ION Investment Group to acquire a controlling stake in Acuris

May 14, 2019 — Fusion DigiNet

AcurisION Investment Group is acquiring a controlling stake in Acuris, a global provider of proprietary financial intelligence, data and analytics, from BC Partners and GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed. However, the FT quoting “three people with direct knowledge of the deal” describe it as a £1.35bn deal. BC Partners and Acuris management are reinvesting and will retain minority ownership.

The Company, then named Mergermarket, was founded in 1999 and acquired by Pearson in 2006 for £101 million plus a subsequent earn-out. In 2015 Mergermarket was acquired by BC Partners from Pearson plc for £382 million. GIC acquired a 30% stake from BC Partners on 2017.

Previous reporting

With nearly 1,500 employees in 66 different locations worldwide, Acuris provides proprietary insights and analytics across six key financial areas: fixed income, transactions, equities, compliance, infrastructure and research. Acuris’ differentiated content and products, including Mergermarket, Debtwire and several others.

Andrea Pignataro, ION’s CEO and Founder said “Acuris’ leading position in financial intelligence, data and analytics is highly complementary to ION’s business. Together, ION and Acuris will continue to deliver innovative, differentiated intelligence and solutions to financial institutions and corporations. We are looking forward to partnering with BC Partners to support the company’s growth and development.”

UK, London

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Pearson half-year results: FT Group’s Mergermarket business put up for sale

July 30, 2013 — Fusion DigiNet

Pearson2Pearson has published its half year results, at the same time  announcing that it is exploring the possibility of selling financial intelligence business Mergermarket. John Fallon, chief executive, said that while Mergermarket is a growing business, it does not fit with Pearson’s goal to be a market-leading education company.

Highlights

  • Pearson is exploring the possible sale of Mergermarket, the financial intelligence, data and analysis business. Pearson has appointed J.P. Morgan Cazenove to advise on the process.
  • John Fallon, the chief executive of Pearson, stressed that the paper was not for sale.
  • Pearson revenues up 5% to £2,243M
  • FT Group Revenues flat – £217M in 2013, £216M in 2012
  • FT Group Operating Profit up to £26M from £21M in 2012
  • Penguin Random House merger completed on 1 July 2013; strong growth at Penguin (up 14%) in the first half.
  • Adjusted operating profit £50m lower at £137m, including £37m of gross restructuring charges and, in addition, investments to support new product launches in the second half.
  • Adjusted earnings per share down 4.9p to 9.9p including restructuring charges.
  • Interim dividend up 7% to 16p.

Click on the Financial Highlights table below to enlarge the view

Pearson Half-Year Results 2013

John Fallon, chief executive, said: “In trading terms, 2013 has begun much as we expected. In general, good growth in our digital, services and developing-market businesses continues to offset tough conditions for traditional publishing. Our strategy is to transform Pearson into a single operating company that is sharply focussed on the biggest needs in global education and on measurable learning outcomes. With our restructuring programme on track and the reorganisation of the company under way, we are making significant progress towards that goal.”

Read the full announcement here.

UK, London

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Posted in Company Results, Conference/Exhibitions/Events, Content Media, Internet Media, Market Data & Information, Publishers, Training/Education, ~Europe. Tags: , , , . Leave a Comment »