HubSpot acquires marketing automation company Performable

June 22, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Three months after receiving a $32 million Series D financing round, led by Sequoia Capital, Google Ventures, and Salesforce.com, inbound marketing software company HubSpot has acquired marketing automation company Performable for an undisclosed sum.

“I’ve known David since before he founded Compete.com,” commented Dharmesh Shah, HubSpot’s co-founder and Chief Technology Officer. “He is not only a brilliant product person but also has a reputation for recruiting exceptional talent, and you can see that in the Performable team. This combination creates the best product development team in B2B software.”

“Combining Performable’s innovative product features with HubSpot’s all-in-one inbound marketing platform accelerates our goal of transforming the marketing industry,” said HubSpot Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Brian Halligan, who was recently named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year. “This acquisition is just the first in a series of partnerships, acquisitions and other announcements you can expect to see from us in the coming months.”

Performable’s 18-person team will join HubSpot at the company’s headquarters beginning June 20, growing the team to over 260 staff.

USA, Cambridge, MA

 

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YuMe acquires Appealing Media

June 16, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

YuMe, a video advertising technology company has acquired London based Appealing Media, the premium mobile video advertising company serving customers such as ESPN, IPC Media, Bauer Media, and Universal McCann. Appealing Media will become YuMe’s London UK headquarters and will be used as the base for further expansion across Europe.

“As smartphone and tablet adoption takes off, the mobile video market will grow considerably both in complexity and reach. And the advertising on these platforms needs to be relevant and smart, especially for premium brands,” said Michael Mathieu, CEO of YuMe. “We are excited to open our first office in the UK and welcome the executive team of Appealing Media to YuMe.”

Appealing Media’s founder and CEO, Owen Hanks, and senior management team brings over 30 years of experience in the European advertising space to YuMe. Appealing Media has worked with major brands and premium publishers to execute successful complex campaigns across native apps, touch web and mobile web properties and were honored with the Grand Prix award at MobiTech Europe in 2010 for its innovative “Interactive Video Player” ad format.

“Mobile video is clearly a growth market and by joining YuMe we are increasing our offering for the UK market considerably – both to other publishers but also to other platforms such as online and TV,” said Owen Hanks, founder and CEO of Appealing Media. “We are committed to simplifying these complex cross platform campaigns for brands across Europe.”

USA, Redwood, CA & UK, London

 

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Admeld to be acquired By Google for $400M

June 16, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Admeld, an on-line advertising optimisation firm, is to be acquired by Google for a reported $400 million The transaction is likely to undergo regulatory review. If the deal goes ahead it will give Google a stronger foothold in te display advertsising market.

Admeld was founed in 2007 by Ben Barokas and Brian Adams. Current Admeld customers include Answers.com, FOX News, IDG TechNetwork, Hearst Television, Discovery, The Weather Channel, ITV, Mail Online, Dennis and Future Publishing and more than 500 others worldwide. Founded in 2007, the company is headquartered in New York City with offices in San Francisco, London, Berlin, and Toronto.

Neal Mohan, Vice President of Display Advertising at Google said, “By combining Admeld’s services, expertise and technology with Google’s offerings, we’re investing in what we hope will be an improved era of flexible ad management tools for major publishers. Together with Admeld, we hope to make display advertising simpler, more efficient and more valuable, provide improved support and services, and enable publishers to make more informed decisions across all their ad space. These are all things our publisher partners have been asking us to further invest in. Of course, Admeld will continue to support other ad networks, demand side platforms, exchanges and ad servers, to yield the best possible results for publishers.”

Michael Barrett, CEO at Admeld said, “What’s driving this relationship is a shared belief that managing display advertising is still far too complicated for publishers, and together Admeld and Google can help address some of the underlying inefficiencies. Though we have no specific integration plans yet, we imagine our combined offerings can help publishers make more informed, efficient, and profitable decisions across all tiers of their inventory.”

Google Announcement

Admeld announcement

USA, Mountain View, CA & New York, NY

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Aegis Media’s iProspect acquires ICUC to support growing social media offerings

June 10, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Aegis Group plc, one of the world’s leading marketing communications and market research groups, has acquired ICUC Moderation Services (“ICUC”), Canada, a provider of social media intelligence and moderation services. As at 31 December 2010, ICUC had gross assets of US $1.4m.

Aegis Group’s digital performance media business iProspect, will leverage ICUC’s community management platform and social media expertise to continue enhancing iProspect’s social media offerings. iProspect has more than 800 employees in 29 countries, and 39 offices worldwide.

Jerry Buhlmann, CEO of Aegis Group plc, said: “ICUC’s market leadership and breadth of expertise in media intelligence and moderation services will boost iProspect’s leadership across the digital performance spectrum. Beyond social media moderation, ICUC brings nearly a decade of astute social media understanding and intelligence to verticals ranging from entertainment and media to CPG and retail which fits in every respect with the next generation of social media services.”

Robert Murray, iProspect Global CEO, said: “There is an ideal match between ICUC’s real-time social media services and our clients’ growing needs across the social media landscape. As consumers continue to lead the evolution of brand interaction, iProspect will be perfectly poised to offer our clients robust social media expertise, based on technology leadership as well as in-depth end customer understanding.”

UK, London & USA, Boston, MA & Canada, Winnipeg

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Batanga is acquiring two Latin American online media companies, Adfunky and I-Network

June 8, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Batanga is acquiring two Latin American online media companies, Adfunky and I-Network. The new acquisitions will exponentially increase the company’s audience and publishing partners in the US, Mexico and Latin America as well as provide its existing sales organization with value-added product offerings for marketers looking to reach Hispanic consumers online. Headquartered in Miami, regional offices are located in Mexico City, Bogota and Buenos Aires as well as sales offices in nineteen cities throughout the globe. GroupArgent represented Adfunky and I-Network in the transaction and acted as their exclusive financial advisors.

Batanga, Inc. is now the largest independent digital media company serving U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets. By leveraging investments in technology, product and content, Batanga, Inc. creates significant value for its advertisers and publishers in both markets. These acquisitions represent a major commitment by Batanga, Inc. to the Hispanic online market.

“For almost twelve years, Batanga has consistently delivered the U.S. Hispanic online audience to hundreds of advertisers. These acquisitions will allow us to grow our U.S. Hispanic business as well as deliver audiences in some of the fastest growing emerging online markets in the world,” said Rafael Urbina, Chairman and CEO, Batanga, Inc. “Our commitment to the U.S. Hispanic online market has never been stronger and we are now poised to offer the same quality products throughout Mexicoand Latin America.”

Based in Argentina, Adfunky is a fast growing ad network and digital media company founded by Internet veterans to boost the results of advertisers, agencies and publishers. “Uniting Adfunky’s audience and expertise, both in the U.S. and abroad, with Batanga’s sophisticated products will create impactful opportunities for advertisers,” said Mariano Burstein, Co-Founder, Adfunky. “We are thrilled to be part of such an innovative team,” echoed Matias Charas, Co-Founder, Adfunky. “Collectively, we have much more insight and understand Hispanics online better than anyone else.”

I-Network, a Bogota-based online marketing company, is a clear leader in the markets it operates in. “We are eager to join forces with Batanga and work alongside U.S. marketers looking to reach a Latin American audience,” said Juan Carlos Samper, CEO, I-Network. “As the marketplace continues to evolve, Batanga is ready to deliver the Latin consumer in the U.S. and abroad.”

USA, Miami, FL & Colombia, Bogata & Argentina

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Social media agency Big Fuel acquires digital marketing firm Apex Exposure

June 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Social media marketing and branded content agency Big Fuel Communications has acquired Apex Exposure, a Brooklyn-based digital marketing firm.

Founded by Ben Luntz and Josh Scheiner, Apex Exposure provided clients with innovative digital content for both traditional and social-media based outlets. Apex works with various clients including representatives from Warner Music, Nike, and Target.

Both Mr. Luntz and Mr. Scheiner join Big Fuel as Group Directors of the Distribution Group, and will manage 20 individuals from both Apex and Big Fuel. The six full-time employees at Apex have all taken positions with Big Fuel.

“By acquiring Apex, we can leverage its relationships and contacts in its distribution network, further cementing our status as the top social media agency,” said Mr. Bond. “Ben and Josh will play an integral role in Big Fuel’s continued success by providing the industry knowledge to help build a robust distribution network. The Big Fuel Network also aligns closely with the value proposition of earned media originating from Apex.”

USA, New York, NY

 

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Dentsu acquires Steak Group

June 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Beringea portfolio company, Steak Group, has been sold to media agency network Dentsu. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Steak will operate under the supervision of Dentsu Network West, reporting to its London office.

Steak is a digital media company, with offices in London, New York and Melbourne. Its reputation for consumer engagement and delivering measurable results is reflected in its diverse client roster, which includes such innovative brands as Virgin Holidays, AXA, Swiftcover, Debenhams and Comparethemarket.com.

Steak currently has 94 employees and is led by Oliver Bishop, Co-founder and CEO, and Duncan Parry, Co-founder and Head of Paid Search. Seb Bishop is non-executive Chairman.

Steak was Interactive Media Awards Agency of the Year after only three years trading in 2008, and has since maintained top fifteen status in Marketing and New Media Age league tables for digital search agencies in the UK.

Jim Kelly, CEO of Dentsu Europe said, “I have followed Steak’s progress since it started in 2005, and admire enormously what Ollie and his partners have achieved. Digital media is a cornerstone of Dentsu Network West’s growth strategy. This acquisition is a great step in offering class leading digital solutions to our clients in Europe”.

The partnership enables Steak to both work with Dentsu’s European offices, and to offer to its clients Dentsu’s media expertise throughout Asia. Steak is currently exploring opportunities for its clients in South East Asia.

The acquisition also doubles Dentsu’s size in the UK (alongside Dentsu London and Dentsu Sports), and follows on Dentsu’s acquisition in January of the Düsseldorf based digital creative agency, Social Thinkers, further substantiating Dentsu’s commitment to digital growth and success in Europe. Jim Kelly will join the Steak board of directors along with Tim Andree, CEO of Dentsu Network West, and Executive Officer, Dentsu Inc. Seb Bishop will remain as non-executive Chairman.

Steak’s operations will continue to be run from its headquarters in Shorts Gardens, Covent Garden, London.

As part of the transaction, Beringea the private equity investor, which invested in Steak in 2007 will fully exit the business and Trevor Hope, Beringea’s Chief Investment officer will step down from Steak’s Board.

Dentsu was advised by Clarity Capital Partners and Steak by Green Square Partners.

USA, New York, NY & UK, London

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Possible Worldwide Acquires Brazilian Digital Agency Grïngo

June 3, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Possible Worldwide, a WPP Digital company, has acquired a majority stake in Brazilian digital agency Gringo. The deal expands Possible Worldwide’s global footprint, augmenting its strategic position in emerging markets such as China and India with the ability to execute large scale interactive initiatives in the fast-growing Brazilian market.

The 65-person Grïngo serves as digital agency in Brazil for clients including Coca-Cola, Absolut Vodka, Microsoft and Itaú Unibanco (Brazil’s largest bank). The agency boasts one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most award-winning track records over the past three years, having garnered 24 FWA awards, 15 Wave Awards, 3 Cannes Lions awards and a Silver Pencil award from The One Show. Founders Andre Matarazzo and Fernanda Jesus will join Possible Worldwide as Chief Creative Officer, São Paulo, and President, São Paulo, respectively.

“Grïngo is on a quest to change brands’ communication strategies into interaction strategies, allowing them to form deeper, more meaningful relationships with consumers,” said Matarazzo, founder and chief creative officer at Grïngo. “This vision meshes perfectly with Possible Worldwide’s strategic approach and its strength in creating user-centric experiences that drive customer interaction. We look forward to becoming part of the WPP family.”

In addition to the sharing of a similar strategic vision, the Grïngo acquisition reflects the Possible Worldwide emphasis on having strong, native understanding of the international markets it services.

“The Grïngo team has produced an exceptional body of groundbreaking digital work for its Fortune 1000 clients, and we are pleased to add their expertise and insight to Possible Worldwide,” said Trevor Kaufman, global CEO of Possible Worldwide. “With this acquisition we gain unparalleled local knowledge of the fast-growing Brazilian market and the ability to develop and execute client initiatives that will best connect with the country’s nearly two hundred million consumers.”

USA, New York, NY & Brazil, San Paulo


 

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WPP Acquires a Majority Stake in F.biz, the Largest Independent Digital Agency in Brazil

June 3, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP has acquired 70% of F.biz Ltda., the largest independent digital advertising agency in Brazil.

The São Paulo based agency was founded in 1999 and has enjoyed annual growth rate of nearly 50% since then. The agency employs 200 people and services clients such as Unilever, Campari, Itaú, Vivo and NetShoes.

F.biz’ managing partners, Barradas, Marcelo Castelo, Marcello Hummel, Paulo Loeb, Pedro Reiss and Roberto Grosman, will remain in their current positions.

This acquisition of the leading independent digital agency in the dynamic Brazilian market is central to WPP’s overall strategy of expanding its capabilities in the digital, direct and interactive disciplines and strengthening its presence in faster growing markets. Collectively, including associates, the Group employs over 4,500 people in Brazil, WPP’s eighth largest market, generating revenues of over R$1.1 billion.

USA, Washington DC & Brazil, São Paulo

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24MAS has acquired digital cross-media agency Spoiled Milk

May 31, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

24MAS, a global mobile advertising and solutions provider, has acquired digital cross-media agency Spoiled Milk. Spoiled Milk is a full-service agency specializing in digital consultancy, social media strategy and cross platform app development for iOS, Android, Windows Mobile and more.

Founded 2005, with offices in Copenhagen, Zurich and Belgrade, Spoiled Milk has a proven experience of introducing and helping clients in optimizing their web and mobile markets. 24MAS thereby strengthens its position as a provider of both mobile advertising and mobile applications solutions, acquiring both award-winning technology and creative cross-media talent.

“We are thrilled about the addition of Spoiled Milk to the 24MAS Group of companies. Spoiled Milk are at the forefront of technology and design trends, working for a broad client base delivering cutting edge products and solutions. The combination of Spoiled Milk and all the other business units of 24MAS, means we will be strengthening our cross media expertise and product range, deploying them on a global basis,” says Tero Turunen, CEO 24MAS.

Sweden, Stockholm  & Denmark, Copenhagen

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