Undertone acquires European Digital Representation Firm WWN

Undertone today announced it has acquired WWN, a European digital representation firm that helps global brands connect with audiences on the world’s best websites. The acquisition unifies two organizations that are known for providing advertisers with premium reach on quality sites and gives publishers a unique opportunity to monetize both locally and globally.

WWN’s relationships include hundreds of the world’s leading professional news and information publishers in more than 40 countries, including The Economist, The Times of India, Der Spiegel, Reuters and El Mundo. 

“Undertone is aggressively scaling its business through rapid organic growth as well as domestic and international acquisition,” said Mike Cassidy, CEO, Undertone. “We are becoming a much more dominant player in digital advertising.”

Undertone also announced today that Steve Goldberg, one of the founders and an original board member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), has joined the company as Senior Vice President and General Manager of International to lead the firm’s expanding global initiatives. Goldberg brings executive experience from media technology and mobility companies such as Intellisync (acquired by Nokia), Go2Net (acquired by Infospace), and Microsoft, where he was group manager of the initial advertising team.

USA, New York, NY & France, Paris

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Publicis acquires interactive healthcare agency Digital District

Publicis Groupe has acquired Digital District, an interactive healthcare agency. Digital District will be aligned under Publicis Healthcare Communications Group (PHCG) and will become part of the global digital communications arm of PHCG. Digital District will maintain its current location in Dusseldorf, Germany, and will continue to be led by General Manager Aleksandar Stojanovic.

Founded in 2002, Digital District focuses on defining and implementing digital communication strategies. The agency offers a fully integrated suite of innovative interactive solutions, including digital branding, content management, e-commerce strategies, social media, web 2.0, and online marketing. Digital District’s clients include AstraZeneca, Siemens, Bellicon, Weleda, and Sara Lee.

The acquisition of Digital District illustrates Publicis Groupe’s commitment to strengthening its digital expertise in healthcare communications. Alain Sarraf, President of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, Europe, “With the ever-increasing focus on providing our clients with dynamic digital experiences, the addition of Digital District strengthens our prowess in this sector. This move allows us to increase our global footprint and create a stronger European digital entity.”

France, Paris & Germany, Dusseldorf

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Navteq to acquire Trapster

autoblog is reporting that Navteq, a wholly owned subsidiary of of Nokia, is to acquire Trapster, the speed trap and road hazard tracking company that makes GPS apps for iPhone, Android and Blackberry.

According to Autoblog, five companies were interested in acquiring Trapster.

Read the full story

USA, Cardiff by the Sea, CA

Meredith acquires Real Girls Media Network

Meredith Corporation a media and marketing company serving American women, has completed the acquisition of Real Girls Media Network, a social content hub for women online. The acquisition continues Meredith’s strategy of deepening its portfolio of content and social media offerings through the Meredith Women’s Network of digital media, which also includes powerhouse sites BHG.com and Parents.com.

Real Girls Media Network, founded in 2006, will continue to be based in San Francisco. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and it will not have a material effect on Meredith’s fiscal 2011 financial performance.

The Real Girls Media Network includes DivineCaroline.com as well as a premium network of branded sites for women. DivineCaroline.com is a unique platform that publishes user-generated content, alongside expert-guided editorial, to offer women a community in which to share experiences and form connections.  The addition of the Real Girls Media Network – which averages approximately 4 to 5 million monthly unique visitors – increases the reach of the Meredith Women’s Network to nearly 25 million monthly unique visitors, according to Omniture SiteCatalyst measurements.

“This acquisition builds on our digital footprint and reinforces Meredith as the leading provider of authoritative and engaging content for women on the topics that matter most to them and their families,” says Liz Schimel, EVP, Consumer Relationship Management and Digital Media, Meredith National Media Group.

USA, New York, NY & San Francisco, CA

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Deloitte acquires the assets of both ClearCarbon Consulting and DOMANI Sustainability Consulting

Deloitte has acquired the assets of ClearCarbon Consulting and DOMANI Sustainability Consulting both of which will be integrated into Deloitte’s sustainability services. ClearCarbon and DOMANI will operate on an interim basis as “ClearCarbon by Deloitte” and “DOMANI by Deloitte” respectively.

As reported on Fusion DigiNet, Deloitte also acquired carbon and sustainability consultancy dcarbon8 earlier this year.

With ClearCarbon and DOMANI, Deloitte takes a significant step forward in achieving its goal of being a leading sustainability services provider.  The combined sustainability offerings create a new hub of sustainability excellence, highlighting a combination of strategic insights and deep knowledge of complex challenges impacting organizations across all industries and sectors. 

“Deloitte has identified the sustainability services market as a key growth area,” said Jessica Blume, national managing principal, research and innovation, Deloitte LLP.   “As an emerging offering, the acquisitions of ClearCarbon and DOMANI will further strengthen Deloitte’s ability to help clients drive value, mitigate business risk, and drive growth, efficiency and innovation through improved environmental, social and financial performance.”

“ClearCarbon and DOMANI bring a suite of capabilities to Deloitte that will complement and enhance our current sustainability offerings,” said Chris Park, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, and national leader of Deloitte’s sustainability services.  “Both organizations bring a strong track record of advising large, complex organizations on a range of sustainability-related issues, helping them unlock value and mitigate risks across their organizations and throughout their supply chains.  We welcome our new colleagues and look forward to bringing our enhanced capabilities to our clients.”

Deloitte’s sustainability offerings draw on the insights and experience of Deloitte’s four primary business units, and include a broad and deep set of industry-specific services across corporate strategy and operations, mergers and acquisitions, information technology, human capital, corporate tax, internal and external audit, and enterprise risk management.  This approach enables Deloitte to help clients address a range of domestic and global sustainability opportunities and risks related to:

“ClearCarbon’s deep experience helping clients gain value from carbon management will further position Deloitte as the go-to advisor on these issues,” said Kyle Tanger, director, Deloitte Consulting LLP.  “Deloitte’s strong strategic advisory capabilities in all areas of sustainability, combined with its global reach, will help our clients gain even greater value from their sustainability initiatives.  We are thrilled to be part of this new hub for sustainability excellence.”  Tanger was chief executive officer at ClearCarbon Consulting.

“DOMANI has spent years helping our clients increase revenue, mitigate risk and reduce operating costs through improved environmental and social performance,” said Will Sarni, director, Deloitte Consulting LLP.  “Our vision of how companies should embrace sustainability as a core business function is well-aligned with Deloitte’s approach and we’re confident that our experience and capabilities will further benefit our combined client-base.” Sarni was chief executive officer of DOMANI Sustainability Consulting.

USA, New York, NY & Arlington, VA & Hauppauge, NY

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Platts to acquire BENTEK Energy

Platts, a global provider of energy and metals information and a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is to acquire BENTEK Energy, a privately held energy market analytics company headquartered in Evergreen, Colorado. The purchase price was not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to be completed in early 2011.  Following the closing, BENTEK will continue to operate under its current name with its current management.

BENTEK, founded in 1985, offers a portfolio of data, information and analytics products in the natural gas and liquids sector.  Its customers include the majority of the top firms in the energy industry, including independent producers, pipeline companies, and utilities, as well as industry regulators, financial institutions, and the largest energy hedge funds.

“BENTEK is a highly successful company whose leadership position has been attained through its deep understanding of energy industry dynamics, of the data reflecting those dynamics, and of the requirements of customers,” said Larry Neal, president of Platts.  “By combining BENTEK’s analytical expertise with Platts’ products, we can offer customers a comprehensive view of the North American natural gas market.  Our collective capabilities will provide them with a unique lens on the market – from underlying supply/demand fundamentals to real-time news and price information – and deepen our coverage of other complex commodity markets.”

Porter Bennett, BENTEK’s president and CEO, added that Platts’ current position in power, coal and liquefied natural gas, coupled with its global sales force, provides the opportunity to accelerate BENTEK’s plans for expanding into new commodities and international markets.  “As part of Platts, we are better positioned to capitalize on the increasing internationalization and interdependence of the natural gas and liquids markets and address the growing global demand for fundamental market data and analysis.”

The BENTEK acquisition follows Platts’ announcement, reported on Fusion DigiNet, last week that it plans to acquire Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), a leading provider of news and price information to the wholesale and retail petroleum markets in North America. With the BENTEK and OPIS acquisitions, Platts will deepen its power coverage and broaden its oil coverage in the North American market.

USA, New York, NY & Evergreen, CO

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XING acquires online event management company amiando for upto €5.35 million

Xing, the social network for business professionals acquired by Herbert Burda Media last year, is acquiring amiando AG, effective as of January 1, 2011. amiando is a of online event management and ticketing services in Europe with some 100,000 events organised and processed via the platform in 2009. This move puts XING in a position to offer its more than 10 million members integrated business event services ranging from organisation to marketing, billing and execution.

The acquisition price comprises a number of components. At the time of acquisition, XING AG will initially pay approximarely €5.1 million. An additional payment of up to €5.25 million will also be made on March 31, 2013, if various conditions are met. Examples of these conditions include the current management team remaining within the company and the achievement of specific revenue and profit targets.

Stefan Gross-Selbeck, CEO at XING AG, said: “Acquiring amiando gives XING an opportunity to meet its members’ growing need for an integrated, comprehensive event registration and ticketing service. In 2009 alone, our members organized and marketed more than 150,000 events via the XING platform. From now on, we can offer them all of the services they need including efficient registration, ticketing and billing. This in turn allows us to tap into a highly lucrative and market currently experiencing rapid growth.”

Felix Haas, CEO at amiando AG, said: “XING and amiando’s business strategies run in parallel with one another and offer huge synergy effects. This became clear right at the start of the negotiation process, and really caught the attention of the amiando management team. The XING platform’s reach and amiando’s technology and market position go together to make a perfect combination in the business event segment that will provide XING’s members with new, relevant added value. This is of course something the newly forged team intends to build on going forward.”

amiando has a staff of 35, all of whom will retain their jobs. Felix Haas will continue in his position as CEO at amiando. During the negotiation process XING was supported by Altium, while amiando was assisted by Parklane Capital.

Germany, Hamburg & Munich

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IPC MEDIA sells Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering to The Chelsea Magazine Company

As part of the review of IPC Media’s niche and specialist titles, the company today announces the sale of Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering to The Chelsea Magazine Company. The deal marks the completion of the final divestment as part of the IPC Media strategic review, which began in April.

The deal sees The Chelsea Magazine Company acquire the brands – currently published within the IPC Inspire portfolio – with immediate effect. There will be no interruption to the publishing schedule of either title. All staff transfer to Chelsea.

The Chelsea Magazine Company is an independent publishing company run by an experienced team of creative and marketing professionals, with offices in the United Kingdom and North America. The company publishes: Artists & Illustrators, Cruise International, Military Times, Current World Archaeology, First Eleven and Britain, the official magazine of VisitBritain. Chelsea has also recently acquired Yachts & Yachting magazine.

IPC Inspire managing director Paul Williams says: “Chelsea is a passionate independent publisher, and will provide a great new home for both these brands. I’d like to thank the teams at Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering for their hard work and commitment throughout the review and acquisition process. They have done a brilliant job and I wish them all the very best for the future.”

Chelsea managing director Paul Dobson adds: “My team has become well-known over the years for publishing fine quality magazines, from Motorsport to The English Garden. We understand and value specialist titles with a committed readership, and Classic Boat and Racecar Engineering are good examples of magazines that we publish so well. We are delighted to have added them to our rapidly expanding portfolio.”

UK, London

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WPP acquires Marketing Direct

WPP is acquiring US-based Marketing Direct, (“MDI”) through KBM Group, part of the Wunderman network.

MDI is an integrated marketing services company with expertise in strategy, design and execution of marketing campaigns, including agency creative and media services, primarily for the healthcare industry. In addition, it focuses on direct and interactive marketing services to healthcare and insurance providers.

Founded in 1997 in St Louis, Missouri, MDI has been ranked one of America’s fastest growing private companies by Inc. Magazine for the past three years. The company employs 64 people. MDI’s key clients and partners are major national and regional companies in the healthcare and insurance industries.

MDI’s audited revenue for the year ended 31 December 2009 was $16.9 million, with gross assets at the same date of $7.3 million.

This investment continues WPP’s strategy of investing in fast growing markets and sectors and strengthening its capabilities in the healthcare sector. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval and the approval of Marketing Direct Inc.’s shareholders.

USA, St Louis, MO

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ABB acquires Insert Key Solutions

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has agreed to acquire the business of Insert Key Solutions (IKS), a privately owned specialist software provider, adding IKS’ solutions to its recently acquired Ventyx software portfolio. The move will create a comprehensive solution set for asset and work management, maintenance optimization, and equipment reliability.

Based in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, in the United States, IKS specializes in delivering software solutions for process improvement, increased equipment reliability and operational performance in power generation plants, and transmission and distribution networks. The company has an extensive customer base in the thermal and nuclear power sectors, and a staff of 50 people.

“Insert Key Solutions provides a highly complementary offering to our solutions for the power industry,” said Jens Birgersson, head of the Network Management business within ABB’s Power Systems division. “It significantly strengthens our software-based solutions, which optimize equipment reliability, asset health and maintenance services for asset-intensive industries.”

“We are excited to become a part of the Ventyx team and the ABB family. We not only share complementary solutions, but also the same dedication to excellence and customer focus,” said Evan Niemkiewicz, President and CEO of Insert Key Solutions. “This integration enables us to fortify our infrastructure and product lifecycles and to take our solutions to a broader set of industries and geographies. I am confident it is the best path forward for our customers and our company.”

ABB plans to retain the IKS team and will place IKS executives in key roles within the Ventyx team responsible for Asset Suite, eSOMS (asset and operations management software), and IKS solutions.

Switzerland, Zurich & USA, Chadds Ford, PA