Publicis Groupe takes a majority stake in longterm affiliate Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett

July 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Publicis Groupe has taken a majority stake in its longterm affiliate Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett, one of the biggest advertising agencies in Switzerland. Until now, Publicis Groupe has had a minority (40%) stake in the agency, and this transaction increases the Groupe’s participation to 100%. Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett will continue to align under the Leo Burnett global network.

Andy Stäheli, previously the agency’s Managing Director, will take over the company leadership from Peter Felser, and Peter Brönnimann succeeds Martin Spillmann as Creative Director. Spillmann and Felser will withdraw from day-to-day business operations, and will remain members of the Executive Board. Andy Stäheli will now report to Giorgio Brenna, CEO of Leo Burnett’s continental Western Europe region.

Founded in 2002, Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett is a full-service advertising agency based in Zurich, Switzerland. The agency employs nearly 80 communications professionals and provides the full range of advertising and communication services, including below-the-line and digital services. Key clients include ABB, Emmentaler Cheese, Fleurop, Lindt Chocolate, Postshop, Switzerland Tourism, Switzerland’s Cantonal Banks, Swiss Life (insurance) and Volvo.

Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett is the only Swiss agency to appear in the Top 3 on a national level for creative performance, earnings, as well as efficiency and reputation rankings. The agency is known for cross-media-campaigns and some of its popular campaigns include work carried out for Switzerland Tourism (“Mountain Cleaners”, “Holidays without Facebook”), Mammut (“Mary Woodbridge”) or the “SMS dialogues” for Swiss Telecom provider Sunrise (“Campaign of the year 2010”awarded by trade magazine “Werbewoche”). The agency has won 7 Cannes Lions for campaigns for Switzerland Tourism, Sunrise, Migros Fashion (“Real singles in underwear”), the left weekly WOZ (“WOZ buys UBS”), Cabaret Voltaire, Helvepharm (“The modest pharmaceutial company”).

Giorgio Brenna, Leo Burnett’s CEO Continental Western Europe Region, “Since its foundation in 2002 Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett has repeatedly impressed us with its creative power and how quickly it became the third largest agency in the country. The agency is one of our “Centers of Excellence” and underlines both our reputation as a creative network in Europe as well as the importance of great brand ideas for our clients.”

Andy Stäheli, CEO of Spillmann/Felser/Leo Burnett: “The Leo Burnett philosophy 100% matches our perspective on success-based communication. No other agency group devotes so much attention to the creative product. We are very much looking forward to sharing our ideas with like-minded people within the network as well as further profiting from their tools and experience.”

France, Paris & Switzerland, Zürich

Related articles:

Posted in Marketing/Advertising, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Business Promotion acquires Internet Marketing NewsWatch from Nroo

July 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Business Promotion, Inc. has acquired Internet Marketing NewsWatch from Nroo, Inc. Internet Marketing NewsWatch is an online news source for Internet marketing. Business Promotion has acquired the website, its associated newsletter and related assets.

Since 2006, IM NewsWatch has provided news of the Internet marketing industry, covering regulatory announcements, announcements by search engines, and other major service providers, as well as excerpts from blogs of note. IM NewsWatch also reports news about e-business, e-commerce, blogging, industry leaders and experts, new e-business and Internet marketing product launches, new seminars/teleseminars/webinars, as well as what’s new in authority IM e-zines and publications.

Maher Mograbi, president of Nroo, Inc., commented, “We have enjoyed operating IM NewsWatch and providing this news service to the IM community. However, we have other projects planned and felt that IM NewsWatch could better fulfill its mission if others were at the helm. We are pleased that Business Promotion and its president, Phil Cullum, accepted the leadership of this respected news source.”

Business Promotion, Inc.’s other ventures include http://ConversationsWithMarketers.com and http://WirelessSalesPros.com.

USa, Gardnerville, NV & Lexington, KY

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, Publishers, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Johnson Controls completes the acquisition of smart grid demand response business EnergyConnect Group

July 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Johnson Controls has completed the acquisition of EnergyConnect Group, a provider of smart grid demand response services and technologies. The acquisition was completed on July, 1, 2011.  News of the acquisition was first reported by Fusion DigiNet on March 3, 2011. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“One of our strategies at Johnson Controls Building Efficiency is to play a significant role in the growing market for demand response services by enabling smart buildings to interface seamlessly into the grid,” said Dave Myers, vice president of Johnson Controls and president of the company’s Building Efficiency business. “With the acquisition of EnergyConnect, Johnson Controls now combines the power of building automation systems with an intuitive technology platform that provides our customers the ability to take action to capture demand response opportunities.  This creates a new level of building intelligence.”

Demand response refers to changes in electricity usage for buildings based on capacity, price or reliability signals from the electric grid.  EnergyConnect’s demand response technology and service platform provides energy managers and facility operators real-time energy information and access to energy markets, enabling them to manage their energy usage.  EnergyConnect’s GridConnect technology platform provides a scalable, cost-effective, clean technology to enhance the grid’s efficiency and reliability.

“Johnson Controls recognized the benefits of EnergyConnect’s leadership in demand response technology,” said Kevin R. Evans, former president and Chief Executive Officer of EnergyConnect. “We have experienced outstanding growth and customer adoption since the launch of our award-winning GridConnect platform last year. Through the Johnson Controls acquisition, we are now positioned to extend this reach to a significantly larger customer base and accelerate the transformation of energy use in response to market prices while enhancing grid reliability.”

Evans will continue to lead the EnergyConnect team as vice president and general manager for Demand Response Services for Johnson Controls Building Efficiency.

Johnson Controls helps its customers reduce energy and operational costs by providing building management solutions. The additional products and services from EnergyConnect broaden Johnson Controls’ portfolio of energy solutions offerings.

USA, Milwaukee, WI

Related articles:

Posted in B2B Services, Energy & Environmental Services, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Net Communities acquires Podcast Voices and Video

July 6, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Net Communities has acquired Podcast Voices and Video, a production business specialising in the production of online audio and video.  Podcast Voices was established in 2005 when the word Podcast had just been invented, since then its clients have included leading advertising agencies and brands such as Lonely Planet, Sunday Times Destinations Show, MPH / Top Gear Live and Imago Tech Media (UCExpo/IPExpo). Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Podcast Voices Production Director and former shareholder said: “We are very excited about becoming a part of the Net Communities family, we have years of experience in producing online audio and video for a range of great clients, this move now gives us the opportunity to extend our offering to include the marketing and promotion of the audio and video programmes we create for our clients.  In addition we will now bring our skills in-house to enable the launch of sites like www.TechBuff.com, Net Communities new Photo and Video reviews site.”

Andy Evans Managing Director of Net Communities added “Wayne and his team are highly skilled in online audio and video production, we’ve used their services many times for bespoke projects created for clients like Sony Ericsson www.idealdayout.com and even for our own home page animated video.  I’m over the moon that we can now deliver in-house audio and video productions when creating innovative marketing solutions for our clients.”

UK, London

Posted in Broadcasting, Content Media, Internet Media, Marketing/Advertising, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Specific Media has acquired Myspace from News Corporation

June 30, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Digital media business Specific Media has acquired Myspace from News Corporation. As part of the agreement, News Corp will take a minority equity stake in Specific Media. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, it is being widely reported that News Corp sold Myspace for just $35 million in cash and equity. That’s a fraction of the $580 million that they paid to acquire the site six years ago when Myspace was the fifth-most-popular destination on the Internet, and well shy of its one-time $65 billion valuation.

“Myspace is a recognized leader that has pioneered the social media space. The company has transformed the ways in which audiences discover, consume and engage with content online,” said Tim Vanderhook, Specific Media CEO. “There are many synergies between our companies as we are both focused on enhancing digital media experiences by fueling connections with relevance and interest. We look forward to combining our platforms to drive the next generation of digital innovation.”

Specific Media is headquartered in Irvine, CA. It was founded in 1999 by brothers Tim, Chris and Russell Vanderhook.

As part of the deal, Emmy and Grammy winning artist Justin Timberlake will take an ownership stake and play a major role in developing the creative direction and strategy for the company moving forward. Specific Media and Timberlake plan to unveil their vision for the site in a press conference later this summer.

USA, Irvine, CA & Beverly Hills, CA

Related articles

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Platts to acquire Steel Business Briefing Group

June 30, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Platts, a division of McGraw-Hill and a global provider of energy, petrochemicals and metals information, is to acquire the Steel Business Briefing Group (the SBB Group), a privately held U.K. company and provider of news, pricing and analytics to the global steel market.  The SBB Group provides subscription-based, electronic products to the steel industry and its participants through two principal businesses, Steel Business Briefing (SBB) and The Steel Index (TSI).  Financial terms were not disclosed.  The transaction is expected to close on July 1.

“This acquisition reflects our strategic focus on high-growth global brands and businesses,” said Harold McGraw III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McGraw-Hill.  “Platts, which derives almost two-thirds of its revenue outside the U.S., is McGraw-Hill’s most global business and is relied upon worldwide for its news, pricing and analytical services for billions of dollars of commodities transactions annually.  With world steel consumption projected to increase approximately 60 percent during the next decade, the acquisition of the SBB Group will create new opportunities for Platts, which already generates strong revenue growth and excellent margins. Earlier this year, Platts expanded its platform in market-critical natural gas analytics capabilities by acquiring Bentek Energy.”

“The acquisition of the SBB Group supports Platts’ strategy of expanding its presence in dynamic global commodity markets and immediately boosts our capabilities and the value we can provide to customers,” said Larry Neal, president of Platts.  “We intend to build upon the success of the SBB Group’s talented leadership team and its highly respected businesses, SBB and TSI.  By joining forces, we can offer a more expansive product mix that better serves the growing global demand for timely, objective information on the steel industry.”  Neal further noted that the SBB business will be integrated into Platts and that TSI will continue to operate separately.

“We are delighted to team up with Platts,” said Patrick Flockhart, the SBB Group’s chief executive officer.  “We share a common commitment to providing top-quality news, prices, analysis and events that serve the global steel supply chain and we look forward to working together to enhance the value of our offerings and the benefits we bring to our customers and the market world-wide.”

Founded in 2001, the SBB Group is headquartered in London with seven global offices and a staff of more than 180.  The Group’s original business, Steel Business Briefing, is primarily a subscription business comprising a mix of daily news, weekly reports, prices and analytical publications delivered electronically.  The Steel Index, launched in 2006, is a specialist price information business focused on compiling indices through the collection of transaction price data from industry participants.

UK, London & USA, New York, NY

Related articles:

 

Posted in Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Market Data & Information, ~Europe, ~North America. Leave a Comment »

Centaur Media plc to be restructured and to sell off some titles

June 30, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Centaur Media plc, the business information and events group, has announced today that the Group is being restructured into three main operating divisions: Business Publishing, Business Information and Exhibitions.

As part of the process New Media Age and Design Week will become digital only publications: The Ascent B2B portfolio is being sold to Ascent director Derek Rogers: The Logistics and Supply Chain and Recruiter portfolios are to be sold as are the two monthly engineering titles, MWP and Process Engineering.

Read the announcement here

paidContent have published CEO Geoff Wilmott’s memo to staff – here

The Group will publish a year end trading update on 14 July 2011.

Related articles:

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, News, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

Reed Business Information acquires Ascend

June 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Fusion DigiNet has mainly reported on RBI selling businesses over the last year. For the second time in a month we are able to report on an RBI acquisition.

Reed Business Information, publisher of www.flightglobal.com, Flight International and Airline Business magazines, ACAS and Air Transport Intelligence, has acquired Ascend Worldwide Group Holdings Limited. Ascend will be integrated with RBI’s aerospace information and data services business, Flightglobal.

Ascend, headquartered in London with offices in New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo, delivers aircraft and engine data through online subscription services and provides valuations, appraisals and advisory services to a world-wide client base spanning aviation investors and financiers, lessors, manufacturers, operators and suppliers.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, it is likely that the deal works very well for Ascend’s private equity backer, Lloyds Development Capital. LDC acquired its initial holding in Ascend when in 2005 it backed a £10 million MBO of Airclaims, the provider of aviation claims, risk and asset management services. In July 2006, the information and consultancy division of Airclaims was re-branded “Ascend”. In August 2007, Ascend began trading as a separate entity.

Over the past five years Ascend has undergone rapid expansion. Ascend’s revenues have risen by 20% per annum over the previous three years and the number of employees has increased by 50%. In April 2010 LDC injected new capital and increased its stake in Ascend. The new capital commitment doubled LDC’s total investment in the company to £12million. LDC still owns Airclaims.

Ascend brings to Flightglobal an impressive position in the global air finance market,” says Jane Burgess, RBI managing director. “This exciting acquisition adds important new data assets and expertise to Flightglobal’s existing aviation data business and provides Ascend with access to Flightglobal’s powerful global aviation audience and extensive marketing capabilities.”

“I am very excited about the opportunities that the combination of Ascend and Flightglobal will bring.” says Gehan Talwatte, Ascend CEO. “By combining our insight and expertise with Flightglobal’s growing global audience, distribution capabilities and unrivalled media presence, we can significantly extend the reach of the Ascend brand.”

Further reading – Alasdair Whyte’s blog

UK, London

Related articles:

 

Posted in B2B Services, Consultancy, Content Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

SPARK Ventures sells half its stake in Mind Candy valuing the business as US$200m

June 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

SPARK Ventures has sold half of its stake in Mind Candy, the makers of kids pet monster games website moshimonsters.com, for $3.1 million. It values the business at US$200m based on the price paid for SPARK Ventures shares.

Moshimonsters has over 50m registered players worldwide, has successfully launched the sale of physical monster toys in major toy shops and launched the Moshimonsters magazine. Moshimonsters has a significant American and international client base. Mind Candy is headquartered in London and has around 70 staff.

Thomas Teichman, Chairman of SPARK Venture Management Ltd (which manages all SPARK’s assets) and Director of Mind Candy Inc. said ” At start up we backed the brilliantly creative and visionary founder of Mind Candy, Michael Acton Smith, in 2004, and are impressed and delighted by its rapid growth and popularity among children in over 180 countries. Its the second time we have successfully backed the founder in the last 12 years having backed Firebox.com, a successful B to C business, also at start up by Michael in 1999.”

UK, London

Posted in Content Media, Games, Internet Media, ~Europe. Leave a Comment »

News Corporation pays A$45 million for Kidspot

June 29, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

According to the Australian Financial Review, News Corporation has paid an estimated $45 million (Australian) for Kidspot, which runs websites for expectant and new parents.

Kidspot was established by Katie May and underwritten by the former lord mayor of Melbourne, Irving Rockman, who passed away last year.  John Hartigan, chief executive of News Corp’s Australian business, News Limited, said the deal would make News “the leading player in the highly valuable online parenting market.”

Australia, Melbourne

Related articles

Posted in Content Media, Internet Media, Publishers, ~Oceana. Leave a Comment »
« Older posts
Newer posts »