AOL acquires Pictela

December 16, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

AOL has acquired Pictela, the provider of a global technology platform for serving and distributing high-definition brand content across online advertising and social media. Pictela will remain a separate group within AOL Advertising, based in New York, and will continue to provide its products and services to outside partners. Deal terms were not disclosed. Pictela joins other strategic acquisitions made by AOL in 2010 including StudioNow, 5min Media, TechCrunch and Thing Labs.

“Pictela is an outstanding fit for AOL as we re-imagine the intersection of content, advertising and the consumer experience,” said Jeff Levick, AOL’s President of Global Advertising and Strategy. “Pictela’s product development team is best-in-class, and its beautiful, content rich, media display formats meet Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and Online Publishers Association (OPA) standards that run across AOL Media properties and other publisher sites. We’ve taken one important step towards spotlighting quality ad content with Project Devil on AOL Media properties, and now we’re taking a second by bringing Pictela into the AOL Advertising family.”

Levick added, “Our goal is to create the highest quality ad content for the best user experience and monetization opportunities, and we’re excited to work with innovators who share our vision and excitement for what brand advertising on the Web should be.”

Formed in 2009, the Pictela platform delivers videos, photos and applications in real time across the Web in a range of formats that meet IAB and OPA standards. Pictela is certified by some of the world’s largest publishers and is distributed by AOL, Glam Media and Hearst, among others.

“We believe that joining AOL is an outstanding opportunity to combine with a company that is as committed to redefining brand advertising on the Web as we are,” said Greg Rogers, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pictela. “As one of the world’s premium publishers, AOL will not only be one of our biggest customers, it will also be our greatest resource with the scale, technology and commitment to world-class content to help realize the true potential of the online environment.”hare of voice and providing a large, multi-functional advertising canvas, early Devil ad campaigns have achieved significantly better Interaction Rates (ITR) than the industry average for rich media banners. Following advertiser demand, out these factors as they relate to AOL may be found in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in AOL’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AOL is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

USA, New York, NY

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Market America to acquire Shop.com

December 15, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Market America, an Internet marketing and product brokerage company, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the business of online comparison shopping comparison business Shop.com. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

MarketAmerica.com and Shop.com will continue to operate as separate websites through a transition period.  Market America’s headquarters will remain in Greensboro, NC, while Shop.com’s facilities in Monterey and Pasadena, CA and London, UK will continue without disruption.  The combined entity will have in excess of 650 employees. The transaction is expected to be completed by year-end 2010.

“Together, Market America and Shop.com are creating a new ‘social shopping’ movement,” said James Ridinger, President and CEO of Market America.  “To date, no one has truly harnessed the power of technology to provide a high touch, personal shopping experience combined with the depth of selection available through instant search of the more than 43 million products in our database.  Our business model rewards customers at every stage – by making their shopping easier and more efficient, and rewarding them with cash back for shopping with us.  This unique strategy positions us for explosive growth and to compete head-to-head with the biggest, most dominant shopping sites on the Internet.”
“Market America and Shop.com are online shopping pioneers with distinct areas of expertise,” added Ken Goldstein, Chairman & CEO of Shop.com who will depart his current role and become a strategic advisor to Market America as part of the transition.  “By bringing our companies together, we are creating a game changing shopping experience with transformative potential to our customers, retailers, consumer brands and business partners.”

USA, Greenboro, NC

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Undertone acquires European Digital Representation Firm WWN

December 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Undertone today announced it has acquired WWN, a European digital representation firm that helps global brands connect with audiences on the world’s best websites. The acquisition unifies two organizations that are known for providing advertisers with premium reach on quality sites and gives publishers a unique opportunity to monetize both locally and globally.

WWN’s relationships include hundreds of the world’s leading professional news and information publishers in more than 40 countries, including The Economist, The Times of India, Der Spiegel, Reuters and El Mundo. 

“Undertone is aggressively scaling its business through rapid organic growth as well as domestic and international acquisition,” said Mike Cassidy, CEO, Undertone. “We are becoming a much more dominant player in digital advertising.”

Undertone also announced today that Steve Goldberg, one of the founders and an original board member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), has joined the company as Senior Vice President and General Manager of International to lead the firm’s expanding global initiatives. Goldberg brings executive experience from media technology and mobility companies such as Intellisync (acquired by Nokia), Go2Net (acquired by Infospace), and Microsoft, where he was group manager of the initial advertising team.

USA, New York, NY & France, Paris

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Navteq to acquire Trapster

December 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

autoblog is reporting that Navteq, a wholly owned subsidiary of of Nokia, is to acquire Trapster, the speed trap and road hazard tracking company that makes GPS apps for iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

According to Autoblog, five companies were interested in acquiring Trapster.

Read the full story

USA, Cardiff by the Sea, CA

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Meredith acquires Real Girls Media Network

December 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Meredith Corporation a media and marketing company serving American women, has completed the acquisition of Real Girls Media Network, a social content hub for women online. The acquisition continues Meredith’s strategy of deepening its portfolio of content and social media offerings through the Meredith Women’s Network of digital media, which also includes powerhouse sites BHG.com and Parents.com.

Real Girls Media Network, founded in 2006, will continue to be based in San Francisco. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and it will not have a material effect on Meredith’s fiscal 2011 financial performance.

The Real Girls Media Network includes DivineCaroline.com as well as a premium network of branded sites for women. DivineCaroline.com is a unique platform that publishes user-generated content, alongside expert-guided editorial, to offer women a community in which to share experiences and form connections.  The addition of the Real Girls Media Network – which averages approximately 4 to 5 million monthly unique visitors – increases the reach of the Meredith Women’s Network to nearly 25 million monthly unique visitors, according to Omniture SiteCatalyst measurements.

“This acquisition builds on our digital footprint and reinforces Meredith as the leading provider of authoritative and engaging content for women on the topics that matter most to them and their families,” says Liz Schimel, EVP, Consumer Relationship Management and Digital Media, Meredith National Media Group.

USA, New York, NY & San Francisco, CA

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Deloitte acquires the assets of both ClearCarbon Consulting and DOMANI Sustainability Consulting

December 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Deloitte has acquired the assets of ClearCarbon Consulting and DOMANI Sustainability Consulting both of which will be integrated into Deloitte’s sustainability services. ClearCarbon and DOMANI will operate on an interim basis as “ClearCarbon by Deloitte” and “DOMANI by Deloitte” respectively.

As reported on Fusion DigiNet, Deloitte also acquired carbon and sustainability consultancy dcarbon8 earlier this year.

With ClearCarbon and DOMANI, Deloitte takes a significant step forward in achieving its goal of being a leading sustainability services provider.  The combined sustainability offerings create a new hub of sustainability excellence, highlighting a combination of strategic insights and deep knowledge of complex challenges impacting organizations across all industries and sectors. 

“Deloitte has identified the sustainability services market as a key growth area,” said Jessica Blume, national managing principal, research and innovation, Deloitte LLP.   “As an emerging offering, the acquisitions of ClearCarbon and DOMANI will further strengthen Deloitte’s ability to help clients drive value, mitigate business risk, and drive growth, efficiency and innovation through improved environmental, social and financial performance.”

“ClearCarbon and DOMANI bring a suite of capabilities to Deloitte that will complement and enhance our current sustainability offerings,” said Chris Park, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, and national leader of Deloitte’s sustainability services.  “Both organizations bring a strong track record of advising large, complex organizations on a range of sustainability-related issues, helping them unlock value and mitigate risks across their organizations and throughout their supply chains.  We welcome our new colleagues and look forward to bringing our enhanced capabilities to our clients.”

Deloitte’s sustainability offerings draw on the insights and experience of Deloitte’s four primary business units, and include a broad and deep set of industry-specific services across corporate strategy and operations, mergers and acquisitions, information technology, human capital, corporate tax, internal and external audit, and enterprise risk management.  This approach enables Deloitte to help clients address a range of domestic and global sustainability opportunities and risks related to:

“ClearCarbon’s deep experience helping clients gain value from carbon management will further position Deloitte as the go-to advisor on these issues,” said Kyle Tanger, director, Deloitte Consulting LLP.  “Deloitte’s strong strategic advisory capabilities in all areas of sustainability, combined with its global reach, will help our clients gain even greater value from their sustainability initiatives.  We are thrilled to be part of this new hub for sustainability excellence.”  Tanger was chief executive officer at ClearCarbon Consulting.

“DOMANI has spent years helping our clients increase revenue, mitigate risk and reduce operating costs through improved environmental and social performance,” said Will Sarni, director, Deloitte Consulting LLP.  “Our vision of how companies should embrace sustainability as a core business function is well-aligned with Deloitte’s approach and we’re confident that our experience and capabilities will further benefit our combined client-base.” Sarni was chief executive officer of DOMANI Sustainability Consulting.

USA, New York, NY & Arlington, VA & Hauppauge, NY

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Platts to acquire BENTEK Energy

December 14, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Platts, a global provider of energy and metals information and a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is to acquire BENTEK Energy, a privately held energy market analytics company headquartered in Evergreen, Colorado. The purchase price was not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to be completed in early 2011.  Following the closing, BENTEK will continue to operate under its current name with its current management.

BENTEK, founded in 1985, offers a portfolio of data, information and analytics products in the natural gas and liquids sector.  Its customers include the majority of the top firms in the energy industry, including independent producers, pipeline companies, and utilities, as well as industry regulators, financial institutions, and the largest energy hedge funds.

“BENTEK is a highly successful company whose leadership position has been attained through its deep understanding of energy industry dynamics, of the data reflecting those dynamics, and of the requirements of customers,” said Larry Neal, president of Platts.  “By combining BENTEK’s analytical expertise with Platts’ products, we can offer customers a comprehensive view of the North American natural gas market.  Our collective capabilities will provide them with a unique lens on the market – from underlying supply/demand fundamentals to real-time news and price information – and deepen our coverage of other complex commodity markets.”

Porter Bennett, BENTEK’s president and CEO, added that Platts’ current position in power, coal and liquefied natural gas, coupled with its global sales force, provides the opportunity to accelerate BENTEK’s plans for expanding into new commodities and international markets.  “As part of Platts, we are better positioned to capitalize on the increasing internationalization and interdependence of the natural gas and liquids markets and address the growing global demand for fundamental market data and analysis.”

The BENTEK acquisition follows Platts’ announcement, reported on Fusion DigiNet, last week that it plans to acquire Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), a leading provider of news and price information to the wholesale and retail petroleum markets in North America. With the BENTEK and OPIS acquisitions, Platts will deepen its power coverage and broaden its oil coverage in the North American market.

USA, New York, NY & Evergreen, CO

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WPP acquires Marketing Direct

December 9, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

WPP is acquiring US-based Marketing Direct, (“MDI”) through KBM Group, part of the Wunderman network.

MDI is an integrated marketing services company with expertise in strategy, design and execution of marketing campaigns, including agency creative and media services, primarily for the healthcare industry. In addition, it focuses on direct and interactive marketing services to healthcare and insurance providers.

Founded in 1997 in St Louis, Missouri, MDI has been ranked one of America’s fastest growing private companies by Inc. Magazine for the past three years. The company employs 64 people. MDI’s key clients and partners are major national and regional companies in the healthcare and insurance industries.

MDI’s audited revenue for the year ended 31 December 2009 was $16.9 million, with gross assets at the same date of $7.3 million.

This investment continues WPP’s strategy of investing in fast growing markets and sectors and strengthening its capabilities in the healthcare sector. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and the approval of Marketing Direct Inc.’s shareholders.

USA, St Louis, MO

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ABB acquires Insert Key Solutions

December 9, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has agreed to acquire the business of Insert Key Solutions (IKS), a privately owned specialist software provider, adding IKS’ solutions to its recently acquired Ventyx software portfolio. The move will create a comprehensive solution set for asset and work management, maintenance optimization, and equipment reliability.

Based in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, in the United States, IKS specializes in delivering software solutions for process improvement, increased equipment reliability and operational performance in power generation plants, and transmission and distribution networks. The company has an extensive customer base in the thermal and nuclear power sectors, and a staff of 50 people.

“Insert Key Solutions provides a highly complementary offering to our solutions for the power industry,” said Jens Birgersson, head of the Network Management business within ABB’s Power Systems division. “It significantly strengthens our software-based solutions, which optimize equipment reliability, asset health and maintenance services for asset-intensive industries.”

“We are excited to become a part of the Ventyx team and the ABB family. We not only share complementary solutions, but also the same dedication to excellence and customer focus,” said Evan Niemkiewicz, President and CEO of Insert Key Solutions. “This integration enables us to fortify our infrastructure and product lifecycles and to take our solutions to a broader set of industries and geographies. I am confident it is the best path forward for our customers and our company.”

ABB plans to retain the IKS team and will place IKS executives in key roles within the Ventyx team responsible for Asset Suite, eSOMS (asset and operations management software), and IKS solutions.

Switzerland, Zurich & USA, Chadds Ford, PA

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EnerNOC to pay $26.5M for Global Energy Partners

December 9, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

EnerNOC has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Global Energy Partners, an industry leader in designing and implementing utility energy efficiency and demand response programs. Through this acquisition, EnerNOC will expand its addressable market and will be able to deliver a broader, more integrated portfolio of world-class applications and services to its utility partners and commercial, institutional, and industrial (C&I) customer base.

“Our utility customers and prospects view demand-side resources as an integral component of their overall strategies,” said Tim Healy, Chairman and CEO of EnerNOC. “By joining forces with the Global Energy Partners team, EnerNOC is strengthening its ability to capitalize on this attractive market opportunity. We are eager to welcome Global Energy Partners and the utilities that it works with into the EnerNOC family, while at the same time, significantly enhancing the go-to-market reach for Global Energy Partners’ world-class solutions.”

“EnerNOC’s reputation for superior customer service, reliability, and technology applications and services is directly aligned with Global Energy Partners’ DNA,” said John Kotowski, CEO of Global Energy Partners. “Our combined experience working with hundreds of utilities throughout North America, our complementary technologies, and our shared commitment to partnership with our utility customers will empower us to deliver the industry’s most innovative and proven solutions.”

Global Energy Partners, a 55-person enterprise headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, operates across the United States. Its past and present clients include Pacific Gas & Electric , Southern California Edison,  Bonneville Power Administration, Duquesne Light Company, the Midwest ISO, Inland Power & Light, Oklahoma Gas & Electric, and Portland General Electric, among others.

Some immediate areas where the joining of EnerNOC and Global Energy Partners is anticipated to drive increased value include:

Integrated Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Programs: Global Energy Partners has extensive experience designing and implementing turn-key, performance-based energy efficiency programs for utilities targeted at C&I customer segments. Combined with EnerNOC’s industry-leading presence in the C&I demand response market, EnerNOC will be able to better meet utilities’ growing needs for integrated energy efficiency and demand response solutions.

AutoDR: EnerNOC currently manages one of the largest portfolios of automated C&I demand response resources. Global Energy Partners has been an industry pioneer in implementing innovative AutoDR solutions, and has worked closely with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to develop and test the OpenADR communications protocol. EnerNOC anticipates that AutoDR will become increasingly important to utilities and grid operators as more intermittent renewable resources are added to generation portfolios.

Customized Services: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory forecasts that utilities will spend as much as $12.4 billion on demand-side solutions by 2020. Global Energy Partners’ diverse range of services will enable EnerNOC to play a bigger role in the lifecycle of utility demand-side management initiatives, from energy planning and load analysis, to program design, implementation and evaluation.

The acquisition is scheduled to close in early 2011. EnerNOC anticipates this acquisition to be neutral to earnings in 2011, and accretive in 2012.

EnerNoc has now bought nine companies, including Cogent Energy (building management – Concord, CA) and eQuilibrium Solutions (carbon accounting – Boston, MA).
 
USA, Boston, MA & Walnut Creek, CA

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