Decision Resources Group Acquires Abacus International

December 15, 2012 — askhabra

decision-resources-printDecision Resources Group, a subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Ltd. announced on 4th December its acquisition of Abacus International, a UK based provider of evidence-based global market access solutions for many healthcare companies worldwide. Abacus will become part of the Market Access Business Unit at Decision Resources Group which currently includes the brands: Fingertip Formulary, HealthLeaders-InterStudy, PharmaStrat and Pinsonault. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 1995, Abacus has experience “across a wide range of disease areas,” providing services to its healthcare (many of which pharmaceutical) clients at all stages of their product life cycles including analysis of clinical evidence, development of technical health economic models and pricing input amongst others. With over 55 staff, Abacus is one of the largest independent health economic consultancies in Europe. The firm also offers software solutions in the form of in-house produced web and mobile applications.

Abacus states on its website that its current management team will remain in place and that it will “continue to deliver its services as normal.” The firm will also remain headquartered in Bicester, UK.

Peter Hoenigsberg, CEO of Decision Resources Group said “Abacus is an important acquisition in Decision Resources Group’s overall strategy to expand our market access capabilities and offer our clients the most innovative, high-value advisory solutions.” He continued “It also serves to boost our position in Europe as an important resource for healthcare firms worldwide.” The firm’s press release for the acquisition states that  “The acquisition is part of Decision Resources Group’s overall strategy to acquire and/or build leading brands that can leverage each other’s thought leadership to create meaningful products and services for the healthcare industry.” View the press release here.

US, Massachusetts & UK, Bicester

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QVC acquires Oodle

December 10, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

QVC‘s wholly owned subsidiary California Voices is to acquire the assets of Oodle, Inc., the social commerce company that runs the Oodle Marketplace application on Facebook. The acquisition is expected to close by December 31, 2012. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Oodle has raised $23 million in funding.

“The QVC shopping experience is fundamentally social in nature,” said Claire Watts, QVC U.S. CEO.  “With this acquisition, we can fuel our evolving social commerce experience.  Oodle brings a great team that shares our values and passion for creating a rich customer experience.”

See, CEO and co-founder of Oodle, Craig Donato’s blog announcement here.

USA, West Chester, PA

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MediaMath acquires mobile and video ad delivery platform Tap.Me

December 10, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

mediamathMediaMath, a digital media-buying platform, has acquired mobile and video in-game ad platform Tap.Me.  The terms of the deal were not disclosed.  Tap.Me had raised in excess of $4M from investors including: Hyde Park Venture Partners, I2A Fund, Hyde Park Angels and Great Oaks Venture Capital.

“As marketers are increasingly turning their focus to mobile and video, Tap.Me has built technology that makes it easy for marketers to deliver their message in these environments,” said Joe Zawadzki, MediaMath CEO. “By adding their technology and brilliant engineering team, we’re building a better platform that gives advertisers the ability to buy across all digital marketing channels from one single platform.”

Tap.Me CEO Matt Spiegel joins MediaMath’s executive team as SVP and GM of Open, MediaMath’s business and technology environment for digital interoperability, and will oversee MediaMath’s operations in the Mid-West region.  The entire Tap.Me team will join MediaMath.

New York, NY & Chicago, IL

 

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Yahoo! acquires video chat company OnTheAir

December 10, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Reuters is reporting that, Yahoo! has acquired video chat company OnTheAir. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A Yahoo! spokeswoman said that Yahoo! had not plans to offer OnTheAir’s existing product, which lets Web users host live video conversations and was launched in March.

This is the second acquisition for Yahoo’s mobile group since Marissa Mayer became CEO earlier this year. In October, Yahoo! acquired Stamped, a New York-based mobile startup that allows consumers to share information about favorite restaurants and music on their smartphones.

Mayer, a former Google Inc executive, has said that her top priority is to create a coherent mobile strategy for Yahoo! and that she intends for at least half of the company’s technical workforce to be working on mobile products.

See the announcement at OnTheAir’s website here.

USA, Sunnydale, CA

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Publicis Groupe acquires AR New York

December 10, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

PublicisPublicis Groupe has acquired AR New York, a full-service advertising agency dedicated to the luxury goods, fashion and beauty industries. AR New York will become part of Publicis Worldwide, the Groupe’s historic advertising network. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

AR New York has helped to build a number of iconic global brands, including Asprey, Banana Republic, Brioni, Brooks Brothers, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, DFS, Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, Moët & Chandon, Neiman Marcus, Salvatore Ferragamo, Smartwater, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Valentino, Versace, Vogue Magazine and Waldorf Astoria. The agency was founded in 1996 by Raul Martinez and Alex Gonzalez. Current CEO Dianne desRoches joined as a third partner in 2000. Their team comprises some 50 communications professionals based in Manhattan.

AR New York will retain its name within the Publicis Worldwide global network, and will continue to service its core luxury and fashion markets. Founding partner Raul Martinez (Chief Creative Officer) and Dianne desRoches (CEO) will remain at the head of the agency, and will report to Jean-Yves Naouri, Chief Operating Officer of Publicis Groupe and Executive Chairman of Publicis Worldwide.

“The luxury market is an advertising segment ripe with investment opportunity,” said Jean-Yves Naouri. “It is forecast to grow by up to 7% in 2012, defying global turmoil and breaking into new markets. We are especially pleased to welcome the AR New York teams to Publicis Worldwide. They are passionate about the powerful influence of contemporary arts, design and culture on consumers’ engagement with brands, and this vitality and focus is the drive behind the award-winning work they create for their clients.”

France, Paris & USA, New York, NY

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AOL’s Advertising.com Group Acquires Buysight, Inc.

December 10, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

AOL’s Advertising.com Group has acquired Buysight, Inc., a provider of retargeting and intent-based targeted advertising. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Advertising.com Group clients include

Based in Sunnyvale, California and founded in 2008, Buysight offers ad targeting and retargeting services to the likes of ADTECH, The AOL On Network, goviral and Pictela. The company was funded by ONSET Ventures and Rembrandt Venture Partners.

“Our acquisition of Buysight is the perfect complement to our powerful suite of offerings for advertisers, agencies and publishers seeking to maximize their brands online,” said Ned Brody, CEO, Advertising.com Group. “We strongly believe that both brand and performance display, as well as mobile and video campaigns benefit from dynamic, targeted creatives and messaging. The acquisition of Buysight brings proven Dynamic Creative Optimization and machine learning capabilities which will further enhance AdLearn, our market-leading optimization engine, and its ability to provide brands and performance marketers a comprehensive and integrated optimization solution across channels.”

USA, New York, NY & Sunnyvale, CA

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NewBay Media acquires Intent Media Limited

December 7, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

New Bay IntentNewBay Media has acquired Intent Media. Intent, based in the U.K., produces business publications, websites and events within the entertainment, technology and leisure markets. Its brands include Pro Sound News Europe, TVB Europe, Installation, MCV, and ToyNews among many others.

NewBay, was formed in 2006 by the sale of United Business Media’s CMP Entertainment Media division. It is backed by The Wicks Group of Companies, www.wicksgroup.com a New York-based private equity

“Strategically, our plan has always included international expansion, and I am pleased that we were able to do this with a company that so perfectly complements our own portfolio and mission,” states Steve Palm, President and CEO, NewBay. “The addition of Intent immediately enhances our ability to serve the Broadcast, Pro Audio and AV markets. Further, Intent’s terrific team and operating platform open up new opportunities for global expansion of our powerful U.S. brands, as well as development of Intent’s market-leading Gaming, Music and Computer/Mobile Retailing brands into the U.S.”

Intent will operate in parallel to NewBay’s existing business. Stuart Dinsey, Intent’s Founder and Managing Director, will continue his role under the new ownership and will help manage NewBay’s European efforts, operating from Intent’s offices in Hertfordshire and London.

This is the sixth major acquisition of brands by NewBay in as many years, adding assets from United Business Media’s CMP Entertainment Media division in September 2006, from IMAS in July 2007, from Reed Business Information-US in December 2009, from Penton in February 2011, and from Future PLC in January 2012.

USA, New York, NY & UK, Hertford, Hertfordshire

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Advanstar Global acquires ENK International

December 7, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

Advanstar Global LLC, an events and information services company that also owns Advanstar Communications, has acquired ENK International LLC. ENK arranges fashion events that features Fashion Coterie, Intermezzo, and Accessory Circuit in New York, Las Vegas, Europe and Asia. ENK and Advanstar Communications will be operated separately.

The acquisition is a major addition to Advanstar Global’s global portfolio, which already contains MAGIC, PROJECT, FN Platform, Licensing International, other tradeshows, conferences, and events. Advanstar Global’s financial sponsors include Anchorage Capital Group LLC, Ares Management LLC, and Veronis Suhler Stevenson.

Advanstar Global’s CEO, Joe Loggia, stated, “Having ENK, MAGIC and PROJECT within the same family of companies provides the fashion industry a choice of intimate and customized environments that satisfy their market needs. This allows us to be more responsive to our customers as we work to coordinate dates and venues, which makes the process more valuable for exhibitors and retailers. Moreover, Advanstar Global has made significant investments in new technology that will enable our company to further drive value, service and solutions across the entire fashion marketplace.”

USA, Wilmington, DE

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MyHeritage acquires Geni.com and raises $25m in new funding round

December 1, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

MyHMyHeritage, the online family history network, has acquired Geni.com and closed a new USD$25M funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with existing investors Index Ventures and Accel Partners also participating. Geni.com Founder David Sacks and BVP Partner Adam Fisher are joining the MyHeritage Board of Directors.

The purchase of Geni.com is the eighth and largest acquisition made by MyHeritage since the launch of its online family history network in 2005. It extends MyHeritage’s network to 72 million registered users, 1.5 billion profiles and 27 million family trees.

The new investment round will be used by MyHeritage to boost growth of its historical content services and expand commercial operations worldwide. In addition to acquiring significant record collections from Europe and rolling out global crowd-sourcing projects, the funds will enable MyHeritage to explore additional M&A opportunities and ramp up its international marketing operations. The latest funding round brings the total funds raised so far by MyHeritage to USD$49 million.

“Today’s news is a major turning-point for the family history industry, giving us significant new resources to extend our market leadership and deliver new value to families worldwide,” said Founder and CEO of MyHeritage, Gilad Japhet. “Well established as an innovative and social brand, Geni.com is a natural addition to MyHeritage and together we look forward to taking collaborative family history to new heights.”

Founded in 2007, Geni.com will continue to operate as a separate brand based out of its California office, which will also serve as the main engineering hub for MyHeritage in the US, alongside its main content offices in Utah. The entire staff at Geni.com will join the MyHeritage team.

The services of MyHeritage and Geni.com will initially run independently. MyHeritage plans to give respective users the option to collaborate on family history research by enabling two-way information flows between the sites that will facilitate new family discoveries and provide greater value to the users of both services.

USA, Los Angeles, CA & Provo, UT& Israel, Tel Aviv

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Google acquires Incentive Targeting

December 1, 2012 — Fusion DigiNet

googleGoogle has acquired coupon targeting company Incentive Targeting. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The acquisition was announced in a Tweet by Mike Dudas. Mike is on Google’s mobile commerce team. The Tweet reads, “Google acquires Incentive Targeting to power highly targeted manufacturer and private label coupon programs”

Here is the press release from Incentive Targeting:

We are excited to announce that Incentive Targeting has been acquired by Google!

When we founded Incentive Targeting in 2007, we set out to do for retail couponing what Google had done for online advertising: make it simple, relevant, measurable, and effective. So, it is both humbling and gratifying to be joining the ranks of the company that inspired our initial vision.

As part of Google, we will have the resources and expertise to continue the transformation of couponing from a way to give discounts to a way to build business. And, we can now work towards that vision as part of a company that improves the lives of hundreds of millions of people every day.

We didn’t reach this milestone alone. From day one, we have relied on the support and commitment of our retailers, brands, investors, partners, and advisors, as well as the hard work and dedication of our team. We could not have done this without them, and as we look ahead, we are thrilled to be part of Google!

– Ben, Josh, and the entire Incentive Targeting team

USA, Mountain View, CA & Cambridge, MA

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USA, Mountain View, CA & Cambridge, MA

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