Chess.com acquires ChessPark name and members

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website

ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-277
 
Acquirer:  Chess.com
ACQ Web:  http://www.chess.com
Location:  USA, Palo Alto, CA
Region:  North America
Description:  Online community for chess players
Category:  Online Games, Social network
Contact:  Erik, Owner Profile 
 
Vendor:  Chesspark.com
Vendor Web:  http://www.chesspark.com
Region:  North America
Description:  Online chess
Category: Online games
Contact:  Jean Hoffman, GM of Chesspark.com
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  Chess.com did not acquire the technology, servers, or team behind Chesspark – just the name.
 
Link: Press Release

Internet website Youku closes US$40 million in private equity funding

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website

FUND RAISING 
Database Reference:  F231109-305
 
Business:  Youku
Web:  http://www.youku.com
Location:  China, Beijing
Region:  Asia
Business description:  Video sharing website
Category: Video
Contact 1:  Victor Koo, Youku founder and CEO
Contact 2:  Eric Li, managing director of Chengwei Ventures 
 
Investors:  Led by Chengwei Ventures and the first closing was raised entirely from existing investors. Besides Chengwei, those investors include Brookside (Bain) Capital, Maverick Capital, and Sutter Hill Ventures.
  
Amount raised:  $40,000,000
 
Details:  “Youku.com has closed $40M in private equity funding in a first tranche of a growth financing round. Youku is in active discussion with other potential investors over a second tranche of the round, which will raise up to an additional $40 million. Including the first tranche for the current round, the company has raised $110 million in private equity funding, and $10 million in venture debt.

This latest round of funding will be used to syndicate professional media and produce Web-based content, to further enhance user experience, and on both PC-based and mobile R&D.”

Link:  Press Release
 
 
Related DigiNet article
Shanda to buy 58% of web video sharing business ku6

Limelight Networks to acquire EyeWonder for $110

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-276
 
Acquirer:  Limelight Networks
ACQ Web:  http://www.limelightnetworks.com
Location:  USA, Tempe, AZ
Region:  North America
Description:  Improves the performance and profitability of web sites and end-user experiences. Scalable, on-demand managed infrastructure solutions.
Category:  Texhnology, Storage Management
Contact:  Jeff Lunsford, chairman and chief executive officer  
 
Vendor:  EyeWonder
Vendor Web:  http://www.eyewonder.com, Twitter
Location:  USA, Atlanta, DA
Region:  North America
Description:  Interactive digital advertising provider. Provides value-added monetization solutions
Category: Advertising. Technology
Contact:  John Vincent, founder and chief executive officer
  
Aprox. Value:  Approximately $110 million, comprised of approximately $62 million in cash (subject to adjustment based on EyeWonder’s financial condition at Closing) and approximately 12.74 million shares of Limelight common stock. Up to approximately 4.86 million additional shares of Limelight common stock will be issuable in 2011 if EyeWonder achieves certain financial results in 2010.
 
Details:  Limelight Networks has announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately held EyeWonder, Inc. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2010.
 
Link: Press Release

Matrix invests £4.3M in MBO and recapitalisation of Iglu.com

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
ACQUISITION 
Management buyout and recapitalisation

FDN Database Reference:  F231109-275
 
Acquirer:  Matrix Private Equity Partners
ACQ Web:  http://www.matrixgroup.co.uk
Location:  United Kingdom, London
Region:  Europe
Description:  Venture Capital Trust Manager and UK small buyout specialist. Specialise in backing in quality companies with quality management teams, making equity investments of £2m to £7m, in typical transaction sizes of £5m – £20m
Category:  Private Equity
Contact:  Guy Blackburn (guy.blackburn@matrixgroup.co.uk)

Vendor:  Iglu.com
Vendor Web:  http://www.iglu.com
Location:  United Kingdom, London, Wimbledon
Region:  Europe
Description:  Internet based travel agency specialising in the sale of ski and snowboarding holidays; villa and tropical holidays; cruise holidays; hotel accommodation; flights to Canada and Lapland holidays.
Category: Travel Agent
Contact:  Richard Downs, Managing Director
 
Aprox. Value:  Invested £4.3million in the management buyout and recapitalisation
 
Details:  Matrix Private Equity Partners have completed their fifth deal since the summer. Matrix has invested £4.3million in the management buyout and recapitalisation of Iglu.com, the London based specialist ski and cruise holiday online travel agent.

Edipresse Group sells its stake in RBA Edipresse to its JV partner RBA Holding

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website

ACQUISITION 
FDN Database Reference:  F231109-274
 
Acquirer:  RBA Holding Editorial S.A.
ACQ Web:  http://www.rba.es/
Location:  Spain, Barcelona
Region:  Europe
Description:  Media Group
Category:  Media
Contact:  Enrique Iglesias Montejo, RBA Holding CEO  
 
Vendor:  Edipresse Group
Vendor Web:  http://www.edipresse.com
Location:  Switzerland
Region:  Europe
Description:  International media and communications company based in Switzerland. Active in newspapers, magazines and electronic publishing, the Group employs 2800 people and publishes over 180 titles and websites in 15 countries and territories.
Category: Media
Contact:  Michel Preiswerk, CFO Edipresse Group
 
Aprox. Value:  Undisclosed
 
Details:  “Edipresse Group has sold its 33% stake in the Spanish magazine publishing company RBA Edipresse to its joint-venture partner RBA Holding. RBA Holding thus becomes 100% owner of RBA Edipresse. The amount of the sale was not disclosed. The transaction still has to be formally submitted to the Spanish competition authorities for approval. This transaction fits into the overall strategy of the Edipresse Group to disinvest from the Iberian market and the assets it does not control.
”
 
Link: Press Release

Online automotove repair site RepairPal raises $4M

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
  
FUND RAISING 
Database Reference:  F231109-301
 
Business:  RepairPal
Web:  http://repairpal.com
Location:  USA, Emeryville, CA
Region:  North America
Business description:  Automotive resource delivering free, instant, RepairPrice Estimates via the Web and its iPhone mobile application. RepairPal provides auto repair and maintenance information.
Category: Automotive
Contact 1:  David Sturtz, CEO of RepairPal
Contact 2:  Dave Whorton, Managing Partner at Tugboat
Contact 3:  Rick Keister, former CEO of Keystone Automotive Industries (acquired by LKQ Corp.) and former President of Aftermarket at Delco Remy
Contact 4:  David Strohm, Partner at Greylock Partners, board member at EMC and VMware
Contact 5:  Mark Goines, former Intuit executive and board member at Mint.com
Contact 5: Michael Torres, CEO of Adelante Capital Management

Investors:  Led by Tugboat Ventures, included individual investors (see contacts above)
  
Amount raised:  $4,000,000
 
Details:  RepairPal completes a $4 million Series A financing. Tugboat Ventures led the round that also included individual investors:

Link:  Press Release

SonicMule, interactive sonic applications for the iPhone, raises $8M

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
FUND RAISING 
Database Reference:  F231109-299
 
Business:  SonicMule
Web:  http://www.smule.com
Location:  USA, Menlo Park, CA
Region:  North America
Business description:  developer of interactive sonic applications for the iPhone
Category: Apps, Mobile
Contact 1:  Dr. Ge Wang, Co-Founder, CTO, and, Chief Creative Officer at SonicMule (Twitter http://twitter.com/gewang  Website http://ccrma.stanford.edu/~ge/ )
Contact 2:  Jeff Smith, CEO and co-founder of Smule
Contact 3:  Jason Pressman, Managing Director at Shasta Ventures

Investors:  Led by new investor Shasta Ventures with participation from existing investors Bessemer Venture Partners and Granite Ventures

Amount raised:  $8,000,000
 
Details:  SonicMule has secured $8 million in additional financing. Smule’s Sonic Network, populated by users of its top selling iPhone applications, has grown to over two million users in the past twelve months, led by users of Smule’s Ocarina, Leaf Trombone, and I Am T-Pain products.

Link:  Release (on PE Hub)

interCLICK raises $12m through common stock offering. Directors sell a further $6M

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
FUND RAISING 
Database Reference:  F231109-298
 
Business:  interCLICK
Web:  http://www.interclick.com
Location:  USA, New York, NY
Region:  North America
Business description:  Ad network in data and inventory transparency
Category: Advertising
Contact 1:  Roger Clark, CFO
  
Amount raised:  Sells 2,875,000 shares of common stock at a price of $4.50 per share in a registered direct offering. Net proceeds to the company after deducting placement agent fees will be approximately $12.0 million.
Participants:  
 
Details:  Publicly traded interCLICK has raised $12 million through the sale of common stock to a select group of institutional investors.
 
Concurrent with interCLICK’s primary offering, certain members of interCLICK’s Board of Directors will sell a total of 1,150,000 registered shares of common stock at $4.50 per share. Total gross proceeds of the offering will be approximately $18.1 million.

The Company intends to use the $12 million raised for general corporate purposes and working capital requirements. The offering is expected to close on December 21, 2009, and is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions.

Link:  Press Release

SeeWhy, the website conversion company, today raises $2 million

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
FUND RAISING 
Database Reference:  F231109-297
 
Business:  SeeWhy
Web:  http://www.seewhy.com
Location:  USA, Andover, MA
Region:  North America
Business description:  SeeWhy delivers breakthrough improvements in website conversion through continuous analysis of individual visitors and proactively optimizes real-time actions.
Category: Technology
Contact 1:  Scott G. Silk, CEO of SeeWhy
Contact 2:  Dermot Berkery, partner at Delta Partners  
 
Investors:  Scottish Enterprise, Logispring, Pentech Ventures and Delta Partners
  
Round:  Round B
Amount raised:  $2,000,000
 
Details:  SeeWhy, has completed a $2 million investment round by several of its current shareholders. Through 2010, SeeWhy plans to add additional investors alongside those investing in this round to support its growth in the website conversion market.

Link:  Press Release

Twitter tools directory, OneForty, raises $1.6M

The Fusion Team have completed over 70 digital and media transactions for its private, corporate and private equity clients. For more information contact pkelly@fusioncorp.co.uk or visit our website
 
FUND RAISING 
Database Reference:  F231109-302
 
Business:  OneForty
Web:  http://oneforty.com/
Location:  USA, Brighton, MA,
Region:  North America
Business description:  Directory of Twitter tools
Category: Directory
Contact:  Laura Fitton, President 
 
Investors:  Undisclosed
 
Round:  
Amount raised:  $1,622,518
 
Details:  According to an SEC filing, Twitter tools directory, OneForty, has raised $1.6M.

Link:  Regulatory filing