AMC Networks to acquire Chellomedia from Liberty Global for $1BN

October 28, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

amc networks AMC Networks, the owner and operator of a number of cable channels including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv and owner of hit shows such as Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead, is to acquire substantially all of Chellomedia, the international content division of Liberty Global, for approximately $1 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014.

The acquisition provides AMC Networks with an extensive array of television channels that are distributed to more than 390 million households in 138 countries.

chellomedia“Chellomedia has developed a remarkable portfolio of popular channels that reach hundreds of millions around the world. As AMC Networks has expanded internationally, we have had a great desire to do something we consider fundamentally strategic, which is to take our content and put it on channels we own. This acquisition allows us to secure a large, global platform on which to distribute our increasingly successful original programming through a collection of strong, well-established and well-managed assets worldwide,” said Josh Sapan, President and CEO of AMC Networks. “Together, we can grow these assets and make them even more popular and valuable around the world.”

The agreement includes the acquisition of Chellomedia’s operating businesses including: Chello Central Europe, Chello Latin America, Chello Multicanal, Chello Zone, the ad sales unit Atmedia and the broadcast solutions unit Chello DMC.

USA, New York

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Chime Communications to acquire Just Marketing

October 25, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

chime2Chime, the international communications & sports marketing group, is to acquire JMI, a global marketing firm focused on motor sports, for a maximum consideration of $70.6 million (approximately £43.7 million). The acquisition will be part funded through a placing of 8,533,334 new ordinary shares to raise approximately £25.6 million.

JMI is a global marketing firm focused on motor sports, operating primarily in Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar. JMI provides long-term sponsorship management and activation strategies, together with services including large-scale hospitality events, rights sales, and digital and experiential marketing initiatives.

Zakary C. Brown, the founder and CEO of JMI, has relocated to London and, following completion of the Acquisition, will sit on the boards of both JMI and CSM Motorsport Limited (“CSM Motorsport”) (a newly incorporated wholly owned UK subsidiary of Chime) as President and CEO. It is intended that the JMI business will be operated as a separate division within CSM.

Commenting on the Acquisition, Christopher Satterthwaite, Chief Executive of Chime, said: “This acquisition will give us a strong foothold in the United States, one of the largest sports marketing markets in the world, and will accelerate Chime’s strategy of becoming a global leader in sports marketing.”

UK, London & USA, Indianapolis

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Shutterfly acquires BorrowLenses

October 24, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

shutterflyShutterfly has acquired BorrowLenses, the  online marketplace for photographic and video equipment rentals. BorrowLenses’s Founders, Max Shevyakov and Mark Gurevich, will join Shutterfly Inc. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“BorrowLenses addresses the growing consumer demand for high-quality products and services that are delivered on demand without high up-front costs,” said Jeffrey Housenbold, president and CEO of Shutterfly. “BorrowLenses is a perfect addition to the Shutterfly Inc. family of lifestyle brands, as they are the premium provider in the photo equipment rental category and are passionate about helping their customers capture moments by providing them with best in class photography and video equipment.”

USA, Redwood, CA & San Carlos, CA

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8coupons acquires Android app Clipless

October 23, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

8coupons-med8coupons, a hub and B2B platform for local deals, has acquired the Android app, Clipless, which seeks out and alerts shoppers when they are in close proximity of deals.

Founder and developer of Clipless, Michael Barnathan, has joined 8coupons full-time as Head of Mobile, leading development and strategy. In this role, Michael will oversee the rebrand of the Clipless Android app and relaunch of 8coupons’ iOS app with a new user interface, updated functionality, intelligence and content.

“Clipless is a perfect fit with 8coupons’ mission and has accelerated our mobile technology pipeline,” said 8coupons co-founder and CEO, Landy Ung. “We’re always looking to give customers a better experience and bring 8coupons closer to becoming their personal concierge for daily life.“

USA, New York

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Mecom Group makes further Danish disposals

October 23, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

mecomMecom Group‘s Danish subsidiary, Berlingske Media A/S, has agreed the sale to North Media A/S Group of its media centre in Frederiksberg publishing six free weeklies and its 60 per cent shareholding in Lokalaviserne Østerbro og Amager (“LØA”) publishing two free weeklies.

The total enterprise value of the Sale is DKK65 million (€8.7 million). The consideration is payable in cash at completion and the Group expects the reduction in net debt resulting from the sale to be approximately €8.3 million. The Sale is expected to complete on 1st November 2013.

The principle activity of both LØA and the Frederiksberg media centre is the publishing of various free weekly newspaper titles in Copenhagen. The combined profit before tax of the disposed businesses in 2012, including the 40 per cent minority share of LØA’s consolidated pre-tax earnings, was DKK19 million (€2.6 million), before allocations of central overhead. Berlingske Media A/S will continue to provide printing services to both the Frederiksberg media centre and LØA following completion of the Sale.

The sale will be effected by way of a transfer of the trade and assets of the Frederiksberg media centre and a sale of the Group’s shares in LØA and will result in the deconsolidation of approximately €8.4 million of gross assets from the Group’s balance sheet. Flemming Hansen will retain his position as Chief Executive Officer of LØA following completion of the Sale.

The proceeds of the Sale will be used to pay down outstanding bank borrowings.

Norway, Oslo, UK, London & Denmark, Copenhagen

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Square 2 Marketing acquires two inbound marketing firms

October 22, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

square-2-logoSquare 2 Marketing, an inbound marketing agency headquartered the United States, has acquired Elder Digital Marketing located in Beaconsfield, UK and Six Two Interactive, located in Bellevue, Washington.

Jonathan Elder, the founder of Elder Digital Marketing, will serve as the Regional Director in the UK office and will oversee all business development efforts in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Jason Gilbert, founder of Six Two Interactive, will be the Regional Director in Square 2 Marketing’s West Coast office and will support the acquisition of new clients west of the Mississippi.

“We’re excited to join forces with these two guys, they are both bright and innovative inbound marketers, and adding them to our leadership team makes us a much stronger company,” said Mike Lieberman, President of Square 2 Marketing. “We are on a mission to be the largest and most successful inbound marketing agency and these two acquisitions move us in that direction. Now, we are positioned to provide their clients and prospects with our innovative inbound marketing services to drive leads and help them close sales.”

USA, Warrington, PA & UK, Buckinghamshire & USA, Bellevue, WA

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Wilmot abandons plans to make an offer for Centaur

October 22, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

centaurOn 24th September Geoffrey Wilmot, the former chief executive of Centaur Media plc, said that he was in talks with financial backers about making a bid for the Centaur business. He had until 5.00pm on Tuesday 22nd October to clarify his intentions, by either announcing a firm intention to make an offer or that he does not intend to make an offer.

Since then, Wilmot has engaged with an extended number of finance providers and these discussions have progressed significantly.

However, a stock market statement issued today said, “It has become apparent that the Board of Centaur’s views on the value of the Company materially diverge from those of Mr Wilmot and his potential financing partners. Accordingly Mr. Wilmot confirms that he currently does not intend to make an offer for Centaur.”

Geoff Wilmot left Centaur in May this year.

UK London

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WPP’s VML acquires IM2.0, a digital advertising and media agency in China

October 15, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

wppWPP‘s wholly owned operating company VML, a  digital marketing company which is part of the Y&R network, has acquired IM2.0, a digital advertising and media agency based in China. The deal is subject to regulatory approval. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Established in 2008, IM2.0 provides a range of services, including online strategy, creative design, website development and maintenance, online campaigns, mobile application development, media optimisation and data analytics.

IM2.0 is one of China’s leading and most successful pure play digital agencies. Named 2013 Agency of the Year in China by the Mobile Marketing Association, IM2.0’s client portfolio includes Dell, adidas, Mondelez, China Merchant Bank and Haier.

IM2.0 employs approximately 230 people in Beijing and Shanghai. For the year ending 31 December 2012, IM2.0’s unaudited revenues were RMB 72 million, with gross assets of RMB 200 million.

UK, London & China, Beijing and Shanghai

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Utilitywise announces preliminary results for the year ended 31 July 2013

October 15, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

Utilitywise, a  utility cost management consultancy, has announced its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 31 July 2013.

Financial Highlights

  •  Revenue: £24.83 million (£14.38 million in 2012) – plus 73%
  • Gross margin: 47.2% (43.1% in 2012)
  • EBITDA: £7.39 million (£3.86 million 2012) – plus 79%
  • Profit Before Tax: £6.98 million (£3.86 million in 2012) – plus 81%
  • Diluted EPS: 7.9p (5.4p in 2012) plus 46%
  • Proposed final dividend payment of 1.8p, making total dividend for the year of 2.6p

Further financial detail can be found on the company’s website http://www.utilitywise.com.

Acquisition activity

 

Operational Highlights

  • 15,333 customers and 44,361 meters at 31 July ( 30 September 2012: 11,400 and 32,972 respectively) with additional 550 customers and 23,000 meters added through EIC
  • £16.6 million of secured contracts waiting to go live as at 31 July ( 31 July 2012: £7.1 million)
  • Post Period –  £18.2 million of secured contracts waiting to go live as at 30 September 2013

·     Board of Directors strengthened with non-executive appointments of Jeremy Middleton and Jon Kempster

Geoff Thompson, Chief Executive of Utilitywise, commented, “Our first full year as a plc has proved a very successful one. As well as delivering very strong organic growth we have been able to invest and build for the future. Integration of the three businesses that we acquired is progressing well and we have entered the new financial year with an improved suite of products and services to satisfy the wider energy needs of all businesses, regardless of size.

“The market in which we operate remains highly fragmented and we have still attracted only a very small percentage of our addressable market. Through our strong relationships with energy supply companies and our ability to identify customers and deliver the optimum solutions, we remain confident in the continued success of the Company.”

Utilitywise has also a appointed to he Board of Jeremy Middleton, CBE and Jonathan ‘Jon’ Kempster as non-executive Directors, effective immediately.

Jeremy Middleton is an entrepreneur best known for having co-founded Homeserve PLC, the FTSE 250 international home emergency business where he remains on the executive committee.

Jon Kempster has held a number of PLC finance roles, most recently as Group Finance Director of Wincanton plc, the UK and Ireland logistics and distribution group.

UK, South Shields

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Energy Management Transactions from Fusion

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Euromoney Institutional Investor acquires Infrastructure Journal for £12.5M

October 15, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

Euromoney PLCEuromoney Institutional Investor plc, the international online information and events group, is expanding its project finance and infrastructure business with the acquisition of Infrastructure Journal.

Infrastructure Journal is an information source for the international infrastructure markets.  Its business model is centred on premium subscription content that tracks market activity and is delivered in real-time through its online platform which is accessible from desktops, tablets and smartphones.  Infrastructure Journal also runs a portfolio of events which includes conferences, forums and awards attended by senior investment professionals, industry practitioners and advisors.  The Infrastructure Journal Awards are held annually in London.

ij-logoEuromoney is acquiring 100% of the assets of Infrastructure Journal from Top Right Group (“TRG”) for a cash consideration of £12.5 million, funded from its existing committed borrowing facility.  The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing for Euromoney in its financial year 2014.  Infrastructure Journal had revenues of £3.1 million for the year to December 2012.  The transaction will complete after the required TUPE (Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment) consultation period, expected to conclude by November 1, 2013.

“Infrastructure Journal is a business we have long admired and we are delighted that it is now part of our stable of global brands,” said Richard Ensor, chairman of Euromoney.  “With an estimated 57 trillion dollars of investment into infrastructure projects required around the world by 2030, we believe this part of the business-to-business information sector offers attractive growth fundamentals.  Euromoney aims to create a comprehensive market-leading infrastructure information provider by combining, under the Infrastructure Journal brand, the deals database and news coverage of Infrastructure Journal and the deals analysis, awards and conferences of Project Finance.”

Duncan Painter, CEO of Top Right Group, said: “Infrastructure Journal is well respected in its sector and delivers valuable insight and expertise to its customers.  The skill of the team, investment in content and the launch of new topical forums each year have kept the brand ahead and we are delighted that the Infrastructure Journal name will continue in the marketplace. We believe Euromoney Institutional Investor will be a good long term home for the brand and we wish the business every success in the future.”

UK, London

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