Energy Savvy raises $1.1 million

December 28, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

EnergySavvy, closed a $1.1 million series A investment according to a report on TechCrunch quoting the company’s founder and chief executive Aaron Goldfeder. EnergySavvy’s web service helps homeowners to save money on utility bills and to use energy more efficiently.

NorthWest Energy Angels led the round, joined by several investors in the Pacific Northwest, including Geoff Entress, Andy Liu, and aQuantive alumni Mike Galgon and Karl Siebrecht (the latter two are on EnergySavvy’s board).

USA, Seattle, WA

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Online game operator The9 to form $100 million investment fund

December 28, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

The9, an online game operator and developer in China, is planning a to form a $100 million investment fund (Fund9) with the help of Chengwei Ventures, ChinaRock Capital Management and China Renaissance K2 Ventures

Fund9 will focus on investments in both domestic and overseas mobile internet application and platform developers. All mobile internet application and platform project proposals can be directly submitted online to the fund investment committee for evaluation.

Mr. Jun Zhu, The9’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Mobile internet application and platform has become a significant part of the mobile and internet industry with a rapidly growing number of smartphone users, especially in China. We noticed that there are many talented and creative domestic development teams in need of support during their development. If they receive financial and other support such as marketing, operation and administration, their chance of success will be much higher. I believe Fund9 has a unique opportunity to provide such support to these talented developers who will be able to launch more advanced mobile applications that will ultimately benefit all mobile internet users. We will also target talented overseas mobile internet application and platform developers with the ultimate goal of bringing the best products to China.”

China, Shanghai

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Yandex acquires startup Webvisor technology

December 28, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Yandex, the Russian search engine, has purchased WebVisor technology. The acquisition is a result of the “open days for startups”, a Yandex initiative under the Yandex.Start program. WebVisor participated in the September open-day session.

The technology purchased from WebVisor provides visitor behavior analysis (mouse movement, clicks, text copying etc.) and will be integrated with the company’s own visitor statistics tool, Yandex.Metrica. The WebVisor team has joined Yandex to work on merging their technology into the company’s framework. WebVisor will keep servicing existing clients, but the service will not accept new and potential customers.

Russia, Moscow

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AutoTrader.com acquires HomeNet Automotive

December 28, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Automotive marketplace and consumer information website AutoTrader.com has acquire the assets of HomeNet Automotive, a lprovider of online inventory management and merchandising solutions for the automotive retail industry. The HomeNet assets will be acquired by a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

For dealers, incorporating HomeNet’s proprietary inventory management system into AutoTrader.com’s dealer tools will allow for easier and faster inventory management and merchandising online.  Consumers shopping for vehicles on AutoTrader.com will have access to better vehicle information, enhanced listings that include more photos and dealer comments, advanced search capabilities and more frequent updates and information about the cars they are shopping for and researching.

The closing of the HomeNet purchase is the third in a series of acquisitions AutoTrader.com has announced in recent months.  In September, AutoTrader.com announced the purchase of vAuto, the automotive retail industry’s provider of software tools for used vehicle management, pricing and inventory optimisation.  In October, AutoTrader.com announced its acquisition of Kelley Blue Book.

“With the closing of the HomeNet acquisition, AutoTrader.com has brought together an amazing set of companies, people and automotive marketing and merchandising solutions under one roof,” said AutoTrader.com President and CEO Chip Perry.  “We look forward to the next stage of our evolution as we work to continue serving auto manufacturers, auto dealers and auto shoppers through AutoTrader.com and these three outstanding companies.”

USA, Atlanta, GA & West Chester, PA

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Asset International acquires Plan for Life

December 23, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Ignites Asia is reporting that Asset International, the New York-based parent company of research house Strategic Insight, is acquiring Plan for Life, which provides product-and firm-level data and research on Australia’s fund and life insurance space. Both firms say the deal will boost their coverage of fund flows, which may give their respective clients additional tools for benchmarking regional business. 

Melbourne-based Plan for Life, with its key analysts on board, will become part of Strategic Insight, which has offices in New York, London and Hong Kong. That will allow Strategic Insight to combine data feeds from most of the world’s major investment markets to chart product and distribution trends on a global level.
 
Plan for Life currently provides quarterly reports and data to more than 80 core clients, which include global fund managers with business in Australia, such as Vanguard; consultants and accountants, such as Deloitte; and regional sponsors of funds, retirement solutions and insurance products, such as National Australia Bank. Sell-side analysts, from firms like Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch, also use the research to cover public fund companies.

USA, New York, NY & Australia, Melbourne

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Tremor Media raises $65 million/acquires Scanscout

December 23, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Gigaom is reporting that Tremor Media has raised an additional $65 million in funding, and that it is likely related to Tremor’s acquisition of rival ad network Scanscout last month. At that time, Tremor claimed about $70 million to $75 million in 2010 sales, and was expecting to grow that amount to $110 million next year. ScanScout, meanwhile, pulled in an additional $20 to $25 million in 2010.

Read the full story

Adage’s report on the Scanscout acquisition

USA, New York, NY

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Viacom sells loss making Harmonix Music Systems to Columbus Nova

December 23, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Viacom has sold its loss making business Harmonix Music Systems to to Harmonix-SBE Holdings, an affiliate of  investment firm Columbus Nova. Harmonix is the make of the “Rock Band” video games.

Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed. Viacom had announced its intention to sell Harmonix in November. The Harmonix business has been hitting Viacom’s earnings as the video games sector slowes down.

Shares of Viacom closed down 42 cents at $45.67.

USA, New York, NY

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ENER-G acquires SmartHome Controls

December 23, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Lancashire based low carbon technology company ENER-G has acquired the business assets of SmartHome Controls.

SHC designs, manufactures, installs and maintains intelligent HVAC and lighting control systems to promote energy efficiency in high-end residential properties. The business will form part of the ENER-G Controls business. Gary Dowsett, director of business development and marketing at ENER-G Controls, will manage the enlarged business, supported by David Fryer, former owner of SHC, who will help to transfer operations and key staff from Uckfield, Sussex, to ENER-G Control’s office in Horsham, Sussex.

Commenting on the acquisition, Dr Cedric Rodrigues, managing director of ENER-G’s Energy Management Division said: “SHC has a strong customer and installer base, which is important for us to develop the considerable growth opportunities in the fast-expanding residential energy controls sector. We will be expanding our activity in both the new-build market as well as the retro-fit and upgrade sector.

“This transaction is part of ENER-G’s ongoing programme of targeted growth and will allow us to benefit from major synergies on a number of levels, including the development of control technology, installation of systems, remote monitoring, and servicing support from our specialist engineers. The solutions delivered by SHC to the high-end residential market are directly comparable with our commercial solutions, especially in sectors such as hotels and leisure. I am confident that this acquisition will add significant value to our business.”

UK, Lancashire & Sussex

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News Corp. sells Fox Mobile Group to Jesta Group

December 23, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Jesta Group has acquired Fox Mobile Group (FMG) from News Corporation.  A leading global entertainment provider, FMG includes such well-known consumer brands as Jamba, Jamster, Mobizzo and iLove, as well as Bitbop, a mobile video service and entertainment platform launched in the U.S. in early 2010. FMG, which will be renamed and become a part of Jesta Mobile Holdings, is co-headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and Beverly Hills, California, and operates in North America, Europe, South America and Australia.

“We believe that mobile entertainment is an important emerging market and we are excited about this acquisition and the opportunities for growth it presents”, said Jason Aintabi, president of Jesta Group.  “FMG’s unique ten-year history in mobile entertainment services; its stature as a trusted partner with carriers and device manufacturers; and its many successful consumer brands give it a clear advantage in this rapidly developing sector.  We look forward to working with the many talented and dedicated global employees of FMG and to a very bright future for the company and its brands.”

Mark Anderson, COO of FMG, added: “We are all very excited to grow this business under Jesta Group’s leadership, and to build upon the solid base established under News Corp.’s stewardship.”

Jesta Group is a diversified company with a long history as a leading investor in all classes of global real estate and hospitality as well as in other important sectors of the economy, notably in the fields of manufacturing, technology and aviation. Jesta is headquartered in London, Paris, Montreal and New York.

Allen & Company LLC served as financial advisor to News Corporation on the transaction.

The transaction was completed on December 22, 2010.  Financial details were not disclosed. 

USA, New York, NY

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Lagardère may sell its portfolio of international titles either Hearst Corp or Bauer Media Group

December 21, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

According to Reuters, Lagardère is nearing a decision to sell its portfolio of international titles to one of two bidders: U.S.-based Hearst Corp or Germany-based Bauer Media Group.

Media group Lagardère would reap about 600 million to 700 million euros ($785.52 million to $916.44 million) from the sale, according to a source with knowledge of the talks.

Lagardère is being advised by JPMorgan and Rothschild, according to two sources.

Read the full story

France, Paris

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