a leading provider of advertising representation, services and technology to independent Web Publishers. Burst Media enables advertisers to reach finely segmented, engaged consumers as they visit Burst’s extensive number of interest-based sub-channels. Through its Burst Network and Burst Direct units, the company represents one of the broadest and deepest offerings of interest-based websites online. Burst also markets its ad management platform, adConductor™, which empowers content websites, online ad networks, and web portals to manage the complete process of ad sales and service. Burst Media is headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, with offices throughout the United States and in London.
Category:  Advertising, Technology
Contact 1:  Jarvis Coffin, CEO  
 
Vendor:  OTP Media
Vendor Web:  http://www.otpmedia.com 
Location:  UK, London
Region:  Europe
Description:  OTP Media was established in 2002 and works with premium publishers and brand advertisers to deliver innovative, bespoke, targeted marketing solutions which increase publisher revenues and deliver superior brand targeting, whilst maintaining the integrity of both the site and the brand. OTP Media exclusively represents sites such as www.streetmap.co.uk, www.carpages.co.uk, www.deliaonline.com, www.192.com, and www.Robbiewilliams.com.
Category: Advertising
Contact:  Ian Woolley, Managing Director of OTP Media  
 
Link: Press Release 
 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-380

Contact us at pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit the Fusion Corporate Partners website

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

FUND RAISING: WEEKLY ROUND-UP week ending 28th March 2010

March 28, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

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1.       Avatar Reality raises $4.2 million

  • Details: Avatar Reality, creator of the massively multiplayer online virtual world platform Blue Mars, announced today has raised an additional $4.2 million. To date, more than $13 million has been invested in Avatar Reality.
  • Investors: Venture capitalists including Henk Rogers and Kolohala Ventures
  • Contacts: Henk Rogers, co-founder: Jim Sink, CEO
  • Location:  USA, Honolulu and San Francisco, CA
  • Category: Online games
  • Links: Press Release

2.       KidZui raises $4 Million

  • Details: Kidzui, an a safe search engine filter and online browser for kids, has raised $4 million.
  • Investors: Led by Mission Ventures led along with current investors First Round Capital, Emergence Capital Partners, and Maveron.
  • Location:  USA, San Diego, CA
  • Category: Search

3.       Made.com raises £2.5 million

  • Details: Made.com has raised £2.5 million to launch a new designer furniture company that cuts out the middle man using the internet to connect buyers directly with manufacturers.
  • Investors: Brent Hoberman, Founder of MyDeco and Lastminute.com, board director of the Guardian Media Group and Profounders Capital
  • Contacts: Ning Li, founder
  • Location:  UK, London
  • Category: Retail
  • Links: Made.com about us

4.       Placecast raises $3 million in series B funding

  • Details: Placecast raises $3 million in series B funding to expand their ShopAlerts location‐based marketing service.
  • Investors: From current investors, Quatrex Capital, ONSET Ventures and Voyager Capital.
  • Location:  USA, San Francisco, CA
  • Category: Advertising
  • Links: Press Release

Previous Fusion DigiNet article: 1020 Placecast has raised $5 million in a second round of funding November 19, 2009

5.       Wix Raises $10 Million

  • Details: Wix, which allows users to build free flash websites, has raised $10 million in Series C funding.
  • Investors: Benchmark Capital, plus existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and Mangrove Capital Partners.
  • Location:  USA, New York, NY
  • Category: Technology
  • Links: TechCrunch

Funding News

Link: Atomico completes $165 million fundraising to invest in early-stage growth companies

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

Ebiquity Plc announces the acquisitions of Xtreme Information Services and Thomson Media Control

March 26, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website

 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-368
 
Ebiquity PLC is to create an international analytics and advertising monitoring business through the acquisition of Xtreme Information Services Limited. Xtreme provides an international advertising monitoring serice with a footprint in over 60 countries
 
Aprox. Value:  The total consideration for Xtreme will be £17.9m, consisting of a cash payment of £0.8m to be funded through the Placing of 1,375,000 new Ordinary Shares, the issue of 16,706,639 new Ordinary Shares at the Closing Price and the issue of Convertible Loan Notes with the right to convert into 13,802,861 Ordinary Shares. VS&A to hold 27.7% of Ebiquity’s issued Ordinary Shares following Completion.
 
Acquirer:  Ebiquity PLC
ACQ Web:  http://www.ebiquity.com/documents.asp  
Location:  United Kingdom, London
Region:  Europe
Description:  The UK’s largest media database. The Ebiquity media monitoring system captures the advertising and editorial that appears in all media. Each year Ebiquity captures the actual data from £3 billion of their clients’ media advertising expenditure.
Category:  Advertising, Database
Contact:  Michael Greenlees, Chief Executive Officer 
 
Vendor:  VS&A (a private equity fund managed by Veronis Suhler Stevenson (“VSS”)) and Xtreme’s management
Business Sold: Xtreme Information Services
Website: http://www.xtremeinformation.com
Location:  United Kingdom, London
Region:  Europe
Description:  Media intelligence source of global TV, press, radio, cinema, outdoor and internet advertising.
Category: Advertising, Database
Contact 1:  John Gordon, CEO
Contact 2:  Peter Banks, Finance Director 
 
Link: Regulatory Announcement
  
Ebiquity is also to strengthen its German advertising monitoring business through the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in Thomson Media Control GmbH & Co KG (TMC), its advertising monitoring joint venture in Germany for a total consideration of £0.8m consisting of 1,451,330 new Ordinary Shares and £25,000 in cash.

A new £12.0m debt facility with Bank of Ireland which will become effective upon Completion of the acquisitions.

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Banijay Entertainment acquires reality TV hitmakers Bunim-Murray Productions

March 26, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-367
 
Banijay Entertainment of France has acquired US reality TV maker Bunim-Murray Productions.

Bunim-Murray’s founder Jonathan Murray will continue as chairman and lead creative development, while president Gil Goldschein will remain to tackle corporate initiatives. Banijay plan to help Bunim-Murray expand into the international marketplace.
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Acquirer:  Banijay Entertainment
ACQ Web:  http://www.banijay.com
Location:  France, Paris
Region:  Europe
Description:  In less than 2 years Banijay has become a leading name in the global TV production industry. Founded by Stéphane Courbit with further backing from the De Agostini and D’Dgnelli families, Banijay has grown through acquisition.  
Category:  Media, TV Production
Contact 1:  Pascale Amiel
Contact 2:  Guillaume De Verges
Contact 3:  Francois De Brugada 
 
Vendor:  Bunim-Murray Productions
Vendor Web:  http://www.bunim-murray.com
Location:  USA, Van Noys, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Reality television production company best known for the The Real World, The Bad Girls Club, and Road Rules.
Category: Media, TV Production
Contact 1:  Mary-Ellis Bunim, co-founder
Contact 2:  Jonathan Murray, co-founder 
 
Link: Hollywood Reporter

Related link: Banijay Entertainment has acquired TV production company Zig Zag January 21, 2010

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

BMG Rights Management to buy Cherry Lane Music Publishing

March 26, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website

 

AQUISITION NEWS

According to the FT, BMG Rights Management is negotiating to buy Cherry Lane Music Publishing. The deal is reportedly worth $85 to $100 million.

About BMG Rights Management

BMG Rights Management (Berlin) is a music rights management company and a joint venture between the international media company Bertelsmann and the global private equity firm KKR.

Contacts: Hartwig Masuch, Chief Executive Officer: Laurent Hubert, Chief Operating Officer – North America:   John Dobinson, Chief Operating Officer Europe. Management team

About Cherry Lane Music Publishing

Founded in 1960 by producer, arranger and orchestrator Milton Okun, Cherry Lane Music Publishing are independent music publishers. Headquartered in New York City with a staff of 70. The Cherry Lane roster of songwriters and composers includes The Black Eyed Peas, Will.i.am, John Legend, Quincy Jones,  John Denver and Elvis Presley.

Counts: Milton T. Okun, Founder: Peter W. Primont, Chief Executive Officer: Dan Lieblein,  Chief Financial Officer Management team

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

Atomico completes $165 million fundraising to invest in early-stage growth companies

March 25, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website


Funding News

United Kingdom, London

Atomico has completed fundraising for its second fund, Atomico Ventures II. The $165 million fund will focus primarily on Europe, and will seek to invest in early stage, high growth technology companies, with the goal to provide outsized returns to investors over the long-term.

Niklas Zennström, Founder and CEO of Atomico, commented:

“We are delighted to announce that we have completed the fundraising for Atomico Ventures II, which will be focused primarily on early-stage tech companies in Europe.  We will seek to invest in exceptional entrepreneurs who are building exceptional businesses.  We will target companies that we believe have the potential to generate significant growth, transform their industries, and deliver strong returns.”

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

Alexander Lebedev’s Independent Print Limited buys the Independent newspaper for £1

March 25, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-365
  
Independent News & Media PLC (INM) has sold The Independent and The Independent on Sunday to Independent Print Limited (IPL), a company controlled by the family of Alexander Lebedev. Lebedev is the Russian billionaire and former KGB agent who bought the London Evening Standard last year.

IPL will acquire all rights to The Independent, The Independent on Sunday and the related website, www.independent.co.uk. Existing Independent and Independent on Sunday staff will transfer to IPL, who will continue to operate from the current premises in Kensington, London. As a result of this disposal, Ivan Fallon, chief executive of Independent News & Media UK has retired from the Group.
 
Aprox. Value:  The consideration payable by IPL is £1. As part of the transaction, INM will pay IPL £9.25m over the next ten months for use within the Titles, in exchange for IPL assuming all future trading liabilities and obligations. The disposal is subject to certain conditions, including Irish Competition approval. The value of the assets being disposed of was nil at 31 December 2009 and the operating loss (i.e. before exceptionals, interest and tax) for the 12 months ended 31 December 2009 was Stg£12.4 million.
  
Vendor:  Independent News & Media PLC
Vendor Web:  http://www.inmplc.com 
Location:  Ireland, Dublin/UK, London
Region:  Europe
Description: A leading international newspaper and communications group, with its main interests in Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom.

The Group publishes over 200 newspaper and magazine titles, delivering a combined weekly circulation of over 32 million copies, with a weekly audience of over 100 million consumers and includes the world’s largest read newspaper, Dainik Jagran, in India. The Group has established a strong and growing online presence, with over 100 editorial, classified and transactional sites.

INM is the largest radio operator – over 130 stations and an audience of almost six million people – and outdoor advertising operator in Australasia and also has leading outdoor advertising operations in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia and across Africa.

 The Group manages gross assets of €2.2 billion, revenue of €1.4 billion and employs approximately 8,700 people worldwide.

Category: Newspaper, Media
Contact 1:  Gavin O’Reilly, Group Chief Executive Officer
Contact 2:  Vincent Crowley, Chief Operating Officer
Contact 3:  Dónal Buggy, Chief Financial Officer
 
Link: Press Release

Related articles: Independent News & Media’s 49% of Verivox sold to Oakley Capital Private Equity for €18.3M Posted 7 December 2010

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

Good news for UK “wealth creators and innovators”- entrepreneurs’ relief for Capital Gains Tax doubled

March 24, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

 

 

United Kingdom – Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Budget statement

Alasdair Darling, Chanceller of the Exchequer for the UK Governement has announced an extension of Entrepreneurs’ Relief from the first £1 million to the first £2 million of gains made over a lifetime.

Entrepreneurs’ Relief supports business owners and those investing in businesses with growth potential by providing an effective 10 per cent Capital Gains Tax rate on qualifying disposals.

This change will take effect from 6 April 2010.

The Chancellor also announced that the normal rate of capital gains tax (CGT) remains unchanged at 18 per cent.

Direct quote from the Budget statement

“I am also going to make it more attractive for wealth-creators and innovators to set-up their own businesses. To do this, I am doubling entrepreneurs’ relief for Capital Gains Tax. At the moment, the first million pounds of lifetime gains are taxed at a lower rate of 10 per cent, rather than the main rate of 18 per cent.

This threshold will now increase to £2m, enabling entrepreneurs to benefit more from their effort and investment.

And I can also confirm today that I am not increasing the main rate of Capital Gains Tax.”

Link: HM Treasury Budget website

Posted in B2B Services, Broadcasting, Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, e-Commerce, Energy & Environmental Services, Games, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

FUND RAISING: WEEKLY ROUND-UP week ending 21st March 2010 (part two)

March 21, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

 

 

We posted the Fusion DigiNet “Fund Raising Round-Up” early this week as we had thought that logistical plans would prevent us from creating the round-up on Sunday evening (our normal time). However, that is not the case and we can now add a few stories we missed from Friday night’s round-up.

Here is the original round-up

FUND RAISING: WEEKLY ROUND-UP week ending 19th March 

Additional stories

1. Nival Network has raises $7 million

  • Details: Social games business Nival Network has raised $7 million from DST, 1C Company and Nival Group founder & CEO Sergey Orlovskiy valuing the business at  $32 million. DST has invested $4 million for a 12.5% of Nival Network. Exisiting shareholders 1C Company also invested $1 million and will now own 26.56% and Nival CEO, Sergey Orlovskiy invested $2 million,and will now own 60.94%.
  • Location:  Russia, Moscow
  • Category: Online games
  • Links

2. Smartling raises $4 million in first funding round

  • Details: Smartling, Inc., a provider of real-time, crowdsourced translations for Internet based businesses, has secured a US$ 4 million Series A round of investment. The company will use the funding to expand its operations and support product development.
  • Investors: Led by Venrock. The round also included funding from US Venture Partners, First Round Capital and several angel investors.
  • Contacts: David Pakman, Partner at Venrock: Jack Welde, CEO of Smartling
  • Location:  USA, New York, NY
  • Category: Language services
  • Links: Press  Release

3. Videoplaza raises $5 million

  • Details: Videoplaza, the European ad serving technology provider for managing and monetising online video, has raised $5 million. The capital was raised to support the company’s commercial development as it continues on its expansion path into Europe. The funding will enable Videoplaza to accelerate the deployment of its Monetizer ad server platform technology for managing, displaying and tracking advertising in and around publishers’ online video content into more European territories.
  • Investors: led by the Nordic´s two leading Venture Capital firms Creandum and Northzone.
  • Contacts: Sorosh Tavakoli, Videoplaza Founder & CEO: Pär-Jörgen Pärson, General Partner at Northzone: Fredric Cassel, General Partner at Creandu.
  • Adviser: Frederic Laziou of Alta Venture
  • Location:  Sweden, Stockholm
  • Category: Advertising, Video
  • Links

4. Weedle raises $4 million

  • Details: Weedle, a social media business that connects people with skills to those who need them, has raised $4 million. The funds will enable the Ireland based company to expand into the U.S. and other global regions. The announcement was made during an Enterprise Ireland-supported Trade and Investment Mission to the U.S. led by Taoiseach (Ireland’s Prime Minister) Brian Cowen.  Enterprise Ireland is the Irish state agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous Irish business sector.
  • Investors: Weedle’s investors include well-known Irish business entrepreneurs Dr. Michael Smurfit and Weedle co-founder and CEO, Iain MacDonald, as well as the Irish government agency, Enterprise Ireland.
  • Location: Ireland, Dublin
  • Category: Social Network, Search
  • Links:  Weedle Blog
Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, ~Europe, ~North America. Leave a Comment »
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