Fusion Corporate Partners

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:  A0235-231114
 
Acquirer:  Axel Springer Russia
ACQ Web:  http://www.axelspringer.ru/
Location:  Russia
Region:  Europe
Description:  Publishing House
Contact 1:  Ralph Byuhi, president of Axel Springer International
 
Vendor:  Gruner+Jahr
Vendor Web:  http://www.guj.ru/
Location:  Russia
Region:  Europe
Description:  Publishing House
Contact 1:  Dr. Torsten-Jörn Klein, Head of G+J International
 
Aprox. Value:  According to Handelsblatt (in German), Axel Springer paid several million Euro for G+J Russia and several hundred Euro for license.
 
Details:  Publishing House “Axel Springer Russia has completed its acquisition of the publishing house”Gruner + Jahr Russia. Under the deal all the magazines from the portfolio “Gruner + Jahr Russia, namely: GEO, GALA Biography, GEO Traveller and GEOlenokAs well as sites geo.ru, moi-roditeli.ru and moizvezdi.ru, become the property of Russia division Axel Springer AG. ID “Axel Springer Russia will continue to develop these print and online brands in Russia under license.
 
Link: Press Release

Can we help you with your M&A requirements? Contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk
   
ACQUISITION  
FDN Database Reference A0235-231112
Date 24-Nov-09
   
Acquire: Vivendi (Canal+ Group)
ACQ Web: http://www.vivendi.com
Location: France, Paris
Region: Europe
Description: French international media conglomerate with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications, the Internet, and video games.
Contact: Jean-Bernard Lévy, Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive
   
Vendor: TF1 (Canal+ France)
Vendor Web: http://www.tf1.fr
Location: France, Paris
Region: Europe
Description: French media holding company 
Contact: Nonce Paolini (Chairman of the board and CEO)

Aprox. Value: Euros 744,000,000 ($1.11 billion)
 
Details Vivendi/Canal+ Group and TF1 have signed a definitive agreement relating to the sale of the 9.9% of the capital of Canal+ France owned by TF1. This agreement, the value of which is €744 million, should be completed at the latest on December 31, 2009. On that date, Canal+ Group (which is wholly-owned by Vivendi) will increase its stake in Canal+ France from 65% to 75%. The impact of this transaction, which was originally planned for the first quarter of 2010, has already been taken into account, for an identical amount, in Vivendi’s debt in respect of TF1’s put option held by TF1 since January 2007 in the context of the acquisition of TPS by Vivendi/Canal+Group. An identical offer has been made to M6 for its stake of 5.1% of Canal+ France.
   
Link: Vivendi Announcement

FUND RAISING

Business: Muzicall
Web: http://www.muzicall.com
Location: United Kingdom, London
Region: Europe
Description: Ringback tone services (RBTs)

Contacts: Patrick Allainguillaume, CEO of Muzicall
Amount raised: € 9,000,000

Link: Muzicall 

Details: Muzicall, Europe’s leading provider of ringback tone services (RBTs), today announces it has raised €9 Million in its latest round of funding, which sees existing investors BlueRun Ventures and Thule joined by Orkos Capital, Veddis Ventures and GP Bullhound.
   
Database Fund Raising – November 2009

FUND RAISING

Business: Badoo
Web: http://badoo.com
Location: United Kingdom/Russia
Region: Europe
Description: Social network community

Contacts: Alexey Andreev, Founder
Amount raised: Undisclosed

Story Link – Quintura Blog 

Russian financial group Finam has invested an undisclosed amount to exercise its option and increase its stake from 10% to 20% in global social networking site Badoo. In January 2008, Finam said it would make a $30 million investment in the site.
   
Database Fund Raising – November 2009

ACQUISITION

Acquirer: Hubert Burda Media
Web: http://www.hubert-burda-media.com
Location: Germany, Munich
Region: Europe
Description: International media owner
Contact: JDr. Hubert Burda, Publisher

Target: Xing
Web: http://www.xing.com
Location: Germany, Hamburg
Region: Europe
Description:  European online business network

Contact:

Dr. Stefan Gross-Selbeck, CEO

Approximate value: 1,323,041 shares at €36.50 per share

Details

XING AG (ISIN: DE000XNG8888) was informed today that Burda Digital GmbH has purchased a total of 1,323,041 XING shares from Cinco Capital GmbH. The share price was EUR36.50 per share. This gives Burda Digital GmbH a 25.1% share of the company and makes it the primary shareholder.

Press Release 1

Press Release 2    

Database Acquisitions – November 2009