GlobalWide Media completes $40M acquisition of Neverblue Media Company

September 7, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

GlobalWide Media Inc. has closed its acquisition of Neverblue Media Company and AKMG.

Neverblue, based in Victoria, British Columbia with offices in Los Angeles, Europe and Asia, is a performance-based online marketing company with capabilities across all major media channels, including mobile, search, email, social media and display. AKMG is a performance based affiliate network comprised of premium publishers worldwide. While Neverblue will continue to operate under the Neverblue Media name, AKMG and its entire team will operate as GlobalWide Media going forward.

“We are delighted to formally welcome the Neverblue team, as their footprint into international markets together with their expertise and scale in mobile advertising complements our strengths in becoming the premier ‘One-stop’ solution for advertisers and publishers,” said Farshad Fardad, Chief Executive Officer of GlobalWide Media. “Our ultimate goal is to deliver highly targeted profitable customers to our advertisers while broadening the availability of additional branded campaigns to our publishing partners.”

USA, Westlake Village, CA & Canada, British Columbia, Victoria

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Gannett acquires social media marketing solutions company BLiNQ Media

August 26, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Gannett Co., Inc. has acquired BLiNQ Media LLC, a global innovator of Social Engagement AdvertisingSM solutions for agencies and brands. Since 2008, BLiNQ has managed social media marketing campaigns for more than 600 of the world’s largest advertisers.

“With demand for social media marketing solutions continuing to grow at a rapid pace, this acquisition is part of our ongoing transformation at Gannett and positions us to be a leader in both local and global social media marketing. BLiNQ will enhance Gannett Digital Marketing Services’ ability to deliver a one-stop shop for all marketing needs, including social marketing,” said Gracia Martore, president and CEO at Gannett.

BLiNQ will continue to operate its core business as part of Gannett’s portfolio of brands, providing technology and media solutions for social advertising and engagement to agencies and brands. As part of Gannett’s Digital Marketing Services organization, BLiNQ will help develop innovative social marketing solutions for businesses that want to reach local consumers. Gannett Digital Marketing Services will fully leverage BLiNQ’s BAM 2.0 technology platform, which facilitates social media campaign planning, set-up, management, optimization and insights. BLiNQ will have a strong focus on delivering robust solutions for local social engagement at scale, including working closely with ShopLocal to help shape best practices and results in reaching, engaging and building loyalty with retail consumers via social media. Dave Williams, BLiNQ’s CEO, will report to Vikram Sharma, president and CEO at Gannett Digital Marketing Services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

BLiNQ’s headquarters will remain at TechSpace in New York City and its technology, finance and marketing groups will remain based in Atlanta. BLiNQ’s sales and support offices will continue in London, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

USA, McLean, VA & New York, NY

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Aegis acquires C2 in India

August 23, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Aegis Group plc, the media and digital communications group,  has entered into an agreement to acquire Communicate 2 (“C2”), a performance marketing and search agency in India. C2’s gross assets as at 31 March 2012 were INR 129.9 million (£1.5) million.

C2 is a specialist performance marketing agency which focuses on search engine optimisation, search engine marketing, contextual advertising, search strategies around social media and lead generation. Originally established in 1997, C2 has built a strong client list of both local corporates, including Tata Consultancy Services, Cleartrip, ICICI Lombard and HDFC Bank, and international businesses, including Travelocity, Aviva Insurance and American Express.  C2 has offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Pune and employs over 130 employees.

C2 will be merged into iProspect India’s existing operations, strengthening its network in key cities across India and providing additional service capabilities for its clients.

UK, London &  India (Mumbai, Delhi and Pune)

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Possible Worldwide acquires majority stake in digital marketing services agency, Fortune Cookie

August 18, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP’s global operating network Possible Worldwide, the interactive marketing agency, has acquired a majority stake in Fortune Cookie (UK) Limited, a full service digital marketing services agency. The agency specialises in providing design and build, mobile and tablet apps and site development, online marketing services and digital strategy. Fortune Cookie will combine its business with that of Possible Worldwide Limited in the UK to provide an enhanced service offering to its global clients.

Founded in 1997 by Justin Cooke, the current Chair of the British Interactive Media Association, Fortune Cookie is headquartered in London with operations in Poland, the Netherlands, US and Australia. The agency employs over 190 people and clients include Canon, AEGON, NetJets, BP and Legal & General.

Fortune Cookie’s consolidated revenues for the year ended 31 August 2011 were approximately £9.4 million with gross assets as at the same date of approximately £2.8 million.

UK, London

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Hill+Knowlton Strategies acquires the assets of Ascentum Inc. in Canada

August 17, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP’s wholly-owned public relations and public affairs firm Hill+Knowlton Strategies Canada is acquiring substantially all the assets of Ascentum Inc. in Canada.

Founded in 2003, Ottawa-based Ascentum is a leading full-service consultancy that works with government, business and not-for-profit clients to facilitate and create dialogue with stakeholders via online, in-person and social media-based strategies and tools and bolsters H+K’s public engagement capabilities in Canada and globally. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

UK, London & Canada, Ottawa

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The Carlyle Group and Getty Images Management to acquire Getty Images from Hellman & Friedman for $3.3Bn

August 15, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group and Getty Images management have formed a partnership to acquire Getty Images, Inc., a global creator and distributor of still imagery, video and multimedia products, from Hellman & Friedman for $3.3 billion. Carlyle will acquire a controlling stake in Getty Images, while Getty Images Co-Founder and Chairman Mark Getty and the Getty family will roll substantially all of their ownership interests into the transaction. Getty Images management, including Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Klein, will also invest significant equity in the company.

“Getty Images consistently demonstrates growth, leadership and prominence as one of the world’s leading media companies. This partnership with The Carlyle Group reflects and bolsters our ongoing strategy, strong management team and the talent of our dedicated employees. We are delighted to collaborate with Carlyle, with its formidable pedigree and success, and take the business into its next phase of development and growth,” said Jonathan Klein, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Getty Images.

Mark Getty, Co-Founder and Chairman, added, “In seventeen years, we have built a business that has revolutionized the industry, with innovation at its core. I am confident that the partnership between Getty Images and The Carlyle Group will see the company’s success continue.”

Eliot Merrill, Managing Director of The Carlyle Group, said, “Getty Images is the premier, digital global marketplace for commercial visual content. We look forward to partnering with Mark Getty, Jonathan Klein and the talented Getty Images management team. We will harness Carlyle’s financial resources and global network to help take Getty Images to the next stage of product innovation and global growth.”

Carlyle Partners V, a $13.7 billion U.S. buyout fund, will provide equity financing for the investment. J.P. Morgan, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and RBC Capital Markets have provided committed debt financing for the transaction. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in 2012.

USA, Washington, DC & Seattle, WA

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Aegis Group plc acquires Data2Decisions Limited

August 3, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Aegis Group plc has acquired Data2Decisions Limited, a UK-based, independent marketing effectiveness analytics consultancy. D2D’s gross assets were £2.2 million as at 31 January 2012.

Since its establishment in 2001, D2D has grown to be one of the largest independent marketing effectiveness analytics consultancies in Europe. The business works with its clients to turn data into insight that informs marketing strategy. This includes assessment of pricing, promotions and the return on media investment. D2D’s technology solutions, which can sit on clients’ systems, enable actionable intelligence from the analytics to be used to optimise marketing decisions.

Nigel Morris, CEO, Aegis Media Americas & EMEA, said “Data is one of the key areas of competitive advantage in the convergent market. D2D has built an impressive, scaled business that complements and strengthens our existing data capabilities to drive even greater marketing insight and analysis.  We look forward to fully integrating D2D into our operating model to leverage their capability across all parts of our business for our clients.”

UK, London

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Pearson – first 6 months results

July 30, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Pearson has announced its first half year results

Highlights

Sales up 6% to £2.6bn

  • Strong growth in Education (up 9%) and the FT Group (up 7%)
  • Penguin sales 4% lower on phasing of publishing schedule and continued industry change

First-half operating profit lower at £188m (2011: £208m)

  • Education profits up 6% on growth in North America (up 30%) and International (up 17%)
  • Professional profits £17m lower. New funding criteria for 16-18 year old apprenticeships result in sharp decline in volumes; UK training business reshaped
  • Sale of FTSE International reduces first-half operating profit by £10m; excluding FTSE, FT Group profits level in spite of increased restructuring charge
  • Penguin profits lower at £22m (H1 2011: £42m) on drop-through from lower first-half sales; stronger publishing schedule in H2

Rapid growth in digital and services businesses and developing markets

  • Sales up approximately 20% in developing markets (headline growth)
  • Education digital platform registrations up 30%; FT digital subscriptions up 31% and now exceed print circulation; Penguin ebook revenues up 33% and now almost 20% of Penguin’s revenues
  • Revenues from digital and services to exceed traditional publishing businesses in 2012

Outlook

  • Pearson sees good trading momentum in North America, International and the FT Group offsetting weakness in Professional Education and Penguin
  • Pearson reiterates full year outlook of growth in sales and operating profits at constant exchange rates, with margins reflecting acquisition integration costs and the FTSE sale.

Interim dividend raised by 7% to 15p per share.

Marjorie Scardino, chief executive, said: “We began 2012 planning for a challenging external environment and our caution was well-placed: conditions have been tough in the early part of this year and, for a couple of parts of Pearson, tougher than expected. But that’s precisely when our planning for structural change and our investments in growth markets show their power. We’ve kept up the pace of transformation, and continued our shift towards digital and services businesses, which this year for the first time will yield the majority of Pearson’s revenues. That strategy will enable us to deliver on our long-term goals of expanding our market opportunity, delivering consistently strong financial performance and helping all kinds of students in all kinds of places to learn.”

Read the full report here

UK, London

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Aegis Media to make a strategic investment in search firm PinZhong

July 26, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Aegis Group is to make a strategic investment in local Chinese search search engine marketing agency PinZhong, also known as PZoom. PZoom was  founded by Yu Cheng in 2006. Aegis Group’s investment in PZoom is RMB 24 million (£2.4 million).

Aegis Group’s digital performance marketing network, iProspect, will create a trading and development alliance with PZoom in order to bring more scale and breadth of services to existing and prospective Aegis Media clients in the digital performance marketing segment.  By formalising a partnership with PZoom, Aegis also expects to extend client opportunities to its other global network brands of Carat, Vizeum and Isobar.

Nick Waters, CEO, Aegis Media Asia Pacific said: “Building scale and competitiveness in both search and performance marketing in China is a priority for Aegis. By identifying and investing in a proven brand like PZoom we will contribute significantly to our quest for growth in this space.”

UK, London and China

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Commarco/WPP acquires majority interest in digital agency KKLD in Germany

July 24, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Commarco GmbH, the German-based marketing services network which is part of WPP, has acquired a majority interest in KKLD GmbH, a German-based digital agency.

Founded by Alexander Diehl in 2005, KKLD specialises in brand and digital communication strategies, creative solutions, eCommerce and social media.  KKLD is based in Berlin and employs 30 people in its offices in Germany and New York.  Clients include BMW, MINI, Baume and Mercier, Bayer and Swarovski.

KKLD’s unaudited revenues for the year ended 31 December 2011 were approximately Euro 4.1 million, with gross assets at the same date of approximately Euro 3.7 million.

Germany, Berlin

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