St Ives acquires Solstice Consulting

March 1, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

St Ives plcst ives, an international marketing services group, has acquired Solstice Consulting LLC, a Chicago-based digital consultancy specialising in mobile-first digital product design and engineering services.

Established in 2001 and trading under the name Solstice Mobile, the business employs approximately 200 staff across three offices in Chicago, New York and Buenos Aires. The company has a strong client base across Fortune 1000 businesses in the US, with particular strength in the financial services, manufacturing and distribution sectors.

In the financial year ended 31 December 2014, Solstice generated adjusted EBITDA of £2.7 million on revenue of £16.5 million; gross assets were £5.1 million.

St Ives has agreed to acquire Solstice, on a cash and debt free basis, for £24.7 million, to be satisfied by approximately £20 million in cash and approximately 2.6 million St Ives shares. Further consideration of up to £25.3 million may be payable (to be satisfied 80% in cash and 20% in shares) dependent on incremental profit performance for the years ending 31 December 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Solstice will operate as a subsidiary of St Ives and will continue to be managed from its current location by its existing management team, which includes J Schwan, the vendor.

Matt Armitage, Chief Executive of St Ives, commented:“This acquisition further strengthens St Ives’ reputation and capabilities in digital, and significantly extends these into mobile. Strategically, the deal supports the growth of the Group’s marketing services division, while expanding our presence and capabilities in the Americas.”

UK, London & USA, Chicago, IL

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New Media to acquire Stephens Media, LLC for $102.5 Million

February 25, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

New Media Investment Group Inc., a publisher of locally based print and online media in the United States, is acquiring substantially all of the assets of Stephens Media, LLC for $102.5 million in cash, subject to working capital adjustments. New Media intends to fund the acquisition with cash on the balance sheet and available capacity under its credit facility. Stephens Media is a newspaper publisher operating eight daily newspapers, over 65 weekly and niche publications, and more than 50 websites serving communities throughout the United States. The assets have a combined average daily circulation of approximately 221,000 and 244,000 on Sunday.

Michael E. Reed, New Media’s President and CEO commented, “We are pleased to announce the proposed transaction to acquire Stephens Media. The portfolio is anchored by an attractive set of print publications with a strong community focus, solid readership base, and stable advertisers with limited customer concentration. These award-winning, daily newspapers are the trusted source of local news in their communities providing journalistic excellence for more than 100 years. We are very excited to welcome Stephens Media into our growing New Media family, and look forward to introducing new digital initiatives, such as Propel and BestRide into their markets, while simultaneously continuing their long standing tradition of providing premier content to the communities they serve.

New Media anticipates the deal will close in the first quarter of 2015. The deal follows New Media Investment Group’s acquisition of Halifax Media Group in November for $280 million.

USA, New York, NY & Las Vegas, NV

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Internet Brands acquires Total Attorneys 

February 23, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Internet BrandsInternet Brands has acquired Total Attorneys, a company founded in 2002 that generates online and phone leads, as well as appointment scheduling services, for small and medium sized law firm attorneys

Total Attorneys“As one of the oldest and largest legal marketing platforms, Total Attorneys helps thousands of attorneys attract and convert consumers into new clients,” said Chris Braun, General Manager of the Legal division at Internet Brands. “The company’s proven track record of helping attorneys grow their practices is an ideal fit within our Legal portfolio, which shares the same philosophy of innovation and superior customer service.”

The Total Attorneys brand will remain intact and the company will continue to operate from its Chicago headquarters.

USA, Los Angeles, CA & Chicago, IL

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Bunzl acquires Quirumed in Spain and Jan-Mar Sales in Canada

February 23, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

bunzl-logoBunzl plc, the international distribution and outsourcing Group, today announces that it has completed the acquisition of two further businesses in Spain and Canada.

quirumedThe Company has acquired Quirumed, S.L. in Spain.  Based in Valencia, Quirumed is principally engaged in the supply of healthcare related products and equipment to an international customer base consisting of medical centres, doctors’ surgeries and other end users throughout Spain and in other countries in Europe.  Revenue in the year ended 31 December 2014 was €18 million.

jan-marBunzl has also purchased Jan-Mar Sales Limited in Canada.  Based in Toronto, Jan-Mar is principally engaged in the sale of cleaning and hygiene supplies to distributors in the region.  Revenue in the year ended 31 January 2015 was C$12 million.

Commenting on the acquisitions, Michael Roney, Chief Executive of Bunzl, said:

“The acquisition of Quirumed is an important development for Bunzl as it takes us into the healthcare sector in Spain for the first time, having previously acquired businesses there in the cleaning and hygiene, safety and foodservice sectors.  The purchase of Jan-Mar complements our existing cleaning and hygiene business in Canada and strengthens our position in the Toronto region.

UK, London & Spain, Valencia & Canada, Toronto

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Reader link acquires Baker & Taylor Marketing Services U.S. and Baker & Taylor Publishing Group

February 23, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

ReaderLinkLogoReaderlink Distribution Services has acquired the Baker & Taylor Marketing Services U.S. (“BTMS”) and Baker & Taylor Publishing Group (“BTPG”) businesses from Baker & Taylor, Inc.

BTMS UK and BTMS Mexico are not included in the transaction and will remain subsidiaries of Baker & Taylor, Inc.

Readerlink is the largest full-service book distribution company to non-trade booksellers in the USA, selling approximately one out of every three trade books sold in the USA. All of the current management and employees of the acquired businesses are joining the Readerlink team, including Sydney Stanley, Executive Vice President and General Manager, who will continue to lead the acquired businesses under Readerlink’s ownership. Sydney will report to Michael Hesselbach, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of RDS.

Readerlink will be acquiring BTMS’ 504,000 square-foot Indianapolis, Indiana distribution center, as well as its general offices in San Diego, California, and its editorial offices in Ashland, Oregon.

In the near future, BTMS will re-brand to Readerlink Marketing Services, and BTPG will re-brand to Printers Row Publishing Group. The individual publishing imprints, Silver Dolphin, Thunder Bay, Canterbury Classics and Portable Press will not be re-branded.

“We believe that the businesses’ talented management team, dedicated employees and world-class wholesale club partners distinguish them as leaders in their respective verticals,” said Dennis E. Abboud, President and C.E.O. of Readerlink. “This transaction provides us with additional assets and expertise to continue our long-standing, proven commitment to customer service and to help us and our new retail partners succeed in a dynamic and evolving book market.”

USA, Oak Brook, IL

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21st Century Fox completes acquisition of true[X]

February 17, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

21CF21st Century Fox has completed the acquisition of true[X] media, a video advertising company that specialises in consumer engagement and on-demand marketing campaigns. The parties announced a preliminary agreement in December 2014. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Previous reporting – 21st Century Fox to Acquire true[X] Posted on December 17, 2014true[x] media

USA, New York, NY

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RPS Group acquires Klotz Associates for up to $24.1M

February 17, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

RPSlogoRPS Group plc has acquired Klotz Associates Inc. (“KAI”), a Texas based consultancy providing engineering, planning and environmental services, for a maximum consideration of US$24.1million (£15.9 million).

KlotzFounded in 1985, KAI has its headquarters in Houston and offices in Austin, San Antonio, Lufkin and Fort Worth. The company, which employs 116 staff, works primarily on projects associated with transport, water and land development, primarily to public sector clients in Texas.
Seventeen of the eighteen vendors of the business, including the founder Wayne Klotz, are remaining with RPS; the other vendor has recently retired.

In the year to 31 December 2014, KAI had revenues of US$26.2 million (£17.2 million), fee income of US$19.4 million (£12.8 million) and profit before tax of US$3.6 million (£2.4 million), after adjustment for non-recurring items. Net assets at 31 December 2014 were US$5.4 million (£3.6 million). Gross assets at 31 December 2014 were US$9.3 million (£6.1 million).
RPS is acquiring the entire share capital of KAI for a maximum total consideration of US$24.1 million (£15.9 million), all payable in cash. Consideration paid to the vendors at completion was US$16.9 million (£11.1 million). Subject to certain operational conditions being met, two further sums of US$4.8 million (£3.2 million) and US$2.4 million (£1.6 million) will be paid to the vendors on the first and second anniversaries of the transaction respectively.

Alan Hearne, Chief Executive of RPS, commented: “Klotz Associates has an excellent reputation and track record in Texas, as well as a strong management team. Its skills will complement the services RPS currently provides in the water sector.  It will also enable us to extend the range of capabilities of our business to include transport and infrastructure consulting.  We anticipate Wayne Klotz and his highly experienced team will make an important contribution to our BNE North America business, which remains a priority for investment for the RPS Board.”

UK, Abingdon, Oxfordshire & USA, Houston, TX

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STATS acquires The Sports Network

February 10, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

statsGlobal sports data and analytics provider STATS has acquired The Sports Network. Based in Philadelphia. The Sports Network is an international sports information company. Its content ranges from statistics to news, weather and injury reports to instant scores, branded product and game casts to photography and complete fantasy coverage data, US domestic or world-wide, radio or TV, print or Internet, mobile to signage.

TSNAbbr“The growing appetite for sports content, data and analytics continues to revolutionize the experience of sport in every arena for fans, teams and brands alike,” said Gary Walrath, CEO of STATS. “The combination of STATS and The Sports Network will expand our ability to meet the increasing demand for the creative use of sports data and analytics across different customer segments globally.”

STATS acquired Bloomberg Sports in September 2014.

USA, Northbrook, IL & Philadelphia, PA

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Xchanging plc acquires spend analytics company Spikes Cavell

February 6, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

xchangingXchanging plc, a business process, procurement and technology services provider, is to acquire the spend analytics company Spikes Cavell Analytic Limited, for up to $11.5 million on a cash free, debt free basis. $6.75m will be paid on completion, and up to a further $4.75m will be payable over the next two years, subject to achieving operating performance targets.The Acquisition is expected to complete by the end of March 2015.

spikes cavellSCAL is a British company which provides spend analytics technology and services mainly to public sector institutions in the UK and higher education authorities in the USA, but also increasingly to the private sector.  Based in Newbury (UK) and Virginia (US) and with 35 employees, SCAL has around 60 lead customers, some of whom represent groups. SCAL had revenues of £1.8m for the year ended 31 March 2014.

Spend analytics is an important diagnostic tool for customer due diligence in determining spend savings and is frequently included within wider procurement engagements. Spend analytics also provides a way for measuring spend in order to manage supply chain risk and assist organisations in assessing their compliance with diversity programmes. SCAL is also pioneering analytics services that benchmark an organisation’s competitiveness against its peers.  

Ken Lever, Xchanging’s Chief Executive, commented: “Increasingly organisations are recognising the major savings that can be made by using technology to enhance their procurement strategies. Our procurement business went through a significant transformation in 2014, building on the impetus of the MM4 acquisition, made in late 2013, which brought a core technology platform. It also opened up the business to accelerated client acquisition by increasing the number of lower price point offerings. SCAL contributes to this strategy and further enhances our technology capabilities.”

UK, London & UK, Berkshire & USA, Virginia

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Under Armour acquires Endomondo and MyFitnessPal

February 5, 2015 — Fusion DigiNet

Under Armour, the athletic sportswear maker, has acquired Endomondo and MyFitnessPal. Under Armour already owns the MapMyFitness and UA RECORD™ suite of applications. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

MyFitnessPal is a free resource for achieving and maintaining health and fitness goals. It has 80 million registered users

Endomondo is an open fitness tracking platform and social fitness network connecting athletes throughout the world. Endomondo has around 20 million registered users, approximately 80% of which are located outside of the U.S.

“Under Armour’s demonstrated global leadership in health and fitness innovation is greatly enhanced with the addition of Endomondo and MyFitnessPal, as we continue to redefine and elevate the Connected Fitness experience for millions of people around the world,” said Kevin Plank, Chairman and CEO of Under Armour. “Similar to MapMyFitness, Endomondo and MyFitnessPal have established track records of unmatched equity, expertise and passion in the fitness and nutrition space, and they are ideal partners to enable Under Armour to provide data-driven, proactive solutions to help athletes of all levels lead healthier and more active lifestyles.”

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Under Armour, Endomondo will continue to operate out of its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark. Following the anticipated closing of the acquisition in the first quarter of 2015, MyFitnessPal will continue to operate out of its headquarters in San Francisco, CA.

USA, Baltimore, MD & Denmark, Copenhagen & USA, San Francisco, CA

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