TRC Acquires Environmental Business Unit From RMT

June 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

TRC Companies has acquired the Environmental Business Unit of RMT, Inc., a subsidiary of Alliant Energy), for $13.3 million in an all-cash transaction.

Headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, RMT’s Environmental Business Unit specializes in consulting, development, engineering and construction through remediation and restoration; environmental, health and safety management; air pollution control; and solid waste management offerings. The Environmental Business Unit, which consists of approximately 200 consultants and 10 primary locations, has projected net service revenue for 2011 of approximately $27 million.

“The acquisition of RMT’s Environmental Business Unit aligns perfectly with TRC’s growth strategy,” said TRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chris Vincze. “Through this transaction, we add depth and capability to our service portfolio and significantly expand our presence throughout the Midwest, while strengthening our position in Texas. Also, RMT’s Environmental Business Unit provides us access to a deep and attractive roster of industrial clients, which allows substantial cross-selling opportunities.”

“For more than 30 years, RMT has been a recognized leader in environmental services. Beyond the geographic match, this acquisition represents a natural cultural fit for TRC, as RMT’s approach to client service and commitment to quality closely mirrors our own. The acquisition brings to TRC a talented group of industry professionals, and we welcome them to the TRC team. We look forward to a rapid integration, which we expect to be fully completed in the first quarter of fiscal 2012.”

RMT President Steve Johannsen said, “When we made the strategic decision to divest our Environmental Business Unit, we aimed to find a respected peer that would maintain our corporate heritage — strong customer relationships, a commitment to the environment and an employee-centric organization. As a result, we believe TRC is the ideal match. In an industry where expertise and reputation for quality are critical, TRC is a firm with a long and distinguished track record. We expect that this transition will be seamless and beneficial for both our customers and employees.”

USA, Lowell, MA & Madison, WI

 

 

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Intertainment Media to acquire Groupon like DealFrenzy.com

June 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Intertainment Media Inc. is acquiring DealFrenzy.com, a Groupon-like business. Intertainment will acquire all the turn-key assets of DealFrenzy.com including the backbone technology, deal pipeline, including preferred deals with major brands and an experienced sales and support team. The acquisition combines $500,000 in cash and $200,000 in Intertainment stock. The acquisition is expected to close by late June 2011.

DealFrenzy.com is scheduled to go live in early July 2011 and will launch in select US cities in 2011 and plans international, multi-language expansion.  In addition to consumer deals, DealFrenzy will be offering small and medium sized businesses access to commercial products and services further defining the group buying market.

“The acquisition of DealFrenzy is part of Intertainment’s merger and acquisition strategy for strategic investment and acquisition of immediate and near-term revenue programs that fit into Intertainment’s existing suite of services and technology,” said David Lucatch, CEO Intertainment Media “With the integration of Intertainment’s programs into DealFrenzy, we have effectively taken the group-buying, revenue rich platform, and enhanced it to make it not just socially engaging, but also to make it available to all cultural markets with no impediment of language communications.”

Canada, Ontario

 

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Max Media Group closes the acquisition of the assets of www.BB2Live.com

June 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet
Max Media Group has closed the acquisition of the assets of www.BB2Live.com and the company’s technology applications including Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), Internet Radio, VOIP, and SMS text messaging.

The closing also includes the acquisition of BB2’s film and music library, BB2’s approximate 15 million subscribers and BlackBook2.com (includes a complete social networking site as well as numerous unique URLs for future development).

Max Media will immediately begin evolving the social networking site into a community driven social network. The social network will offer affinity driven and user demanded services including email, live internet video exchange, video web chat, music streaming, movie streaming, video online telephony, conference calling, SMS texting and coupon cell phone delivery. Additionally, the Company will deploy a multitude of platforms which can be customised for any company, advertiser or end user. These technologies will allow Max Media to have a presence in every industry.

James Grady President & CEO of Max Media Group, Inc. stated, “This acquisition uniquely positions us to capitalize on the growing trend towards social networking and social marketing. As the world searches for new ways to socialize and communicate globally with like minded individuals, marketers are scrambling to capitalize on their every like, desire or need with products, services or information. We have the services, products, resources and tools to be growing squarely in the middle of this expanding market.”

Grady continued, “Our film and music library will become an immediate opportunity for increased revenues. Driving traffic and usage to the libraries from both the subscriber base and new users will be an initial focus. Additionally, we plan to initiate the coupon cell phone delivery technology to capitalize on the current demand in the marketplace for the Groupon and Deal of the Day coupon models.”

“We are extremely excited to bring our technologies and innovations to Max Media.  Our vast resources coupled with their vision and mission sets Max Media up to be a leader in the internet marketing and content delivery space,” stated Amy Nalewaik Co-Founder of BB2Live.

USA, Palm Harbor, FL & Tarpon Springs, FL

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Getty Images has completed the acquisition of Photolibrary

June 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Getty Images, a leading creator and distributor of visual content and other media, has successfully completed the acquisition of Photolibrary, a leading provider of creative stills imagery. The acquisition was first announced on April 27 2011 and will bring Photolibrary’s renowned collections, including Peter Arnold and Oxford Scientific, to even more customers around the world.

“The demand for compelling creative content continues to increase around the world and it represents a vital part of the imagery industry. This acquisition positions us to meet and exceed our customers’ demand for this unique content, across both the Asia Pacific region and globally” said Jonathan Klein, co-founder and CEO of Getty Images.

With the combined resources of Getty Images and Photolibrary, Getty Images will build upon their complementary geographic presence whilst making Photolibrary’s content more widely available for global online distribution.

In May this year, Getty Images acquired PicScout, a leader in identifying image use, metadata and licensing information on the web.

USA, New York, NY

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Google acquires PostRank

June 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Google has acquired PostRank. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

PostRank was founded in 2007 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, PostRank (originally AideRSS, Inc.) monitors and collects social engagement events correlated with online content in real-time across the web. PostRank gathers where and when stories generate comments, bookmarks, tweets, and other forms of interaction from a host of social hubs. Publishers and people interested in their content use PostRank Data Services and Analytics to gauge influence and reach with audiences.

Ilya Grigorik commented on the PostRank blog, “We are extremely excited to join Google. We believe there is simply no better company on the web today that both understands the value of the engagement data we have been focusing on, and has the platform and reach to bring its benefits to the untold millions of daily, active Internet users.”

The PostRank team will be moving to Google’s Mountain View offices in California.

USA, Mountain View, CA & Canada, Ontario

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EBSCO Publishing and The H.W. Wilson Company have merged

June 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

EBSCO Publishing and The H.W. Wilson Company have merged. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

According to Tim Collins, President of EBSCO Publishing, this acquisition leads directly to heightening the value and quality of EBSCO and Wilson resources. “Upholding the integrity of the Wilson indexing is essential, and extending these attributes to EBSCOhost resources is a critical part of this venture. When it comes to thesauri (subjects and names), and how these are leveraged, Wilson has long been an industry leader.  We look forward to bringing this value and approach to all applicable EBSCOhost databases and are excited about the benefits this will bring to EBSCOhost users. We are also pleased to be able to add the Wilson databases into the EBSCO Discovery Service search experience”

Harry Regan, President & CEO for Wilson, commented, “EBSCO and H.W. Wilson have been engaged as business partners for a number of years and are now officially operating as one. The result will be a broader and deeper range of products and services for the library reference community with significantly added value. Both companies have had separate, distinctive histories, but have always shared a common commitment for the highest order of customer satisfaction.”

Wilson’s Vice President of Indexing & Editorial Services, Mark Gauthier, is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. “As a company, Wilson has focused heavily on the quality of our indexing and how it impacts the search experience. With EBSCOhost full-text and abstract/index databases, along with EBSCO Discovery Service, EBSCO is really focusing on detailed editorial value to truly take its services to new levels. We’re excited about the possibilities and what we can do together to benefit the research experience for libraries.”

All Wilson indexing, abstracts and full text will be fully searchable via EBSCO Discovery Service for subscribers of Wilson databases. The addition of Wilson’s robust abstract/index records and unique full text will strengthen EBSCO Discovery Service.

Wilson databases will be loaded onto EBSCOhost over the coming months.  EBSCO will continue to maintain Wilson Web until such time that all Wilson databases are available on EBSCOhost and customers have been transitioned to EBSCOhost.

USA, Ipswich, MA & New York, NY

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Groupon files for a $750 million IPO

June 3, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

There have been numerous reports (including on Fusion DigiNet) over the past few months forecasting it, so it was no surprise to read Groupon’s SEC filing announcing their $750 million initial public offering. It was also only in January this year that Groupon completed a huge $950 million round of financing valuing the company at $4.75 billion.

Groupon grew out of a website called The Point, a website launched in November 2007 . The business has grown rapidly; revenue has risen from $3.3 million in the second quarter of 2009 to $644.7 million in the first quarter of 2011.  However, it is still running at a loss. In the first three months of the year Groupon generated revenues of $644.7 million, made a net loss in the period of $146.48. The reason, the company is spending fast to expand fast. In the period from the second quarter of 2009 to the first quarter of 2011 Groupon’s subscriber base rose from 152,203 to 83.1 million and they are now active in 43 countries.

Groupon’s investors include Accel Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Battery Ventures, Greylock Partners, Mail.ru Group (formerly Digital Sky Technologies), Maverick Capital, Silver Lake, and Technology Crossover.

Read the SEC filing here.

USA, Chicago, IL

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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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Thomson Reuters is to acquire Manatron, a property tax automation and land registry software business

June 3, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Thomson Reuters is to acquire Manatron, a provider of property tax automation and land registry software for governments and municipalities around the world, from Thoma Bravo LLC, a private equity firm. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Manatron will strengthen the expanding Tax & Accounting business with an additional 1,400 clients in over 20 countries and more than 40 U.S. states. Manatron’s flagship solution, Government Revenue Management (GRM), is an integrated suite of web-based property recording, assessment and tax software that automates the operational, informational, and planning needs for assessors, auditors, treasurers, tax collectors and other government officials. Manatron’s software solutions are being used by governments to replace antiquated systems to help improve customer service, streamline processes and manage the growing velocity of legislative changes.

“The government tax automation space is a growing segment and a natural fit with our strategy to improve workflow efficiency for our clients through innovative technology,” said Brian Peccarelli, president of the Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters. “Manatron has a great track record helping governments improve their collection and compliance processes, which improves accuracy, customer service and reduces costs associated with the collection process for all involved.”

In addition to its market-leading property tax offerings, Manatron is also considered a leader in the provision of land administration systems — helping governments and the private sector map, audit, register and publicize the value of assets and land. As one of the only providers of end-to-end government property tax management and land administration systems, Manatron processes more than $100 billion in annual tax revenue.

“Becoming part of Thomson Reuters extends Manatron’s global reach, but our mission remains the same — to deliver a solution that allows our clients to efficiently process and manage their land, property tax and assessment information,” said Bill McKinzie, president and chief executive officer at Manatron.

USA, New York, NY & Portage, MI

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