Collective acquires UK video network Web TV Enterprise

March 31, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Collective, a full service provider of media and technology solutions for display and video advertising, has acquired premium online video advertising network, Web TV Enterprise. The deal, follows Collective’s February acquisition of video advertising platform OggiFinogi. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Web TV Enterprise is the UK’s largest premium online video ad network, representing many of the UK’s leading web publishers and content owners. A pioneer of the VOD (video on-demand) advertising space since 2006, Web TV presents advertisers with the widest range of premium video channels on the web, reaching more than 25 million UK viewers a month.

“Slow adoption of online video advertising has resulted in the format’s potential being left largely untapped with video companies remaining a small subset of overall television advertising spend,” said Joe Apprendi, CEO, Collective. “Unlike most video networks, Web TV’s revenues come largely from broadcast media budgets versus smaller digital plans. This is a trend that we see accelerating in the UK, US and globally.”

USA, New York, NY & UK, London

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RALLY Marketing Group acquiring PassionFruit Games

March 31, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

RALLY Marketing Group, an integrated marketing and promotions agency, is acquiring PassionFruit Games, a developer of casual video games designed for the female market. PassionFruit Games recently released Tiger Eye Part 1: Curse of the Riddle Box, which has become one of the top-selling, novel-based casual games released to date. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Given the importance of the female shopper to our clients, we’ve built an incredible knowledge base and put great effort into understanding how their behavior is changing,” said RALLY CEO Lisa Clarke. “The acquisition of PassionFruit Games is an example of how RALLY, as an integrated agency, can help our clients capitalize on the evolution of marketing regardless of the platform or media.”

For Melissa Heidrich, Co-founder and Studio Director at PassionFruit Games, finding the right organizational fit was key. “There are many reasons on paper why this union makes sense,” she added. “However my decision is validated daily when we come in, sit in the same offices as one company, and work together to move this exciting new partnership forward.”

USA, Seattle, WA

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Nexamp acquires SolVera Energy

March 31, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Nexamp has acquired SolVera Energy. The company also formed into two new business units, Renewable Energy Solutions and Clean Energy Advisory Services, which is focused on energy efficiency consulting services for commercial and industrial customers.

“The acquisition of SolVera Energy and realignment of Nexamp will enable us to address major growth opportunities in the energy marketplace by leveraging our core capabilities in renewable power and energy efficiency solutions,” stated Nexamp board chairman and co-founder Henri- Claude Bailly. According to fellow co-founder and board member, Daniel P. Leary, “This is an exciting next step for Nexamp that will build on our momentum in the two strategic businesses that will have the greatest impact on our success.”

Nexamp co-CEO and board member, Stuart R. Patterson, will head up the Clean Energy Advisory Services group. “The new business unit will allow us to build on the success of dozens of energy efficiency projects in Massachusetts and expand our efforts in the Northeast and beyond,” said Patterson.

With the SolVera Energy acquisition, Nexamp named John R. Malloy, Jr., former CEO of SolVera Energy, as co-CEO of Nexamp and a member of the board of directors. Mr. Malloy will head up Renewable Energy Solutions. Former SolVera Energy Executive Vice President and CFO, Patrick A.

Daly, has joined Nexamp as CFO of Renewable Energy Solutions. SolVera Energy brings to Nexamp broad expertise in energy project and technology developments, project and structured financing, marketing and trading, and asset management.“Nexamp is a highly respected brand in the renewable energy industry and I am excited to lead our expansion in the North American market,” said Malloy. “To make this happen, I am committed to working closely with an array of trusted development partners to deliver high-caliber renewable energy projects.”

Prior to founding SolVera Energy, Mr. Malloy was Executive Vice President at Verenium, a pioneering cellulosic ethanol clean-tech company. He also has served in executive leadership roles at Predictive Power, Edison Mission Energy, Citizens Power, Beacon Energy, and Wheelabrator Technologies. Mr. Malloy is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and holds a SMME degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mr. Daly was a Managing Director at Alouette Capital in Boston, Managing Director in investment banking at Deutsche Bank in New York, and prior to that worked for Lehman Brothers, Kidder Peabody, Merrill Lynch, and Drexel Burnham Lambert. Mr. Daly is a graduate of Harvard University and holds an M.B.A. degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

USA, North Andover, MA

 

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TechTarget to acquire Computer Weekly from Reed Business Information

March 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Technology media company TechTarget is to acquire the websites, product offerings, and events associated with Computer Weekly and its sister channel-targeted brand MicroScope from Reed Business Information. The transaction is expected to close by the end of April. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The print versions of both Computer Weekly and MicroScope will be discontinued when the deal concludes.

Founded in 1966, Computer Weekly is read by UK Managers, Directors and CIOs monitoring the technology landscape. ComputerWeekly.com receives an average of 425,000 visits and 1 million page views each month. It has an associated email database of more than 165,000 subscribers, 42% of which are senior level IT managers. MicroScope has a long history of helping advertisers to reach the value-added resellers (VARs) that influence the technology purchase decision-making process. This site receives more than 100,000 page views each month and maintains more than 15,000 email subscribers.

TechTarget owns more than 90 technology-specific websites with 9 million registered members. Computer Weekly and MicroScope will complement TechTarget’s established offerings in the region, including SearchDataManagement.co.uk, SearchNetworking.co.uk, SearchSecurity.co.uk, SearchStorage.co.uk, and SearchVirtualDataCentre.co.uk.

“ComputerWeekly.com and MicroScope.co.uk strengthens TechTarget’s already high quality audience and substantial reach into senior IT decision makers in the UK,” said Bill Crowley, senior vice president of international, TechTarget. “TechTarget brings significant new opportunities to these properties with our history of developing audiences, lead generation expertise and our operational ability to execute multi-country guaranteed programs,” continued Crowley.

Computer Weekly and MicroScope are brands that UK IT decision makers already trust, and they bring technology news and IT management focused content with deep understanding of UK market nuances. TechTarget brings detailed technical content that all IT pros and managers need to make informed purchase decisions. Advertisers on these sites will gain a broader range of lead generation tools and branding products, along with greater functionality for interacting with IT buyers as they actively research technology solutions.

With the addition of Computer Weekly, TechTarget will also pursue new events in the IT space in addition to its existing Storage and Virtual Desktop events, and will expand on custom events already run by Computer Weekly.

USA, Newton, MA & UK, Sutton, Surrey

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RR Donnelley acquires Journalism Online

March 28, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

R. R. Donnelley has acquired Journalism Online and its Press+ offering which enables publishers to seamlessly integrate a paid content engine with their websites. Journalism Online is managed by two of the company’s co-founders, veteran digital-media leaders Steven Brill, founder of The American Lawyer magazine and Court TV, and L. Gordon Crovitz, a former Wall Street Journal publisher. They will sty with the business.

“Our publishing customers continue to develop multi-channel advertising and editorial strategies and Press+ provides a valuable tool for monetizing content,” said Thomas J. Quinlan III, RR Donnelley’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We provide solutions across the entire breadth of the publishing supply chain, from content creation and digital asset management through subscription solicitations, processing and renewals. Press+ enhances our offering and opens new avenues for publishers to generate incremental subscription and advertising revenue.”

Steven Brill said, “We are delighted to bring Press+’s innovative capabilities to RR Donnelley and look forward to engaging with the broad array of consumer and b-to-b publishers with whom RR Donnelley has relationships. For nearly 150 years, RR Donnelley has been enabling publishers to reach their customers with a viable, cost effective business model. We are excited to be working with them as they continue that tradition and that mission in the digital age.”

USA, Chicago, IL & USA, New York, NY

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eBay to acquire GSI Commerce for $2.4BN

March 28, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

eBay is acquiring GSI Commerce, a provider of ecommerce and interactive marketing services, for $29.25 a share, or total consideration of approximately $2.4 billion. The acquisition, which will be financed with cash and debt, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011.

The merger consideration represents a 51 percent premium over GSI’s March 25, 2011, closing price and a 47 percent premium over the average closing price of GSI Commerce common stock over the 30 trading days prior to March 28, 2011.

“We intend to lead the next generation of commerce innovation. The acquisition of GSI, which offers the most comprehensive integrated suite of online commerce and interactive marketing services available, will significantly strengthen our ability to connect buyers and sellers worldwide,” said John Donahoe, eBay Inc. President and CEO. “Combined with eBay Marketplaces and PayPal, we believe GSI will enhance our position as the leading strategic global commerce partner of choice for retailers and brands of all sizes. With more than 180 customers across 14 merchandise categories, GSI has long-term commerce services relationships with leading retailers and brands. We expect that GSI will benefit from eBay’s global platform and technology capabilities, and its clients will be able to leverage eBay Marketplaces and PayPal services.”

As part of the transaction, eBay will divest 100 percent of GSI’s licensed sports merchandise business and 70 percent of ShopRunner and Rue La La. eBay believes these businesses are not core to its long-term growth strategy. These assets will be sold to a newly formed holding company, which will be led by GSI founder and CEO Michael Rubin.

eBay expects the transaction to result in synergies of approximately $60 million by 2013; the company expects the transaction to be EPS neutral in 2011 and accretive in 2012. As part of the divestiture, eBay will loan the holding company $467 million and retain a 30 percent stake in Rue La La and ShopRunner. In addition, Michael Rubin will invest additional cash of $31 million in the holding company.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, GSI Commerce may solicit acquisition proposals from third parties for a 40-day “go-shop” period continuing through May 6, 2011. It is not anticipated that any developments will be disclosed with regard to this process unless GSI Commerce’s Board of Directors makes a decision with respect to a potential superior proposal. The merger agreement provides eBay with a customary right to match a superior proposal. There is no guarantee that this process will result in a superior proposal.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Peter J. Solomon Company are acting as financial advisers to eBay, while Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP is acting as its legal adviser with regard to the transaction. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated is acting as financial adviser to GSI Commerce and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP is acting as legal adviser to the special committee of the GSI Commerce Board of Directors. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is acting as legal adviser to GSI Commerce.

Assuming its acquisition of GSI closes mid-third quarter, eBay said it expects the deal to be immaterial to its 2011 non-GAAP EPS guidance which it announced January 19, and have a negative impact of $0.30 – $0.34 to its 2011 GAAP EPS guidance, including a GAAP charge primarily related to the divested GSI businesses.

For more information on the transaction, including background information and factsheets, visit http://changingshopping.ebayinc.com.

USA, San Jose, CA & King of Prussia, PA

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Meltwater acquires social CRM software business JitterJam for $6M

March 28, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Social media and news monitoring company, The Meltwater Group, has acquired Social CRM software company JitterJam. Meltwater purchased JitterJam for $6 million, and all of JitterJam’s employees will join Meltwater.

Meltwater has revenues of around $100 million a year company. The company has 55 offices around the world serving more than 18,000 customers. JitterJam combines email, social media and mobile engagement with an intelligent contact database to provide businesses with an integrated consumer engagement and marketing platform. The JitterJam platform is built for consumer-facing companies who are looking to generate ROI from social, mobile and email engagement and marketing. The JitterJam platform will be integrated over time with the Meltwater Buzz product.

“Meltwater was bootstrapped with $15,000 ten years ago and has now grown to a $100 million leader without external funding in the online media monitoring space. Also, we have proven we have the expertise to achieve rapid success in emerging markets,” said Jorn Lyseggen, chief executive officer and founder of Meltwater Group. “The Social CRM space is clearly experiencing fast growth and within three years we aim to generate $100 million a year in Social CRM solutions alone. The JitterJam technology and talent will help us achieve this goal.”

Meltwater acquired BuzzGain last year and says it intends to acquire more businesses and technologies to help the company further expand its product suite.

USA, San Francisco, CA & Bedford, NH

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Max Media Group to acquire www.BB2Live.com

March 28, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Max Media Group is to acquire majority control of the assets of www.BB2Live.com and the company’s technology applications including Internet Radio Protocol, Internet Television, VOIP and SMS text messaging.  Additionally, Max Media Group will be acquiring BB2’s movie library. The assets include BB2’s approximate 15 million subscribers and users of its various services.

In the last 3 years over $3.5mm has been invested in developing BB2’s technology and building its subscriber/user base.

Max Media Group operates a network of web sites including http://www.babelation.com, http://www.hotautoweb.com, http://www.hotrvweb.com, http://www.hotboatweb.com and http://www.hotcharityweb.comwww.smallcaptube.com among others. Additionally, the Company owns the Maximum Motoring Radio Show.

It is the intent of MXMI and BB2 management to immediately integrate the marketing resources and business model of MXMI with the content, services and subscriber base of BB2 to create several revenue steams. The assets of BB2 as a part of the Max Media Network (“MMN”) leaps MXMI’s business plan forward several years. Management believes that the BB2 assets, MXMI marketing resources and the MXMI web properties will prove to be an extremely successful combination.

James Grady President & CEO of Max Media Group, Inc. stated, “This is an opportunity of a lifetime for Max Media! If one was to look at the valuations of The Huffington Post, Facebook, and Groupon based on users, our valuation should be immediately impacted! Groupon reportedly turned down $6 billion from Google, based on 27 million registered users comes out to be over $200 per user ! Huffington was just purchased by AOL for $315 million. In terms of content producers that values each writer at over $5,000! Facebook at $65 billion works out to be a $1000 per user. I know there are obviously many different metrics that make up a valuation other then these. Combine our advertising model and niche markets with a value of just $10 per user I think you can see why we are so excited! ”

USA, Palm Harbor, FL

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Schneider Electric acquires energy procurement and sustainability services business Summit Energy

March 25, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Schneider Electric is to acquire Kentucky based energy procurement and sustainability services business Summit Energy Services.

Summit Energy provides its clients with services including energy procurement, risk management, market intelligence, data management and sustainability consulting. It employs around 350 staff based in 11 international offices across North America and Europe and serves client. The business is expected to generate sales of approximately $65 million for the current year with an EBITA margin above the Schneider Electric average.

The total purchase price for the company is $268 million (~ € 190 million) on a debt-free cash-free basis, subject to certain adjustments. The completion of the transaction is subject to regulatoryapprovals and customary closing conditions. This acquisition is expected to be accretive on earnings per share from year 1 and to meet Schneider Electric’s Return on Capital Employed criteria in 2014.

According to Schneider Electric, Summit Energy will be an excellent complement to Schneider Electric’s demand-side capabilities in the fields of energy audits, energy monitoring and energy efficient solutions.

Chris Curtis, Schneider Electric’s Senior Executive Vice President, North America, commented: “The acquisition of Summit Energy allows Schneider Electric to broaden our energy management services and solution portfolio, offering customers the ability to manage and optimize their energy consumption from the supply side through the demand side, while also growing our energy and environmental online reporting capabilities.”

“By joining with Schneider Electric, we will be able to deliver Summit’s unique service offering to Schneider Electric customers,” said Steve Wilhite, Summit Energy’s President and CEO. “In recent years, we have invested heavily in people and technology to serve our clients. In combining our strengths with Schneider Electric’s resources, Summit Energy will be even better positioned to lead our clients to cost-effective and sustainable energy.”

Summit Energy and Schneider Electric have issued an Open Letter about the acquisition, as follows:

Today we are excited to announce that Summit Energy has agreed to be acquired by Schneider Electric.

This is an expansion and growth strategy for both companies:

Schneider Electric will benefit by expanding into the energy procurement and sustainability services space, broadening its energy management solution portfolio through the acquisition of a leader in this regard.

Summit Energy benefits from access to Schneider Electric’s global reach, technical capabilities and financial resources enabling continued expansion in terms of services and technology-related tools for our clients, as well as increased geographic growth opportunities.

As you may know, Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries. Headquartered near Paris, France and with North American headquarters in Palatine, Illinois, Schneider Electric has been in operation for nearly 175 years and is widely recognized as the global specialist in energy management.

In recent years, Summit Energy has invested heavily in people and technology to serve its clients. In combining Summit Energy’s strengths with Schneider Electric’s knowledge and resources, we will be even better positioned to lead customers to cost-effective and sustainable energy.

This is a very positive step for both organizations. This partnership of two leaders will only serve to strengthen our service offering as well as provide customers with additional energy management related resources. We look forward to sharing more information with you on the new opportunity this acquisition presents in the near future.

Signed

Steve Wilhite, President and CEO, Summit Energy
Jeff Drees, US Country President, Schneider Electric

France, Rueil-Malmaison & USA, Kentucky

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Gilt Groupe acquires Decorati

March 25, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Gilt Groupe, an innovative online shopping destination, has acquired home decor site Decorati.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Decorati is a destination site for upscale interior design products and services as well as a community for the display of designer portfolios.  Decorati is a resource that enables interior design professionals to efficiently manage their projects and promote their businesses.  For consumers, Decorati offers a vast inspirational library of product images, along with the ability to connect with design professionals and research products from over 650 trade-only manufacturers.

“My vision for Decorati has always been to create a website to connect consumers with designers and provide broader access to the best interior design products and inspiration,” said Shane Reilly, Founder & CEO, Decorati.  “Marrying Decorati with Gilt’s shopping platform and vision for an expanded Home business will allow for an even stronger offering for our members.”

The Decorati acquisition will pave the way for Gilt to launch a broader Home business. Gilt plans to unveil its new Home offering later this year, which will be a mixture of full-price merchandise, one-of-a-kind items and antiques, daily flash sales, community and social tools, and will include a channel specifically for the designer.

Gilt Home currently offers 30 sales per week from over 400 brands including Baker, Kravet, Jonathan Adler, Stark, Lignet Roset, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Frette, and Soicher Marin. By incorporating a selection of products from additional trade-only brands, Gilt will create an assortment of home décor products shoppable online.

“The design community will be a key component of our expanded Home business,” said Kevin Ryan, Founder and CEO, Gilt Groupe.  “Decorati has done a fantastic job establishing a venue for high-end designers, knowledgeable consumers, and trade-only brands.  We are excited to combine those assets as we expand Gilt’s Home business.

USA, New York, NY

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