Travidia (www.travidia.com), a leading developer of online shopping solutions for local media, has been sold to a consortium of eight leading media companies – Advance Digital, A. H. Belo Corporation, Cox Media Group, Gannett Co., Hearst Corporation, MediaNews Group, The McClatchy Company, and The Washington Post Co. These companies have formed a joint venture in connection with the launch of a common online shopping platform to help advertisers reach consumers making purchasing decisions.
Christopher Tippie, an industry veteran who was the founding executive director of the Yahoo! Newspaper Consortium, will serve as acting CEO of the new joint venture. “This initiative among the country's leading media companies provides advertisers a unique opportunity to reach consumers through a simplified and standardized advertising platform. Advertisers can target audiences across participating local newspaper markets through digital display ads or with digital circulars,” said Mr. Tippie.
JEGI represented Travidia in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
The Retail Equation (“TRE”) (www.theretailequation.com), a leading SaaS platform for retail transaction optimization solutions, has been sold to Norwest Venture Partners (“NVP”) (www.nvp.com), a global venture capital firm celebrating 50 years in the venture industry.
Headquartered in Irvine, CA, TRE’s applications use statistical modeling and analytics to predict consumer behavior, and its software-as-a-service (SaaS) delivery enables retailers to achieve significant and measurable return-on-investment. Its ecommerce solutions are operating in over 15,000 stores in North America, supporting a diverse retail base of specialty, department, sporting goods, auto parts and more.
NVP makes early to late stage venture and growth equity investments across a wide range of sectors. The firm manages more than $3.7 billion of capital and has funded over 500 companies since inception.
JEGI represented TRE in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor.
Sequence Personal (www.sequencepartners.com), an innovative provider of proprietary software that enables readers to select relevant content to be digitally produced as specialized publications, has been sold to R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company (NASDAQ: RRD) (www.rrdonnelley.com). Focused originally on the creation of individualized medical journals with targeted advertising, Sequence’s technologies have expanded to enable custom publishing across a broad variety of verticals. For example, its ANTHOLOGY offering provides consumers a wide array of choices for individualizing content. Publishers and other organizations can take advantage of Sequence’s applications to increase revenues by allowing advertisers to select unique ad selection criteria for more targeted delivery.
“Understanding that personalization was becoming increasingly important to the way media is consumed, Sequence and the ANTHOLOGY platform were created as a way for the industry to participate in this trend and help usher in the next generation of publishing,†said Charles Benaiah, Founder of Sequence Personal.
JEGI represented Sequence Personal in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
IgnitionOne (www.ignitionone.com), an international digital marketing technology and solutions company, has acquired AdJug (www.adjug.com), Europe’s leading display advertising exchange for unsold premium inventory. The two companies will integrate their technologies to provide marketers with a sophisticated solution that simplifies the buying, targeting and measurement of online advertising.
“Our Dynamic Creative Technology (DCT), combined with IgnitionOne’s audience scoring technology, will give AdJug’s customers better response, greater reach and efficiencies through the industry’s most advanced online advertising platform,” said Michael Stephanblome, co-founder and CEO of AdJug.
JEGI represented AdJug in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
Journalism Online, LLC (www.journalismonline.com), with its Press+ offering, which enables publishers to seamlessly integrate an innovative paid content engine with their web sites, has been sold to R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company (NASDAQ: RRD) (www.rrdonnelley.com), a global provider of integrated communications with more than 60,000 customers worldwide.
The Press+ system supports publishers as they offer audiences a mix of free and subscription-based premium content. Journalism Online is managed by two of the companies’ co-founders and veteran digital media leaders: Steven Brill, founder of The American Lawyer magazine and Court TV; and L. Gordon Crovitz, a former Wall Street Journal publisher.
JEGI represented Journalism Online in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
mSnap (www.msnap.com), the largest broadcast-based mobile advertising network in the U.S. and a leading provider of mobile advertising solutions, has been sold to Marketron (www.marketron.com), the leading provider of business software solutions and services for the media industry.
The mSnap solution is being delivered via the Marketron Exchange platform, providing clients with a mobile solution that includes audience engagement tools, mobile content and an advertising network that will help media companies grow both audiences and revenues. The combined Marketron and mSnap mobile solution is uniquely designed to help media companies tap into new digital revenue streams, make broadcast programming more interactive and encourage audience loyalty.
JEGI represented mSnap in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
Accela Communications (www.accelacommunications.com), a leading marketing technology company providing interactive video communications, has been sold to KIT Digital (NASDAQ: KITD) (www.kit-digital.com), a leading global provider of video asset management solutions for multi-screen IP-based delivery and broadcast systems integration services. Terms of the transaction were not announced.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Accela Communications in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
EDGAR Online, Inc. (Nasdaq: EDGR), a leader in the distribution of public company filings and in the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) financial reporting standard, has completed an agreement for Bain Capital Ventures (www.baincapitalventures.com) to purchase $12 million worth of convertible Series B Preferred Stock of the Company. EDGAR Online (www.edgar-online.com) expects to use the newly-secured funding to scale its pioneering leadership position in the filing business associated with XBRL and simultaneously invest to expand its data and subscription offerings.
Bain Capital Ventures is an affiliate of Bain Capital (www.baincapital.com), one of the largest and most respected private investment firms in the world. Bain Capital Ventures is known for its exceptional approach to identifying and partnering with the management teams of early and growth stage entrepreneurial companies to build market leaders.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Edgar Online in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
Polaris Library Systems (www.gisinfosystems.com), a leading provider of library automation software based in upstate New York, was sold to PLS Partners, a newly formed company to acquire Polaris via a Management Buyout (MBO).
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Polaris Library Systems in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor.
mSnap (www.msnap.com), the largest SMS (Short Message Service) mobile advertising network in the U.S., has been sold to SmartReply (www.smartreply.com), North America’s leader in mobile marketing for top retail brands. Combined, these two companies create the most powerful SMS advertising platform for brand retailers and marketers today, unmatched in reach and scalability. The transaction signals the tipping point for mobile, bringing it to the forefront of the mobile advertising and marketing landscape.
Founded in 2006, mSnap has built an SMS ad network that comprises over 1,150 radio, print, and cable broadcast media partners, with the ability of reaching over 200 million mobile users per week. SmartReply has focused on delivering mobile and voice messaging solutions for loyalty, credit, and promotional marketing; its clients include over half of the top 100 retail brands in the U.S. and Canada.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented mSnap in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
acerno (www.acerno.com), a leading online behavioral targeting network, has been sold to Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM) (www.akamai.com), a market-leading provider of managed services for powering rich media, dynamic transactions, and enterprise applications online, for approximately $95 million in cash.
The acquisition of acerno, a unique online co-operative of shopping and purchase data for enabling more relevant online advertising, will greatly enhance Akamai’s Advertising Decision Solutions. These new Akamai solutions will enable online advertising businesses to boost the performance of their online marketing investments by driving smarter advertising decisions based on relevant audience segments.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented acerno in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
M:Metrics (www.mmetrics.com), the recognized leader in mobile measurement, has been sold to comScore (Nasdaq: SCOR) (www.comscore.com) a leader in measuring the digital world. The acquisition makes comScore the immediate leader in measuring the emerging and strategically important mobile Internet market and adds to comScore’s leading position in measuring PC-based Internet usage.
The transaction involves a cash payment of $44.3 million and the issuance of approximately 50,000 options to purchase shares of comScore stock to certain M:Metrics unvested option holders.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented M:Metrics in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
Undertone Networks (www.undertone-inc.com), a premium online advertising network, has received a strategic investment from JMI Equity (www.jmiequity.com), a private equity firm exclusively focused on investments in growing software and business services companies. JMI will work closely with Undertone’s management team to help the company continue to grow, deliver innovative services to its clients and create opportunities for its employees.
Working with leading traditional and digital advertising agencies and their clients, Undertone executes and strategically manages online advertising campaigns that allow clients to maximize their return on investment. The funding from JMI will enable Undertone to accelerate new product development and research, and further expand its presence in both U.S. and international markets.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Intercept Interactive, the parent company of Undertone, in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
Hallmark Data Systems (www.halldata.com), a leading information services and technology provider of fulfillment and customer relationship management solutions, and a portfolio company of Tinicum Capital Partners (www.tinicum.com), has been sold to EBSCO Industries (www.ebscoind.com).
EBSCO is a diversified business that provides subscriptions for more than 300,000 title listings from more than 78,000 publishers worldwide.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Hallmark Data Systems in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor.
KnowledgeStorm, Inc., a leading online search resource for IT professionals, has been sold to TechTarget (Nasdaq: TTGT), a publisher of intergrated media that enables IT marketers to reach targeted communities of IT professionals and excutives, for approximately $58 million.
KnowledgeStorm generates approximately 3.5 million visits per month from IT professionals searching for information and has approximately 700 active advertisers.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented KnowledgeStorm in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
Healia, an innovative consumer health search engine specializing in finding high quality and personalized health information online, has been acquired by Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP), one of America's leading media and marketing companies.
Approximately four out of five consumers first use a search engine to find health information. Healia, a winner of numerous industry awards, provides innovative search technology that guides health professionals and consumers to the highest quality and most personally relevant search results.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Healia in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
Gorilla Nation Media, the world's largest online ad rep firm, today announced a partnership with Great Hill Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm focused on investing in growth companies operating in the media, Internet and business and consumer services industries.
Great Hill Partners has invested over $50 million in Gorilla Nation Media for a significant minority stake in the business. This represents Gorilla Nation's first round of financing since its start in 2001 by founders Aaron Broder and Brian Fitzgerald.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Gorilla Nation Media in this transactions and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
TechnologyGuide.com, a provider of leading proprietary Internet content sites for mobile technology products, has been sold to TechTarget, which recently went public (NASDAQ: TTGT) and publishes integrated media that enable information-technology (IT) marketers to reach targeted communities of IT professionals and executives.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented TechnologyGuide.com in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
TNS Media Intelligence (TNS MI), the leading provider of strategic advertising information, has acquired Cymfony, the top market influence analytics company. The acquisition integrates Cymfony's expertise in tracking and analyzing the intersection of traditional and social media, such as blogs and social networks, with TNS MI's current extensive suite of adveritising intelligence products.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Cymfony in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.
Reed Business Information (RBI), a leading B2B media company in the US and part of Reed Elsevier, a world-leading publisher and information provider, has acquired BuyerZone.com, an online lead generation company.
BuyerZone is a leading online B2B marketplace that links prospective buyers to qualified suppliers of more than 125 business product and service categories. Since 2004, BuyerZone has facilitated more than $5 billion worth of transactions.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Reed Business Information in this transaction. For more information, click here.
Klipmart, the nation's largest provider of online video advertising and management solutions for Web publishers, agencies and marketers was acquired by DoubleClick, the premier provider of digital advertising technology and services. The acquisition puts DoubleClick at the forefront of the rapidly emerging online video market and will accelerate industry innovation in digital video and emerging advertising formats.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Klipmart in this transaction. For more information, click here.
20/20 Software, a Los Angeles-based operator of the Web site 2020software.com, the top site for decision-makers evaluating business software at small- and mid-sized companies, has been sold to TechTarget, a leading Information Technology (IT) media company that enables IT marketers to reach targeted communities of IT professionals and executives across the globe.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented 20/20 Software in this transaction. For more information, click here.
Gold Standard, Inc., a premier US-based developer of online clinical drug information products, services and solutions to the healthcare market, has been sold to Elsevier, a leading global healthcare and scientific publisher. Housatonic Partners, a private equity firm focused on investments in the business services and media industries, has been the lead investor in Gold Standard since 2003.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Gold Standard in this transaction. For more information, click here.
AdSpace Networks raised $20 million in a Series D round of financing led by Valence Capital Management with full participation from existing investors, including AIG Global Sports and Entertainment Fund, Doll Capital Management (DCM) and GIC Special Investments. Founded in 1998, AdSpace is the leading full-motion, all-digital advertising network for malls. AdSpace will use the capital to expand its digital mall advertising network into malls across the country. This transaction perfectly illustrates the significant ongoing shift from static to full-motion digital media in the out-of-home market. The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented AdSpace Networks in this transaction. For more information, click here.
Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) has announced the acquisition of the stock of PointRoll, Inc., a leading interactive advertising technology company that provides user-friendly, non-intrusive "mouse over mini-site" Internet technology. This technology enables advertisers to expand their space online and receive more measurable impact from their online advertising campaigns. PointRoll will join Gannett's USA Today division. The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented PointRoll in this transaction.
Bandalong Entertainment, an instant-messaging entertainment company, has secured Series A funding from Baker Capital, a private equity firm that invests primarily in communications equipment, services and applications providers. The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc. represented Bandalong Entertainment in this transaction.
Information Technology (IT) media company TechTarget has acquired Boston-based Bitpipe, Inc. for $40 million in cash. Bitpipe is the #1 distributor of IT white papers, and, with TechTarget, one of the two fastest growing media companies serving enterprise IT professionals and executives. As a result of the acquisition, TechTarget now owns a majority share of the market for the distribution of IT white papers and other vendor-supplied content—serving a larger number of IT professionals and executives, and generating more revenue from that activity, than all other IT publishers combined. The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Bitpipe in this transaction.
Infogate, Inc., a premium online subscription service, has been sold to America Online, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: AOL). The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Infogate in this transaction.