Vox Media to acquire Curbed Network

December 12, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

voxAccording to Fortune, Vox Media is to acquire Curbed Network in a deal made up of cash and stock worth between $20 and $30 million.

curbed-network-logoreal estate, dining & nightlife, shopping & fashion, and design. Real estate blog Curbed was founded in 2004 as a side project by Lockhart Steele, who was then managing editor of Gawker Media. Eater was founded in 2005 and features local content for 27 cities around the U.S. and Racked was launched in 2007. The sites collectively bring in 5 million monthly unique visitors.

Vox recently raised $34 million in a round of funding led by Accel Partners that could grow to as much as $40 million, according to Fortune’s Dan Primack.

USa, Washington, D.C.

 

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GreyPossible acquires the business of Media Republic in The Netherlands

November 29, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

wppWPP has announced that GreyPOSSIBLE, the strategic partnership between WPP’s wholly owned businesses, advertising and marketing network Grey EMEA, and global interactive marketing agency POSSIBLE Worldwide, has acquired the business and assets of MR Development BV a creative digital marketing company in The Netherlands.

Media Republic will become part of GreyPOSSIBLE Benelux, formed in 2013 by the merger of Grey’s Amsterdam and Brussels operations with Possible Amsterdam.

Established in 2002, and based in Amsterdam, Media Republic’s clients include APG, Axe, de Bijenkorf, Bugaboo, DSM, Miele and Philips. Media Republic’s revenues for the year ended 31 December 2012 was US$1.7 million with gross assets at the same date of US$582,000. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

UK, London & The Netherlands, Amsterdam

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WPP acquires majority stake in Cerebra Communications in South Africa

November 27, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

wppWPP has acquired a majority stake in Cerebra Communications, an integrated strategic communication agency based in Johannesburg. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2006 and employing 35 people, Cerebra builds, engages and activates brand communities for clients including Nedbank and Vodacom. Cerebra’s services include community management, crisis management, social business strategy and creative communication campaigns. Cerebra will retain its independent positioning and will work closely with other WPP companies in South Africa and across Africa.

Audited revenues for the year ended February 2013 were approximately ZAR 17 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately ZAR 4.1 million.

UK, London & South Africa, Johannesburg

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VML to acquire Biggs|Gilmore in the United States

November 20, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

wppWPP‘’s wholly-owned global digital agency VML, which is part of the Y&R network, is to acquire Biggs|Gilmore Communications Inc., a digital advertising and marketing agency in the United States. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

VML_Logo_TransparentFounded in 1973, Biggs|Gilmore’s unaudited revenue for the previous twelve months ended September 2013 was US $21 million. Biggs|Gilmore’s client list includes Kellogg, Kimberly-Clark, Foster Farms and Stryker, the medical equipment company. Headquartered in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with an office in Chicago, Biggs|Gilmore employs 140 people.

This is VML’s third transaction this year. In October, VML acquired IM2.0, a  digital advertising and media agency in China. In June, VML acquired a majority stake in NATIVE, the digital marketing agency in South Africa. 

UK, London & USA, Kalamazoo, MI

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Y&R acquires majority stake in Plasenta Conversation Agency, a Turkish social media agency

November 20, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

wppWPP‘s wholly-owned operating company, Y&R, the global marketing communications network, has acquired a majority stake in Plasenta Conversation Agency, a social media agency based in Istanbul, Turkey. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2011, Plasenta Conversation Agency specialises in social media monitoring and management and digital media projects for Turkish and international markets. The agency employs over 60 people and clients include Coca-Cola, Vodafone, and TEB BNP Paribas.

plasentaPlasenta Conversation Agency’s unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2012 were TRY 3.5 million, with gross assets as at the same date of TRY 1.5 million. Unaudited revenues in the twelve months to September 2013 were TRY 7.3 million.

In Turkey itself, WPP companies (including associates) employ nearly 1,000 people, generating revenues of US$100 million. This is the fourth investment made by WPP in Turkey in the past two years.

UK, London & Turkey, Istanbul

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Chime completes the acquisition of JMI

November 20, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

chime2Chime, the international communications & sports marketing group, has completed the acquisition of JMI, a global marketing firm focused on motorsports.  

Previous reporting (October 25, 2013) Chime Communications to acquire Just Marketing

Chime is paying a maximum consideration of $70.6 million (approximately £43.7 million). The acquisition will be part funded through a placing of 8,533,334 new ordinary shares to raise approximately £25.6 million. Chime today issued 3,287,899 new fully paid ordinary shares.  Chime shareholders approved the acquisition at a meeting on 14 November 2013. 

JMI is a global marketing firm focused on motor sports, operating primarily in Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar. JMI provides long-term sponsorship management and activation strategies, together with services including large-scale hospitality events, rights sales, and digital and experiential marketing initiatives.

UK, London & USA, Indianapolis

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Publicis acquires 75.1% of Walker Media

November 18, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

walkermediaPublicis Groupe is to acquire 75.1% of UK based independent media agency Walker Media for £36 million. M&C Saatchi, the current owner, will retain a 24.9% shareholding. Clients include Marks & Spencer, Dixons Group, KFC, Halfords and Weetabix. Walker Media had gross assets of £49.1m as at 31 December 2012 and operating profit of £5.2m for the 12 months ended 31 December 2012. The deal is expected to complete on 27 November 2013.

Walker Media will become part of the ZenithOptimedia Group.

The Walker Media board will be comprised of:

  • Phil Georgiadis, Chairman, Walker Media
  • Simon Davis, CEO, Walker Media
  • Steve King, CEO, Worldwide, ZenithOptimedia
  • Adrian Sayliss, COO, Worldwide, ZenithOptimedia
  • David Kershaw, CEO, M&C Saatchi
  • Jamie Hewitt, Group Finance Director, M&C Saatchi

The new ZenithOptimedia Group in the UK will be comprised of: Zenith, Optimedia, ZenithOptimedia Worldwide, Walker Media, Performics (digital performance marketing), Newcast (branded content), Ninah (analytics) and Sponsorship Intelligence. The group employs around 500 people.

Steve King, CEO Worldwide, ZenithOptimedia said, “Walker Media is the biggest and most successful independent media agency in the UK and we are absolutely delighted to welcome them to the ZenithOptimedia family. The agency was built and developed on the principle of client centricity and its incredible success is testament to this. I have known Phil Georgiadis for many years and I couldn’t think of a better person to lead our new media network in the UK.”

France, Paris & UK, London

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WPP acquires app creator Bottle Rocket

November 8, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

wppWPP is to acquire Bottle Rocket, a company that creates iPhone, iPad and Android apps for leading brands. The agency will work horizontally with other operating companies across WPP. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

bottle rocketFounded in 2008, Bottle Rocket’s unaudited revenue for the previous twelve months ended September 2013 was US $17 million. Clients include NPR, Scripps Networks, ABC News, National Geographic and NBC Universal. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company has grown from about 45 employees in 2011 to 170 today.

UK, London & USA, Dallas, TX

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Chime Communications to acquire Just Marketing

October 25, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

chime2Chime, the international communications & sports marketing group, is to acquire JMI, a global marketing firm focused on motor sports, for a maximum consideration of $70.6 million (approximately £43.7 million). The acquisition will be part funded through a placing of 8,533,334 new ordinary shares to raise approximately £25.6 million.

JMI is a global marketing firm focused on motor sports, operating primarily in Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar. JMI provides long-term sponsorship management and activation strategies, together with services including large-scale hospitality events, rights sales, and digital and experiential marketing initiatives.

Zakary C. Brown, the founder and CEO of JMI, has relocated to London and, following completion of the Acquisition, will sit on the boards of both JMI and CSM Motorsport Limited (“CSM Motorsport”) (a newly incorporated wholly owned UK subsidiary of Chime) as President and CEO. It is intended that the JMI business will be operated as a separate division within CSM.

Commenting on the Acquisition, Christopher Satterthwaite, Chief Executive of Chime, said: “This acquisition will give us a strong foothold in the United States, one of the largest sports marketing markets in the world, and will accelerate Chime’s strategy of becoming a global leader in sports marketing.”

UK, London & USA, Indianapolis

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8coupons acquires Android app Clipless

October 23, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

8coupons-med8coupons, a hub and B2B platform for local deals, has acquired the Android app, Clipless, which seeks out and alerts shoppers when they are in close proximity of deals.

Founder and developer of Clipless, Michael Barnathan, has joined 8coupons full-time as Head of Mobile, leading development and strategy. In this role, Michael will oversee the rebrand of the Clipless Android app and relaunch of 8coupons’ iOS app with a new user interface, updated functionality, intelligence and content.

“Clipless is a perfect fit with 8coupons’ mission and has accelerated our mobile technology pipeline,” said 8coupons co-founder and CEO, Landy Ung. “We’re always looking to give customers a better experience and bring 8coupons closer to becoming their personal concierge for daily life.“

USA, New York

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