Two New Fusion Deals: Incisive Media sells AVCJ and Unquote to Mergermarket

October 11, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Fusion only - logoFusion Corporate Partners are pleased to announce the completion of the sales of two Incisive Media businesses to Mergermarket.

Asian Venture Capital Journal (AVCJ) and Unquote

Fusion Corporate Partners acted as corporate advisor for Incisive Media. The Fusion team was led by Paul Slight, director at Fusion. The terms of the deals were not disclosed.

AVCJAVCJ and Unquote are leading sources of information on private equity and venture capital deals and fundraising activity. The brands represent a complementary extension to the Mergermarket Group suite of products that include Mergermarket, Debtwire, Dealreporter, Infinata, Xtract Research and the Remark global events division.
unquoteHeadquartered in London and Hong Kong, and with a global presence in 65 countries, Mergermarket Group provides finance and industry intelligence, analysis and data to investment banks, advisory professionals, fund managers, private equity firms, industry and corporate professionals.
“Unquote and AVCJ have strong localised footprints in the delivery of private equity and venture capital related content,” said Hamilton Matthews, CEO of Mergermarket Group. “Both brands are highly regarded in their respective markets and we are hugely excited to welcome them to Mergermarket Group as we seek to strengthen our global provision of fund and deal data, events and intelligence.”
“AVCJ and Unquote are hugely successful brands and I could not think of a better new home for them than Mergermarket Group,” commented Tim Weller, Chairman and CEO of Incisive Media. “With a strong foothold in private equity and M&A related content, Mergermarket Group is committed to further investment and development of both brands. I would like to thank the team for their loyalty and achievements over the years and I wish them well.”
UK, London & Hong Kong

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A Fusion Deal: Incisive Media has sold Accountancy Age and Financial Director to Blenheim Chalcot and its portfolio company Contentive.

October 11, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Fusion only - logoFusion Corporate Partners are pleased to announce the completion of the sales of two Incisive Media businesses to Blenheim Chalcot and its portfolio company Contentive.

Accountancy Age and Financial Director

accountancy ageFusion Corporate Partners acted as corporate advisor for Incisive Media. The Fusion team was led by Mark Eisenstadt, director at Fusion. The terms of the deals were not disclosed.

Charles Mindenhall, the Blenheim Chalcot co-founder, said: “We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues at Accountancy Age and Financial Director. We are looking forward to continuing to grow and develop these great businesses, serving the accounting and financial director communities worldwide.”

Tim Weller, Chairman & CEO, Incisive Media said: “The founders of Blenheim Chalcot, who recently acquired ClickZ and SES from Incisive Media, have an extraordinary track record of building and developing successful businesses and I could not think of a better new owner of Accountancy Age and Financial Director. Blenheim Chalcot will continue to invest in and develop the brands. I would like to thank the team for their loyalty and hard work over the years and wish them well in their new home.”

Blenheim Chalcot is headquartered in London and traces its roots back to netdecisions, the internet services group founded in 1998. Since then, Blenheim Chalcot has built more than 25 businesses in a variety of sectors, including IT services and outsourcing, financial services, education, travel, software, sport and media. Today, Blenheim Chalcot’s companies have sales of over £300m and employ in excess of 3,000 people. Working with entrepreneurs and co-founders, Blenheim Chalcot continues to create and build businesses in these sectors, often from the ground up, and is now one of the leading venture builders in the world.

Contentive is a digital media company, specialising in B2B publishing and information. It provides an engaging mix of news, events, intelligence and training, across digital marketing, digital finance and other business verticals. Its products and services help professionals excel in a world being transformed by digital – and its tools and platform provide marketers with access to clearly defined audiences.

UK, London

Fusion Deals:

Media & Business Information

Exhibitions & Conferences

Business Support Services and Energy & Environmental Services

Healthcare

Broadcast

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Axel Springer to acquire stake in Thrillist Media Group

September 30, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Axel Springer SE is to acquire a minority interest in New York City-based Thrillist Media Group, a digital media company and lifestyle destination for millennial men. Once completed, it will make Axel Springer the largest outside investor in Thrillist Media Group.

Thrillist was founded in 2005 by Ben Lerer, CEO, and Adam Rich, Editor-in-Chief. It reaches 15 million monthly unique visitors to Thrillist.com, and over 80 million a month across its digital, social and mobile platforms, TMG operates the popular lifestyle portal Thrillist along with related daily newsletters and mobile app, with a focus on the sought-after demographic of 18 to 34-year-old men. Thrillist has local editions covering more than 35 cities in the U.S. and Europe. In the last year, Thrillist traffic has seen 100 percent year-over-year growth, with more than 66 percent of traffic coming from mobile.

Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer SE, said, “The investment in Thrillist is a further step we are taking to expand our global footprint as a digital publisher, especially in English-language markets. Thrillist has become a first choice, particularly among millennial men. We see strong further potential and are looking forward to close cooperation with Ben, Adam and the whole Thrillist team.”

Ben Lerer, Co-Founder and CEO of Thrillist Media Group, commented, “We are very excited about this announcement. Axel Springer’s track record of success and its deep understanding of the digital media landscape make it an ideal partner as well as a huge asset for our media team as we continue to expand our rapidly growing business.”

The company’s related e-commerce business, JackThreads, is not part of this investment and will in the future be operated as a separate company.

Completion of this transaction is expected in early October.

Germany, Berlin & USA, New York, NY

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Euromoney acquires 10% of Zanbato

September 29, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC has acquired a 10 percent interest in Zanbato Inc, an international private capital placements platform and workflow tools provider, for $5.5 million.

The investment is part of a $14m Series B funding round aimed at expanding the capital base of Zanbato. Other key investors include Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur Joe Lonsdale, Formation8, a Silicon Valley technology investment fund, and Accelerate-IT Ventures, a US-based venture capital firm which led the round. As part of the transaction Euromoney will also receive a seat on the Zanbato board.

Zanbato, founded in 2010 and chaired by Joe Lonsdale, is a California-based business focused on building technology to address inefficiencies in private capital markets. Zanbato’s business comprises: i) Zanbato Private Label, an enterprise SaaS solution that enables broker-dealers, placement agents and fund managers to handle the placement of their offerings securely within their proprietary networks: the custom branded and configured solution is trusted by leading financial institutions because of its data rooms, investor analytics, compliance suite, enterprise-calibre security, e-signature integration and due diligence support; and ii) Zanbato Marketplace, software that enables institutional investors and family offices to access direct private investment opportunities. The software is used across several verticals, including fund stakes, pre-IPO company shares and real estate.

Earlier in 2015, Zanbato and Institutional Investor, a division of Euromoney, agreed to enter into a joint venture to bring together the technology of Zanbato and the market reach of Institutional Investor’s Investor Intelligence Network, a private online membership, to serve the institutional segment of the private placements market. Euromoney’s investment strengthens this strategic partnership by providing Zanbato with the financial resources to accelerate its product and business development plans.

Commenting on the announcement, Euromoney Chairman Richard Ensor said: “Over 45 years, Euromoney has built a wealth of trusted relationships with the buy-side and sell-side of the global asset management and capital markets sectors, which we are now using to create specialist digital communities. Our partnership with Zanbato will enable our Institutional Investor division to expand further its digital revenue streams by tapping into the fast-growing online private placement market. Over the next five years, this sector has the potential to create a significant opportunity for placement platforms. With its advanced SaaS technology, Zanbato is well placed to take an important share of this market.”

Zanbato, Founder and Chairman Joe Lonsdale said: “Innovation in finance is critical to advance modern society – technologies that make the global financial system more effective and efficient ultimately benefit all of us. Leaps in progress are often made by applying new ideas to the reach and impact of established players. We have a great respect for the platform Euromoney Institutional Investor has built, and believe our partnership will be formidable as each company brings unique and necessary ingredients required to transform private capital markets. I’m proud to see the innovation behind Zanbato having an increasing impact.”

UK, London & USA, Mountain View, CA

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Axel Springer acquires Business Insider

September 29, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Axel Springer SE is acquiring approximately 88 percent of the shares in New York City-based Business Insider, the digital offering for business news in the U.S.

The purchase price based on 100 percent of Business Insider amounts to USD 442 million (currently approximately EUR 395 million) on the basis of a cash and debt free valuation of USD 390 million (currently approximately EUR 348 million). The valuation corresponds to an amount of USD 343 million (currently approximately EUR 306 million) for the 88 percent of the shares that Axel Springer is acquiring. Axel Springer already holds a stake of approximately nine percent in the company and, after this purchase, will hold a stake of approximately 97 percent. Bezos Expeditions, the personal investment company of Jeff Bezos, will hold the further shares.

Henry Blodget, Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief, and Julie Hansen, Chief Operating Officer and President, will continue to lead Business Insider in their respective roles. They will also remain significantly invested in Business Insider through an extensive, long-term equity incentive. Kenneth Lerer, Managing Partner at leading early-stage technology venture capital firm Lerer Hippeau Ventures, Co-Founder of Huffington Post and Chairman of Buzzfeed, will receive a seat on the Board of Business Insider.

Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer SE: “With the acquisition of Business Insider, we continue with our strategy to expand Axel Springer’s digital reach and, as previously announced, invest in digital journalism companies in English-speaking regions of the world. Business Insider has set new standards in digital business journalism globally. Henry Blodget’s way of digital storytelling reaches tomorrow’s decision-makers. Combining our forces will allow us to unlock growth potential and expand Business Insider’s portfolio to new verticals, new locations and new digital content. We look forward to working together with Henry Blodget, Julie Hansen and the exceptional Business Insider team to continue shaping the future. At the same time, I am thrilled to have our close partner Ken Lerer joining us.”
Business Insider was launched in 2007 by Henry Blodget, Kevin Ryan and Dwight Merriman. It employs more than 325 people, approximately 50 percent of whom are journalists. In addition to its U.S. news sites, the company has a growing international presence, with local editions or licenses in seven other countries. A German edition will be introduced in the fourth quarter of this year and will be operated by finanzen.net, a company of Axel Springer SE. Editions for other countries are in development.

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Axel Springer and ProSiebenSat.1 acquire shares in the American virtual reality specialist Jaunt VR

September 21, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Axel Springer SE and ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE have each acquired a minority shareholding in Jaunt, an American start-up that specialises in the creation and distribution of virtual reality content.

Working with media companies, advertisers and artists, and using in-house developers camera and software technology, Jaunt produces high-quality virtual reality content and releases this via the Jaunt distribution platform. To date, videos are primarily receivable through the Jaunt Smartphone app using Cardboards. In future they will however also be available directly on Virtual Reality headset displays such as the “Oculus Rift”.

Following the joint Media-for-Equity shareholding in the DEAG subsidiary MyTicket and the co-investment in Klaus Hommels’ LAKESTAR II Internet fund, the participation in Jaunt is a third measure in the joint initiative by Axel Springer and ProSiebenSat.1 to promote digital growth companies.

Alongside Axel Springer and ProSiebenSat.1, The Walt Disney Company, Evolution Media Partners and China Media Capital are also taking part in the current investment round in Jaunt. Other investors include Google Ventures, Highland Capital, Redpoint Ventures and Sky, as well as prominent angel investors such as Jared Leto.

Anton Waitz, Managing Director of Axel Springer Digital Ventures Inc.: “Jaunt is an exciting new component in the portfolio of our early-stage investments. We are investing in a market, which can change media use over the next few years: Virtual Reality will provide creative pioneers in the entertainment and news industry with completely new ways of pleasing their audiences.”

Dr. Hanno Fichtner, Chief Digital Strategy Officer of ProSiebenSat.1 in San Francisco: “The investment in Jaunt is an investment in the future of entertainment for ProSiebenSat.1. Virtual reality will trigger an entertainment revolution similar to what our core media of TV did. Jaunt is perfectly positioned in this market and has raised the quality of virtual reality experiences to the next level.”

Jens Christensen, CEO and co-Founder of Jaunt: “We are excited to have Axel Springer and ProSiebenSat.1, two leading and innovative media companies, as a part of this strategic investor round. As we continue to build upon our leadership position, delivering amazing virtuality reality experiences to audiences worldwide, we are pleased to have these strong European partners on our side.”

Germany Berlin & USA, Palo Alto, CA

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UES Energy acquired by Inprova Group

September 17, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

inprova-logoInprova Group has acquired UES Energy, a procurement outsourcing service company based in Caerphllly, Wales. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

UES Energy was founded in 2003 by Andrew Padmore. Andrew Diplock joined him a few months later. Andrew Diplock, Managing Director and Gruff Dodd, Finance and Operations Director later led a management buy-out; and at the time of the acquisition, were the main shareholders. Andrew Diplock and Gruff Dodd will join the senior leadership team at Inprova’s energy division.

UESThe company has built a significant client base across the UK in areas like manufacturing, food, education, service and leisure. It procures and manages over £150m of energy contracts on clients’ behalf, with an expected turnover of over £2m this financial year.

The deal, funded through a debt facility from Barclays, follows Inprova Group’s acquisition of two non-domestic energy brokers, energyTEAM and ENER-G Procurement, in April. The two have since been integrated into Inprova’s new energy division, branded energyTEAM. UES Energy will become part of the energy division over the next 12 months.

Paul Kennedy, Inprova Group Chief Executive, said: “This deal further consolidates Inprova’s growing energy services offer and brings us closer to our ambition to be among the top five TPIs in the country. UES Energy complements the world class services, expertise and knowledge we already have in our new energy division and will enable us to continue to expand our service offer to existing customers and reach new markets.”

UK, Caerphllly, Wales

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Tarsus Group sells its French portfolio

September 3, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Tarsus Group plc has sold Tarsus France Holdings SAS to Magellan VI SAS for €9.2 million (approximately £6.6 million). The Disposal supersedes the 8 January 2014 announcement, when the Group said it was selling of up to 18% of the French Business to CRG Consulting SAS. See Fusion DigiNet reporting here.

The French Business, which owns a broad portfolio of exhibitions and conferences in France covering sectors including education, marketing, IT and the events and meetings industry, generated a profit before tax for the year ended 31 December 2014 of €0.9 million (approximately £0.6 million) and, as at 31 December 2014, had gross assets of €24.7 million (approximately £17.7 million).

Tarsus will receive €9.2 million (approximately £6.6 million) in cash. €7.2 million (approximately £5.2 million) will be received at completion and a deferred payment of €2.0 million (approximately £1.4 million) is expected to be received prior to 31 December 2016 (the “Deferred Consideration”). The Consideration is subject to customary financial adjustments to reflect the amount of net financial debt in the French Business at completion of the Disposal. Payment of the Deferred Consideration is subject to fall-back arrangements which provide for the Group to take majority control of the Purchaser if the Deferred Consideration is not paid in cash by 31 December 2016, but the Company does not expect those arrangements to be implemented.

Magellan VI SAS is owned 50.03% by CRG and 49.97% by Fonds de Consolidation et de Développement des Entreprises II. Romuald Gadrat, previously managing director of Tarsus France Holdings SAS, owns 80% of the share capital and voting rights of CRG, with the remaining 20% held by Claire Gadrat.

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Progressive Digital Media Group completes the acquisition of Datamonitor Financial, Datamonitor Consumer, MarketLine and Verdict businesses from Informa

September 1, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Progressive Digital Media Group plc has completed the acquisition of Datamonitor Financial, Datamonitor Consumer, MarketLine and Verdict businesses from Informa plc.

The sale was effected by Informa transferring the above named businesses to Verdict Research Limited, the entire share capital of which was acquired by Progressive. Progressive paid £25.0 million in cash. For the financial year ended 31 December 2014, the pro-forma revenues for the businesses being acquired were approximately £17.8m and adjusted earnings (excluding central overheads) were circa £3.0m.

Commenting on the acquisition Simon Pyper, Chief Executive of Progressive Digital Media, said: “The acquisition of these businesses will broaden Progressive’s Consumer offering, providing scale and additional categories in an important industry sector. This acquisition will be our largest to date, yet of all the companies acquired by Progressive, these businesses are the ones we are most familiar with. Whilst some investment will be required this year and next, the Board is confident that this acquisition will provide a platform for further growth.”

Michael Danson, Executive Chairman of Progressive Digital Media Group plc, was chief executive of Datamonitor when the business was sold to Informa for a reported £502 million in 2007.

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A Fusion Deal: Accenture acquires EnergyQuote JHA

August 18, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

EQ logoAccenture has acquired EnergyQuote JHA, a Pan-European energy management and procurement services provider. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Fusion Corporate Partners acted as corporate advisers to the shareholders of Energy Quote JHA. The team was led by Paul Kelly, director at Fusion.

Headquartered in London, EnergyQuote JHA provides services including energy procurement, risk management and strategy development, forecasting, energy contract management, portfolio management, carbon emissions reduction and utility bill management to clients in more than 22 European countries.

“Clients are increasingly seeking a single provider of energy procurement and management services that can address the full spectrum of needs – from reducing demand and risk to improving pricing and payment accuracy – across all geographies,” said Mike Salvino, group chief executive, Accenture Operations. “This acquisition will extend Accenture’s industry leading position in the procurement market and enhance our ability to provide comprehensive energy management services, putting us in an even better position to provide innovative business process services that deliver business outcomes to our clients.”

“Since its founding in 1992, EnergyQuote JHA has developed specialized technology and expertise in key areas that complement Accenture’s existing energy procurement and management offerings,” said Jonathan Lydiard-Wilson, CEO, EnergyQuote JHA. “This agreement with Accenture will benefit the clients of both companies, combining our proprietary technology and extensive energy market intelligence with Accenture’s own industry leading procurement capabilities and global reach.”

EnergyQuote JHA has 279 employees in offices across Europe including the UK and Romania, as well as India.

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