Publicis Groupe acquires Interactive Communications Ltd in Taiwan

February 23, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Publicis Groupe is to acquire Interactive Communications Ltd (ICL), a Taiwan public relations and social media consultancy. For the past seven years, ICL has been an affiliate of MSLGROUP, Publicis Groupe’s flagship specialty communications, PR and events network.
Founded in 1998 and employing 30 communications professionals, ICL specializes in innovative communications campaigns combining public relations, social media and event experiences. The ICL team has worked for companies across more than 25 different sectors, and clients include Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company, Sony, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Particularly renowned for its creativity and innovative social media capabilities, ICL was recently recognized at Campaign Asia-Pacific’s 2010 ‘Digital Media Awards’ for its social media work for Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Following the acquisition, the agency will continue to be led by founders Cindy Chou, who serves as Chair of ICL MSL, and Mario Fang, Managing Director. Both leaders have more than 15 years of experience in the marketing industry. Cindy Chou was named Taiwan CEO of the year in 2009 and 2010 by BRAIN magazine, Taiwan’s leading marketing and technology publication. Both Cindy Chou and Mario Fang will join the MSLGROUP Greater China Management Board, and Cindy Chou will henceforth report to Glenn Osaki, President, MSLGROUP Asia.

The acquisition of ICL is Publicis Groupe’s fourth in Asia for the MSLGROUP network in the past five months. MSLGROUP Greater China is a top five international PR agency with eight offices and 225 staff across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Olivier Fleurot, Chief Executive Officer, MSLGROUP remarked, “We are delighted that ICL has become a fully fledged member of MSLGROUP. This new addition reflects our commitment to provide our local and multinational clients with a best-in-class team in Taiwan and seek out partners who share our long-term vision and commitment to building an innovative offering for clients.”Cindy Chou, Chair of ICL MSL and member MSLGROUP Greater China Management Board, commented, “ICL has worked with the MSLGROUP global network as an affiliate for the last seven years and our staff and clients have come to rely upon this relationship to add value to our activities in Taiwan. Now that we are officially joining MSLGROUP, we will be focused on expanding our role in the Greater China team to service key clients and deepening our expertise in social media marketing.”

France, Paris & Taiwan, Taipei

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Is Swiss smart meter company Landis+Gyr about to be put up for sale?

February 22, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Reuters are reporting that – Swiss smart meter company Landis+Gyr has hired Credit Suisse and Lazard Ltd to advise on a sale of the company. They quote “people familiar with the matter”.

“Landis+Gyr, which could be worth well over $1 billion, is expected to draw interest from multi-industry conglomerates such as General Electric Co, Danaher Corp, Johnson Controls Inc and Honeywell International Inc, as well as industrial groups based in Europe and Japan”, Reuters sources said. Private equity firms and technology companies are also likely to be interested.

Landis+Gyr is a provider of integrated energy management solutions. The Company offer a broad portfolio of products and services in the electricity metering industry. Founded in 1896, Landis+Gyr has annualised sales of more than US$1.25 billion, operates in 30 countries across five continents, and employs almost 5,000 people.

Through the late 90s the company saw a series of different investors and owners, including Elektrowatt, KKR and Siemens. In 2004 Bayard Capital of Australia purchased the company. Since Bayard’s acquisition other companies have been added to the Group.

Switzerland, Zug

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Investments in green companies and technologies globally now total more than $2 trillion

February 22, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

A new report from Ethical Markets Media which tracks private investments since 2007 in green companies and technologies globally, says investments now total more than $2 trillion.

The Green Transition Scoreboard® (GTS) represents time-based, global research of non-government investments and commitments for all facets of green markets. This update of the GTS totals  $2,005,048,785,088 from 2007 to the end of 2010. This is significant because many studies indicate that investing $1 trillion annually until 2020 will accelerate the Green Transition worldwide.  The updated 2010 finding puts global investors and countries on track to reach the $10 trillion in investments goal by 2020.

Hazel Henderson, D.Sc.Hon., FRSA, former US government technology advisor and president of Ethical Markets Media said, “this new total is remarkable in spite of economic uncertainty.  It indicates that the global transition away from the 300-year fossil-fueled Industrial Era is accelerating toward the cleaner, greener, information-rich economies of the 21st century.”

Timothy Nash, M.Sc., Senior Advisor to Ethical Markets Media, adds, “This over $2 trillion total does not include nuclear, ‘clean’ coal or CCS, nor biofuels from food or agricultural sources, which we consider unsustainable.”

Rosalinda Sanquiche, Ethical Markets Media’s Executive Director and editor of the Green Transition Scoreboard® report, points out, “this startling amount does not include thousands of deals under $100 million, which we hope to include in future reports.  We have added and will continue to track our exclusive Corporate R&D sub-report and invite companies to alert us to any investments we may have missed.”

The full report is available at www.greentransitionscoreboard.com.

USA: St. Augustine, FL

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United Media Holding (UMH) to acquire Sports.ru

February 22, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

According to Quintura blog and newspaper RBC Daily, the Ukrainian publisher of sports daily Komanda and football bi-weekly Futbol, Ukrainian Media Holding, is to acquire a majority stake in Russian online sports website Sports.ru.

The deal is valued at between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, according to the RBC Daily.

Russia & Ukraine

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Yandex plans $1 billion IPO on NASDAQ in June/July 2011

February 21, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

We reported in November last year that Russia’s largest internet firm Yandex was considering a £1bn listing in London. According to Quintura blog and newspaper Vedomosti the IPO will go on NASDAQ in June – July 2011. The company has hired investment banks Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley to manage the IPO. The shares to be sold will come mostly from existing shareholders of Yandex. The private equity funds managed by Baring Vostok Capital Partners (BVCP), Tiger Global, Runet II, Almaz Capital and UFG own about 60% shares in Yandex.

Ru-Net Holdings, consortium of investors led by BVCP and UFG, invested $5.3 million for 35.7% shares in Yandex in April 2000.

Sources

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News Corporation to acquire Shine Group

February 21, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

News Corporation is to acquire 100 percent of Shine Group, the international television production group, for an enterprise value of £415 million. Shine Group will report to Chase Carey, News Corporation Deputy Chairman, President and Chief Operating Officer.

“This is a unique and exciting opportunity for us. Shine is a leader in the global television production business with a proven track record of developing hit shows and new formats worldwide,” said Carey. “We have every confidence that Shine will be an important part of the expansion strategy for our worldwide TV operations.”

Elisabeth Murdoch, Chairman and CEO Shine Group said: “In a rapidly consolidating global TV industry, this alliance uniquely provides the conditions in which Shine Group can continue to lead and prosper. News Corporation is the partner that enables us to maintain our aspiration to be best in class across all our sectors, and prepares and equips us for future growth. Shine shares News Corporation’s long-standing belief in creative excellence and ambitious expansion. I could not be happier or more proud that from such modest beginnings Shine will join such an extraordinary group of companies.”

Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of News Corporation commented: “Shine has an outstanding creative team that has built a significant independent production company in major markets in very few years, and I look forward to them becoming an important part of our varied and large content creation activities. I expect Liz Murdoch to join the board of News Corporation on completion of this transaction.”

USA, New York, NY & UK, London

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West Australian Newspaper Holding to take over Seven Media – Aus$4.1bn deal

February 21, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

According to a report by Reuters, West Australian Newspaper Holdings (WAN) is to takeover Seven Media Group from Kerry Stokes and private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR). The A$4.1 billion deal involves issuing shares, repaying a loan and taking on debt.

WAN will raise A$1.154 billion to fund the acquisition and will combine its newspaper interests with Seven Media’s television network and magazines businesses.

KKR will hold a 12.6 percent stake in the new combined group, down from 45 percent in Seven Media while Stokes’ Seven Group Holdings will hold 29.6 percent in the combined entity versus 45 percent in Seven Media.

Stokes’ Seven Group will received A$1.081 billion in WAN shares at $5.99 per share and A$250 million in convertible preference shares for a total value of about A$1.3 billion under the deal.

WAN would also repay an existing A$650 million loan owed by Seven Media to Seven Group.

KKR bought a 50 percent stake in Seven for A$3.2 billion in 2006 at the peak of the buyout boom and has since trimmed its stake to 45 percent following a period of losses that forced Stokes to write down his shareholding in Seven Media to zero.

Read the rule story on Reuters

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Nordstrom to acquire HauteLook

February 17, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Fashion retailer Nordstrom is to acquire HauteLook. HauteLook offers limited time sale events on the world’s top fashion and lifestyle brands.. The Company said the acquisition will enable Nordstrom to participate in the fast-growing private sale marketplace and provide a platform to increase innovation and speed in the way it serves customers in all channels.

Nordstrom will acquire HauteLook for $180 million in Nordstrom stock with a portion subject to ongoing vesting requirements. In addition, the transaction includes a three-year earn-out of up to $90 million in Nordstrom stock subject to company performance and vesting requirements for the existing management team. The overall transaction structure provides significant incentive and retention mechanisms for HauteLook senior management. HauteLook will operate as an independent, wholly-owned subsidiary, be managed by its current leadership and the HauteLook brand and website will remain separate from Nordstrom.

The transaction is expected to be dilutive to Nordstrom in 2011 due to non-cash expenses related to the acquisition. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011.

Guggenheim Securities, LLC is acting as financial advisor to Nordstrom and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and Lane Powell PC are acting as its counsel. JP Morgan Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor to HauteLook and Gunderson Dettmer is acting as its counsel.

USA, Seattle, WA

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Publicis Groupe acquires digital content and social media agency Holler for Leo Burnett

February 17, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Yet another Publicis Groupe acquisition!

Publicis Groupe has acquired Holler, London-based digital content and social media agency Holler. The Holler brand will become part of the Leo Burnett Group in the UK.

Founded in 2001, Holler is specialised in branded entertainment strategy, content creation and social media. The agency’s clients include Channel 4 (E4, More4), Global Radio (Capital, Heart, Galaxy, Classic, XFM), Red Bull and Logica. Holler has won several industry awards including 3 Gold IPA Effectiveness awards including ‘Best Innovation’ for work on E4’s Skins, plus a Guardian MEGA Award and IMA Grand Prix. The agency’s team of 35 digital specialists strengthen Leo Burnett’s rapidly-expanding digital capabilities, bringing the number of digital specialists in the UK Leo Burnett Group to more than 70.

The agency will continue to be managed by founding partners, James Kirkham, Managing Partner, and Will Pyne, Executive Creative Director, together with Simon Hankin, Joint Managing Partner.

The acquisition of Holler is in line with Publicis Groupe’s policy of continuing to expand its digital business throughout all of its networks. Digital is one of the two growth drivers at the heart of Publicis Groupe’s targeted acquisition strategy and today accounts for 28% of the Groupe’s revenue. Over the next three years, Publicis Groupe aims to increase the percentage of revenue derived from digital to 35%.
Andrew Edwards, Group Chairman and CEO Leo Burnett (UK) said: “Our mission is to ingrain digital thinking into every aspect of Leo Burnett’s work and culture. The acquisition of Holler, with its outstanding track record in social and branded content, will provide us with greater depth and specialization in these important and fast-growing areas. We want to provide our clients with the best advice on these decisive trends and to continue to create great brand thinking, throughout all platforms.”

France, Paris & UK, London

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Dynastar Ventures to acquire My Affordable Energy

February 17, 2011 — Fusion DigiNet

Dynastar Ventures (www.dynastarventures.com), a direct selling company focused on the sale of electricity and natural gas services to commercial and residential customers, is acquiring My Affordable Energy, a Texas-based direct selling company focused on selling energy services.

“The acquisition of My Affordable Energy’s business is the launch pad for Dynastar’s entry into the energy services business through our proven direct sales and operational infrastructure,” stated Josh Henderson, Chairman and CEO of Dynastar.  “The deregulation of energy services over the past few years is very similar to what entrepreneurial telecommunications providers experienced in the 1990’s.  The decision to break up AT&T on a national basis is comparable to incumbent energy providers being deregulated to sell electricity and natural gas on a wholesale basis to our Regional Energy Providers.

Historically, the notion of “choice” from whom you purchase energy services was non-existent.  As a result prices were fixed and regulated. Deregulation has opened a new door to selling competitively priced energy services that many people were not aware existed.  Dynastar is positioning itself as the premier leader with a direct sales model to acquire energy services customers initially in Texas, Pennsylvania and New York and soon in many more states.”

USA, Louisville, KY & USA, Houston, TX

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