Omnicom acquires Sales Power

October 20, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Global advertising and marketing services business Omnicom Group, has acquired Sales Power, an in-store promotion company.

Sales Power was set up in January 2009 as a joint venture between Omnicom’s Diversified Agency Services (DAS) division and a local field marketing agency to service Unilever China’s in-store promotional needs in South China. The company has 23 offices across Southern China.

“This significant investment in Sales Power underscores Omnicom’s continued commitment to the fast growing Chinese market and providing best in class retail activation services to our clients,” said Serge Dumont, Senior Vice President, Omnicom Group Inc., President, APIMA (Asia-Pacific, India, Middle East, and Africa), Chairman Asia Pacific.

Simon Dalby, President of DAS Asia-Pacific, said, “We look forward to the next phase of Sales Power’s development and its investment in client needs.”

Sales Power CEO Simon Ho noted, “Omnicom’s 100% ownership of Sales Power will enable us to fully control our growth plans. We look forward to helping Unilever grow all of its brands through best-in-class retail activation.”

USa, New York, NY & China, Shanghai

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Social shopping site LivingSocial acquires Urban Escapes

October 20, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Social shopping site LivingSocial has acquired social adventure company Urban Escapes. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“By working closely with merchants in all of our markets, LivingSocial has helped thousands of people across the country experience fun and exciting things to do in their neighborhood,” said Tim O’Shaughnessy, CEO and Co-Founder of LivingSocial. “With the acquisition of Urban Escapes, we will now have the ability to help curate some amazing experiences and adventures exclusively for our members.”

“People who use LivingSocial are already looking for fun, new things to do in the area they live or where they’re visiting,” said Maia Josebachvili, founder and president of Urban Escapes. “We’re passionate about organizing experiences you could never arrange on your own and this acquisition is the perfect opportunity for us to expand these completely unique, guided experiences around the globe.”

USA, Washington, DC

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Ketchum acquires Maslov PR; Firm will be known as Ketchum Maslov

October 20, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Global marketing and corporate communication consultancy Ketchum has taken a majority position in Maslov PR, the Moscow-based, full-service Russian public relations company. The firm, to be called Ketchum Maslov, will be led by Michael Maslov, managing director and founder of Maslov PR, and Serguey Chumin, his business partner of several years. Maslov will report to Jon Higgins, Ketchum senior partner and CEO, international.

The acquisition builds on a successful 15-year exclusive affiliate relationship between the two firms. In 2006, Maslov PR introduced to Ketchum the opportunity to support the Russian Presidency of the G8. Today Maslov PR and Ketchum continue to partner on high-profile work with the Russian Federation, for which the combined team was awarded both the PRWeek Award and the Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil award for Global Campaign of the Year in 2007.

This acquisition builds on other geographic client service moves made by Ketchum earlier this year, including finalizing its merger with Pleon in Europe to form Ketchum Pleon, the industry’s largest, most diversified consultancy in the region; forming a joint venture in the Middle East and North Africa called Ketchum Raad Middle East; and establishing a new exclusive affiliate relationship in South Korea with local market leader Prain.

USA, New York, NY & Russia, Moscow

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UBM acquires Hors Antenne for up to €9m

October 20, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

United Business Media has acquired Hors Antenne on behalf of its wholly-owned subsidiary PR Newswire to further strengthen its position as the global leader in corporate and investor targeting.

Founded in 1997, Hors Antenne is the leading provider of media targeting information to the European French-speaking markets. The acquisition consideration comprises an initial cash payment of €6m with a further performance-related element of up to €3m payable over the next two years.

Hors Antenne provides its clients with access to data on more than 500,000 opinion formers, including journalists and media organisations, bloggers, key political and financial stakeholders, analysts and business contacts in France and in French-speaking Belgium and Switzerland. The business’ client base numbers over 16,000 and includes 90% of the largest 1,000 companies in France.

Hors Antenne employs 45 staff at its Paris headquarters and generated revenues of €3.6m in the year to 31 March 2010. Hors Antenne’s management – including its founder and CEO Marylise Fortin – will remain with the business, which will continue to operate as a separate entity. The acquisition is anticipated to exceed UBM’s cost of capital criterion in its first full year of ownership.

In addition to adding profitable revenue to PR Newswire’s successful European targeting business, the acquisition will enhance and expand the range of targeting and monitoring services Hors Antenne is able to offer its customers.

Lisa Ashworth, CEO of PR Newswire Europe said:

“The acquisition of Hors Antenne strengthens our position globally as a leader in the targeting field but more specifically in both France and in European French-speaking markets. The combination of Hors Antenne’s services with our own capabilities significantly enriches our data product services and reach. This continues our vision to develop PR Newswire in Europe and beyond, both organically and through best of breed acquisitions.”

France, Paris

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Apax Partners and Guardian Media Group discuss the future of Trader Media Group

October 18, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

According to paidContent, Apax Partners and Guardian Media Group – the publisher of the Guardian – have begun preliminary discussions with a number of banks about the future of their jointly-owned Trader Media Group business.

A trade sale or a flotation of TMG, which could value the owner of Auto Trader at up to £2 ($3.21)bn, are the likeliest options.

Read the full story here

UK, London

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AutoTrader.com acquires vAuto

October 18, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Automotive marketplace and consumer information website AutoTrader.com has completed its transaction to acquire vAuto, the automotive retail industry’s provider software tools for used vehicle management, pricing and inventory optimization.

The finalized agreement, first announced on September 17, makes vAuto a subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.  AutoTrader.com is majority owned by Cox Enterprises, Inc. with additional ownership stakes held by the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and the private equity firm Providence Equity Partners.

USA, Atlanta, GA

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GROU.PS acquires Social Project from MTV Networks

October 15, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

According to TechCrunch, DIY social network platform GROU.PS is acquiring Social Project, developers of the Flux social media platform, from MTV Networks. As part of the deal, GROU.PS will only be acquiring Social Project’s company and its users; and MTV will continue to own Social Project’s Flux social media publishing technology. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

GROU.PS is a social groupware platform that allows people to come together and form interactive communities around a shared interest or affiliation. The functionality of any online group is limited only by the members’ collective imagination and ambition. The GROU.PS platform is used to create a wide variety of community sites, including online gaming forums, e-learning classrooms, fan clubs, charity fundraising campaigns, college alumni societies, and event planning portals.

The company is privately held and headquartered in Palo Alto, CA with development offices in Istanbul, Turkey. GROU.PS was founded in 2008 by Emre Sokullu. The site has more than 6.2 million monthly unique visitors worldwide and 7.5 million registered members. The company is backed by Golden Horn Ventures.
USA, Palo Alto, CA

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GE acquires Opal Software

October 15, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

GE has expanded its smart grid software portfolio with the acquisition of data migration and SCADA simulation specialists Opal Software. The acquisition allows GE’s Digital Energy business to deliver greater operational and network productivity to utility customers and increase the development speed and delivery of new solutions—securing GE as a smart grid technology leader. In addition, the Australia-based Opal Software team will improve GE’s ability to support growth in the Asia Pacific region by providing increased local workforce and technology.

“GE’s acquisition of Opal Software formalizes an already strong relationship,” said Bill Tarlinton, chief executive officer for Opal Software. “We are proud to be a part of GE Energy, and look forward to offering smart grid solutions to the regional and global marketplace.”

Opal Software is a well-respected specialty software designer, supplying professional engineering services and SCADA and DMS software products to electricity, water and gas utilities. Opal Software’s data migration capabilities are able to switch quickly between multiple platforms, easily integrating GE software into non-GE systems to provide greater flexibility and more options for customers.

“Opal Software’s products and project management services are integral to the delivery of GE Energy projects,” said Matt McKenzie, general manager, Asia region for GE’s Digital Energy business. “By bringing Opal Software’s proven technologies together with GE’s solution platforms, our talented teams will drive the next wave of software solutions. Opal Software will help secure GE as a smart grid technology leader and meet the needs of the fast-growing Asia Pacific region.”

Opal Software’s employees will join GE’s Digital Energy business and the Asia Pacific team.

USA, Atlanta, GA & Australia, Canberra

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

Sugar Inc. acquires MyPerfectSale

October 15, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

Online women’s media company, Sugar Inc., has acquired MyPerfectSale, a San Francisco-based fashion shopping service that connects over half a million registered members to the latest sales for high-end designer apparel and accessories.

MyPerfectSale operates MyPerfectSale.com, an online shopping destination that sends over twelve million customized email sale alerts per month. MyPerfectSale also runs DesignerApparel.com, a shopping service that helps customers find fashion products across the premier US department stores, luxury retailers, and fashion boutiques.

Sugar Inc.’s acquisition will accelerate the growth of MyPerfectSale in the U.S. and enable it to expand into international markets where Sugar Inc. currently operates, including the UK, Japan, France, Germany and Australia. MyPerfectSale will be maintained as a separate brand while becoming a part of Sugar Inc.’s ShopStyle network of shopping sites. MyPerfectSale’s eight employees will join the growing Sugar Inc. team.

“We are excited to add MyPerfectSale’s large membership base to ShopStyle’s network. MyPerfectSale will now be able to leverage ShopStyle’s network to increase its reach and differentiation in this fast-growing market,” said Andy Moss, President of Sugar Inc.’s ShopStyle.

“When we started Sugar four years ago, we believed future online media leaders would delight their audiences by combining content and commerce,” said Brian Sugar, founder and CEO of Sugar Inc. “MyPerfectSale has done a tremendous job growing their business and we are excited to have them join our commerce team.”

“We’re very pleased to join Sugar Inc. and extend our potential reach to the company’s 18 million plus unique users,” said Dominic Ang, President of MyPerfectSale. “MyPerfectSale fits perfectly into the Sugar Inc. family of sites, and will now connect even more fashion-conscious shoppers to name brands at great prices.”

USA, San Francisco, CA

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UBM acquires OBGYN.net for $0.8 million

October 15, 2010 — Fusion DigiNet

United Business Media Limited has acquired the OBGYN.net website and related assets from MediSpecialty.com, Inc. for a total cash consideration of $0.8 million.

OBGYN.net is a women’s health website for obstetrics and gynaecology professionals and consumers. The site provides article-based and multimedia content generated by both contributors and users. OBGYN’s archived, searchable online forums – some of which have been running for over 10 years – comprise approximately one million posts and include professional peer-to-peer discussions and consumer-to-physician/expert forums, as well as patient-to-patient support forums. OBGYN.net has a registered population of approximately 140,000 and attracts more than 500,000 unique visitors a month.

The acquisition of OBGYN.net expands UBM Medica’s network of sites for physicians and allows the business to meet growing advertiser demand for access to online audiences as healthcare readers and marketers shift from offline to online media. This shift is driving growth of approximately 20% per annum in US pharmaceutical and healthcare online advertising spending (estimated at $1.4 billion in 2009). The acquisition of a digital presence in the obstetrics and gynaecology market will allow UBM Medica to market both existing and new products and services across a broader audience which includes digital agencies, pharmaceutical companies and device companies seeking to reach obstetrics and gynaecology professionals.

Henry Elkington, CEO, UBM Medica said, “I’m very pleased to bring OBGYN.net into UBM Medica’s network of online resources for healthcare professionals and consumers. OBGYN.net has strong brand recognition as one of the leading sites focusing on women’s health issues and over the course of the last 10 years has built and hosted the interactions of a vibrant set of professional and consumer communities. OBGYN.net is a great addition to our successful online business and we look forward to developing it further.”

UK, London & USA, Del Valle, TX

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