According to the Telegraph, Moneysupermarket has been targeted by private equity group, Apax Partners, as it seeks to combine the price comparison site with its US business, Bankrate.
The Telegraph also reports industry sources as saying that the group could also prove interesting to other private equity groups and trade players such as Google and Barry Diller’s InterActiveCorp: and that other private equity groups have been running the slide rule over it.
UK, London
As previously reported on Fusion digiNet, Mail.ru Group is seeking an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. They have now announced the indicative price range for the offering of ordinary shares.
The indicative price range for the Offering has been set at US$23.70 to US$27.70 per GDR. The indicative price range implies an equity value for the Company of $4.78 billion to $5.63 billion prior to new share issue and $4.86 billion to $5.71 billion post new share issue.
The Offering comprises a primary offering of 3.03 million ordinary shares by the Company in the form of GDRs and a sale of 28.59 million ordinary shares by existing shareholders in the form of GDRs. This will represent a free float, post new share issue, of approximately 16%. The final number of shares being sold in the Offering will be confirmed prior to admission.
The net proceeds to the Company from the primary portion of the Offering will be used to fund, in part, the agreed acquisition of an additional 7.5% equity stake in vKontakte for $112.5 million. After the closing of the Transaction, the Company will own 32.49% of vKontakte. The Company is also purchasing an option to acquire an additional 7.5% equity stake in vKontakte over the next year, which if exercised would bring its stake to 39.99%.
The Company has appointed Goldman Sachs International and J.P. Morgan as Joint Global Co-ordinators and, together with Morgan Stanley and VTB Capital, Joint Bookrunners in connection with the Offering. Pacific Crest Securities has been appointed Co-lead Manager in connection with the Offering.
UK, London & Russia, Moscow
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According to NewEnergyWorldNetwork.com, UK sustainable energy business ENER-G Group is looking at ways to fund a future strategic growth programme and plans to appoint financial advisers to explore its initial financing options but says rumours circulating about a possible initial public offering (IPO) were false.
UK, Manchester
Hart Energy Publishing, a leading provider of news, information and data to the global energy industry, has acquired Rextag Strategies, a mapping and GIS (geographic information system) database services company, in an all-cash deal. Both firms are privately held and terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The Rextag acquisition adds to Hart Energy’s growing content portfolio with the addition of digital GIS databases and mapping services, custom digital cartography, pipeline flow and capacity data, energy infrastructure wall maps and reference books, all covering oil, gas, and other liquid pipeline operations throughout the United States
“Our staff brings years of experience with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and in-depth industry knowledge to ensuring the latest, most up-to-date and comprehensive information available,” said Reinold (Rey) Tagle, Rextag’s founder. “Joining forces with Hart Energy will allow us to compete for larger projects and meet the expectation of the largest customers.”
Rich Eichler, CEO of Hart Energy, noted that, “The Rextag acquisition marks the establishment of our new Energy Mapping and Data Visualization Services division – with Rey Tagle serving as our division VP. It’s an important step in executing our strategy to bring more value-added information products and services to the industry.”
Rextag Strategies, based in San Diego, specializes in building GIS databases and producing highly accurate maps for oil and gas pipeline operations throughout the US. Rextag publishes the Interstate Natural Gas Infrastructure Map Book, a unique resource, and its mapping and data visualization capabilities can be applied worldwide.
USA, Houston, TX & San Diego, CA
Automotive marketplace and consumer information web site AutoTrader.com is acquiring Kelley Blue Book, the new- and used-vehicle information business. As part of the deal, AutoTrader.com will also acquire Kelley Blue Book’s sister companies CDMdata and CDM Dealer Services.
Details of the transaction are not being disclosed. Kelley Blue Book will operate as a subsidiary of AutoTrader.com and continue to be headquartered in Irvine, CA. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. J.P. Morgan acted as Kelley Blue Book’s exclusive financial advisor through this process. Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisor to AutoTrader.com.
“AutoTrader.com is excited about becoming the new owner of Kelley Blue Book because we believe the company has a great future,” said AutoTrader.com President and CEO, Chip Perry. “Kelley Blue Book has a wonderful history as an iconic brand and trusted provider of vehicle information to generations of car buyers and sellers, and as we look into the future we believe together we can bring a host of new technologies and tools to market that will significantly improve the car shopping process for consumers, and help auto dealers and manufacturers better capitalize on the fundamental efficiency advantages of the Internet.”
USA, Atlanta, GA & Irvine, CA
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Morningstar a leading provider of independent investment research, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the annuity intelligence business of Advanced Sales and Marketing Corp. (ASMC) based in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Morningstar expects to complete the transaction in the next few weeks. The purchase price is $14.1 million, subject to post-closing adjustments.
The Annuity Intelligence Report (AI Report), one of ASMC’s two product lines, is a web-based service that helps broker-dealers, insurers, and the financial professionals they support better understand and more effectively present variable annuity products to their clients. The AI Report service leverages a proprietary database of more than 1,000 variable annuities that includes “plain-English” translations of complex but important information found in prospectuses and other public filings. AI Report’s simplified format helps to better ensure that investors understand what they are purchasing and that advisors are meeting suitability review requirements and properly structuring annuity contracts. The AI Report includes FINRA-reviewed single annuity and side-by-side comparison reports as well as annuity flow data, a contract and benefit selector tool, historical contract data, and optional subaccount data.
The annuity intelligence business serves 170 firms, including broker-dealers, banks, advisory firms, and insurance companies. More than 150,000 financial advisors have access to the AI Report through these firms.
ASMC also offers the MaxPlan wholesaler productivity system, a business planning and territory management tool for mutual fund and annuity distributors, which Morningstar is not acquiring.
“The Annuity Intelligence Report team has a deep knowledge of variable annuities, and offers a leading service that helps financial professionals provide better recommendations to their clients while avoiding the errors and liabilities that are quite common when selling and processing variable annuities,” said Chris Boruff, president of Morningstar’s software division. “By combining Morningstar’s strength in variable annuity subaccount data and modeling tools with AI Report’s product-level data, and proprietary methodologies, we believe we’re creating the best-of-breed offering for investors and financial advisors.”
“ASMC focuses on helping mutual fund companies, insurance carriers, and broker-dealers become more productive,” said Karen (Falat) Larson, president and founder of ASMC. “Morningstar’s large presence in the advisor channel and its history of investment research innovation will enable the annuity intelligence business to bring new ideas to market faster.”
After the acquisition is completed, the annuity intelligence business will become part of Morningstar’s advisor software unit. The company plans to keep the Annuity Intelligence Report product name for the foreseeable future and will market it under the Morningstar brand.
Kevin Loffredi, senior vice president and co-founder of ASMC, will continue to manage the annuity intelligence business. Morningstar expects to retain the majority of the business’s employees.
Karen Larson, president and founder, and ASMC’s chief executive officer, Perry Moore, will continue to run ASMC’s wholesaler productivity business under the new name MaxPlan Solutions, Inc.
City Securities Corp. acted as financial advisor to ASMC on this transaction.
USA, Chicargo, IL
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Electronic Arts has acquired Chillingo Ltd., a UK based publisher of iPhone games whose titles include titles include Cut the Rope, Angry Birds, Helsing’s Fire, Predators, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Minigore, iDracula, and Modern Conflict.
With the acquisition of Chillingo, EA Mobile has positioning on the Apple platform. EA’s announcement says the acquisition combines Chillingo’s expertise in cultivating the ideas of independent developers with EA’s global reach in mobile publishing.
USA, Redwood City, CA & UK, Cheshire
Independent media platform Specific Media has acquired Broadband Enterprises, a premier online video provider. Founded in 2004, BBE is a video advertising company that helps brands to monetize, track and produce video across all digital platforms. The deal recently closed for an undisclosed amount.
BBE, which currently works with a majority of Fortune 100 brands, has developed a complete video advertising solution used by major brand advertisers. The company has also developed the industry’s first ad-serving and tracking platform dedicated exclusively to video, VINDICO, which has logged more than 23 billion impressions to date. In addition, the company’s branded entertainment division has produced more than 20 original series, including the award-winning hit show Jen and Barb, Mom Life.
“Video is an exciting market, but advertisers have been unable to capitalize on its potential because it currently lacks data, targeting and analytics. We’re bringing our expertise to this area to fulfill the promise of video,” said Tim Vanderhook, co-founder and CEO of Specific Media. “We chose BBE because the company has a complete solution for brand advertisers, proven technology and a strong leadership team.”
USA, Irvine, CA and New York, NY
Accent has closed a new round of financing of €5 Million from Silicon Valley investor Tallwood Venture Capital. The funding will be used to accelerate development and production of key communication technologies for system-on-chip solutions required by Smart Meter and Smart Home applications.
“We are delighted to add a prestigious firm like Tallwood to our shareholders. The closure of this funding is a strong endorsement of our global market reach and technology position,” said Federico Arcelli, CEO of Accent. “This funding will enable us to accelerate market introduction of next generation Smart Grid technologies, as part of our ASMgrid offering, and continue to optimally address the needs of our customers worldwide.”
Italy, Milan & USA, Palo Alto, CA
Omnicom Group‘s Diversified Agency Services has acquired Amsterdam-based medical communications agency Excerpta Medica from world-leading publisher Elsevier, a division of Reed Elsevier Group plc.
Excerpta Medica will become a division of DAS’s Adelphi, a group of businesses that provide multiperspective healthcare solutions to the pharmaceutical industry. Excerpta will continue to operate as an independent business, with offices in Amsterdam, New Jersey and London.
The acquisition of Excerpta Medica will allow Adelphi to collaborate on an increasing number of wide-ranging global client assignments. Excerpta Medica’s portfolio of strategic communications services includes publication planning, medical meetings and education, interactive solutions and customized publishing solutions.
“For years I’ve admired the work and reputation of Excerpta Medica. This has always been a best-in-class company,” said Thomas L. Harrison, Chairman and CEO, Diversified Agency Services Division, Omnicom Group Inc. “With the acquisition of Excerpta we can align two related and strategic businesses to offer more value and innovation to our healthcare clients.”
Adelphi provides services in strategic marketing, marketing and business intelligence, real-world observational research and disease-specific programs, health and economic outcomes research, market access, pricing and research, health communications, medical education and strategic product development consultancy.
USA, New York, NY & China, Shanghai
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