Marc Nassim | Internet M&A

Deluxe Corporation / Hostopia

2008-06-20T06:11:00.000+02:00

Deluxe Corporation and Hostopia.com Inc today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Deluxe to acquire Hostopia. The target company is a leading provider of web services that enable small and medium-sized businesses to establish and maintain an Internet presence.

Deluxe will acquire Hostopia in an all-cash transaction that values Hostopia at approximately CAD 124m (USD 122.2m). Under terms of the Merger Agreement, Deluxe will pay CAD 10.55 (USD 10.39) in cash for each outstanding Hostopia common share. Subject to a final accounting allocation of the purchase price, the acquisition is not expected to have a significant impact to Deluxe's earnings and operating cash flow for fiscal 2008.

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, is structured as a merger under applicable law. It will require the approval of Hostopia stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding Hostopia common shares at a special meeting to be called to consider the transaction. Hostopia stockholders holding in aggregate approximately 35% of the issued and outstanding shares of Hostopia common stock have agreed to vote their Hostopia common shares in favor of the transaction as long as the merger agreement is in effect, pursuant to a voting agreement with Deluxe. The transaction is also subject to certain other customary closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2008.

(c) Press Release

Iliad / Alice

2008-06-13T06:10:00.000+02:00

Alice France, the ISP owned by Telecom Italia (TI), is to be acquired by Iliad, the listed French telecommunications group, for around EUR 800m, reported Les Echos.

The unsourced report said that exclusive talks between seller Telecom Italia and Iliad will be announced this morning. Iliad owns Free, a French internet provider, and Free will acquire the 950,000 ADSL subscribers of Alice, the report said.

For 2007 Alice reported turnover of EUR 394m with an operational loss of EUR 191m. By merging Alice with the Iliad operations, this must be turned into profitability, the report said. Iliad had net debts of EUR 115m at the end of 2007 so this buy will be financed by new debts, the report noted.

(c) mergermarket.com

CBS / CNET Networks

2008-05-16T06:09:00.001+02:00

CBS Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire CNET Networks, Inc., it was announced today by Leslie Moonves, President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Corporation.

Under the terms of the agreement, CBS will make a cash tender offer for all issued and outstanding shares of CNET Networks for USD 11.50 per share, representing an equity value of approximately USD 1.8 billion. The acquisition will make CBS one of the 10 most popular Internet companies in the United States, with a combined 54 million unique users per month, and approximately 200 million users worldwide.

Based in San Francisco, CNET Networks owns many of the Internet's leading entertainment, news and information sites including CNET, ZDNet, GameSpot.com, TV.com, mp3.com, CNET news.com, UrbanBaby, CHOW, Search.com, BNET, MySimon and TechRepublic. The company, which reported significant profits in 2007 on revenues of USD 406 million, has a large international footprint, particularly in China.

Upon closing, CNET Networks' sites will be combined with CBS's stable of dynamic and growing interactive businesses. These include CBS.com, CBSSports.com, CBSCollegeSports.com, MaxPreps.com, CBSNews.com, last.fm, Wallstrip, MobLogic, CBS Radio and CBS Television Stations digital media platforms, and the distribution network of the CBS Audience Network, which is made up of more than 300 partner Web sites and reaches 82% of all online users in the United States.

The Board of Directors of CNET Networks has unanimously approved the merger agreement and unanimously recommends that CNET Networks stockholders accept the tender offer and tender their shares. The transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of this year.

(c) Company Press Release

Softbank / Oak Pacific Interactive

2008-05-04T06:14:00.000+02:00

Softbank, the Japan-listed IT conglomerate, plans to acquire about a 40% stake in unlisted China-based Internet company Oak Pacific Interactive, reported the Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

The report, which did not cite sources, disclosed that Softbank has already obtained a 14% interest in Oak Pacific, which it acquired for about JPY 10bn. The Japanese company also holds about a 20% stake in terms of preferred shares. Altogether, Softbank will pay about JPY 40bn (USD 384m) to acquire the 40% interest, according to the report. As a result, Softbank will become the leading shareholder in Oak Pacific.

Softbank chief executive officer, Masayoshi Son, will become a director of Oak Pacific, the report added. Around 22 million members use Oak Pacific's social networking site, and Softbank plans to offer online advertising and video distribution to users of the site. Softbank also hopes to obtain capital gains when Oak Pacific goes public, according to the report.

(c) Mergermarket.com

freenet / debitel

2008-05-04T06:09:00.000+02:00

freenet AG has today signed an agreement for the acquisition of the debitel Group, mainly consisting of debitel AG, TALKLINE GmbH and _dug telecom ag. The seller is debitel (Netherlands) Holding BV, a holding company controlled by Permira funds. The supervisory board of freenet AG has approved the acquisition. As consideration for the acquisition of the debitel Group, freenet will issue 32 million new freenet shares (approx. 24.99 % after the capital increase) and a long-term EUR 132.5m interest-bearing loan note to the vendor. On a cash-free basis, the debitel Group will be acquired with financial liabilities in the amount of approx. EUR 1,135 million.

Completion of the transaction is subject to anti-trust approval by the German cartel authority (Bundeskartellamt) and establishment of the conditions necessary for listing the new shares. Permira has agreed to a lock-up for 100% of the new shares until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2008 and for 60% of the new shares until the end of the Annual General Meeting 2009, in any event not longer than 31st August 2009.

As a consequence of the transaction, freenet does not intend to pay a dividend in 2008.

(c) Press Release

Yahoo! / Maven Networks

2008-02-13T18:13:00.000+01:00

Yahoo! today announced that it has acquired Maven Networks, Inc., a leading online video platform provider, to expand state-of-the-art consumer video and advertising experiences on Yahoo!.com and Yahoo!'s network of premium video publishers across the web. Under the terms of the agreement, Yahoo! acquired Maven Networks for approximately USD 160m.

Yahoo! and Maven will be able to offer publishers a full portfolio of technology and media solutions. Yahoo! already has the largest library of professionally produced legally licensed video content and has video advertising relationships with over 75% of the top TV advertisers. Additionally, Yahoo! has advertising relationships with a growing number of premium publishers including eBay, Comcast, Newspaper Consortium, Forbes.com and others. Maven's platform is currently used to manage, distribute and monetize premium online video content for over 30 major media companies, including Fox News, Sony BMG, CBS Sports, Hearst, Gannett, Scripps Networks, and the Financial Times as well as hundreds of their affiliates. Together they represent one of the most robust video platforms in the industry.

Yahoo! intends to invest in the growth of Maven's overall video business, continuing to provide premium publishers with both publishing and new advertising solutions. Yahoo! intends to expand on the Maven offering with video monetization services allowing publishers to take advantage of Yahoo!'s industry leading display sales force and advanced technologies for delivering consumers more relevant advertising experiences, both of which help them maximize their video advertising dollars.

With this acquisition, Yahoo! has established a Cambridge, MA presence and Maven has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yahoo!.

(c) Press Release

Netgem / Glowria

2007-12-11T08:36:00.000+01:00

Netgem, the listed French interactive TV company, announced the acquisition of French VOD specialist Glowria in an all-share deal, daily Le Figaro reported.
Netgem will issue new shares at a price of EUR 3.50 per share, valuing Glowria at between EUR 17.7m and EUR 18.9m.
The shareholders of Glowria, including investors such as Mousse Partners, Credit Agricole Private Equity, and Natixis, will end up with a 14-14.6% stake in Netgem.

(c) Le Figaro

D&B / AllBusiness.com

2007-12-05T05:12:00.000+01:00

D&B today announced that it has acquired AllBusiness.com, Inc. for approximately USD 55 million.
AllBusiness is an online media and e-commerce company that leverages its proprietary publishing platform and a broad range of content to help users run their small businesses.
The AllBusiness acquisition directly supports D&B's strategic stake of growing its Internet business. AllBusiness will enhance D&B's Internet capabilities while expanding its advertising-based revenue stream. In addition, the acquisition will provide a significant opportunity to market D&B's product offerings and quality business information to new and existing customers.
The company has an existing base of more than 2 million unique monthly visitors, and it monetizes its traffic through online display advertising by national advertisers. The AllBusiness acquisition also provides a platform to generate cross-selling opportunities for D&B products aimed at small business professionals, which is the key online market that D&B serves today.
Given the timing of this acquisition, AllBusiness will have no impact on D&B's 2007 financial guidance. AllBusiness is expected to generate approximately USD 10 million of incremental revenue for D&B in 2008. D&B will leverage its financially flexible business model to absorb the approximately USD 0.06 of dilution associated with the acquisition in 2008 without impacting its previously announced 2008 operating income or EPS outlook. The Company expects AllBusiness to be accretive to earnings in 2009.

(c) mergermarket.com

Rentabiliweb / Montorgueil

2007-10-19T06:15:00.000+02:00

Rentabiliweb, le spécialiste de la monétisation de l'audience, a annoncé le rachat, sous conditions suspensives, de Montorgueil SAS, principal acteur francophone de la rencontre on line, du divertissement et du contenu d'animation. Les modalités de l'acquisition n'ont pas été dévoilées.
Le Groupe Montorgueil est à l'origine des premiers programmes d'affiliation sur Internet dès 1998. Une partie de son chiffre d'affaires est réalisée grâce à des outils de rencontres online et de dating tels que Yes! Messenger qui rassemble plus d'un million de membres. La société est également leader sur le marché francophone du divertissement pour adultes au travers de marques comme Carpe Diem et Eurolive. Cette opération constitue un mouvement majeur pour Rentabiliweb qui va tripler de taille et se renforcer dans le secteur très rémunérateur du divertissement pour adultes où il n'était pas encore présent.

(c) Fusacq.com

PagesJaunes / Horyzon Média

2007-10-19T06:10:00.000+02:00

L'éditeur d'annuaires PagesJaunes a annoncé le rachat de 55 % de la régie publicitaire spécialisée sur Internet Horyzon Média, avec une option pour monter à 66 %. Il a acquis également 66 % de Horyzon Clics, société spécialisée dans les campagnes au clic.
Le montant de l'opération n'a pas été dévoilé. Les deux sociétés qui représentent un CA cumulé de 10 MEUR en 2007 seront fusionnées sous le nom d'Horyzon Média. Créé en juillet 2004, Horyzon Média assure la régie d'une soixantaine de sites affichant 16,9 millions de visiteurs uniques par mois. Ces opérations permettent à PagesJaunes d'accroître sa part de marché dans la publicité online en France.

(c) Fusacq.com

Google / Zingku

2007-09-30T08:21:00.000+02:00

Google's quest for devotees in the booming world of mobile online services continues with its purchase of a startup company that streamlines sharing pictures, messages and more via smart phones.
The news comes as the leading Internet search firm vies with Yahoo, Microsoft and America Online to win the loyalty of people accessing the Internet on the move.
"Google has acquired certain assets and technology of Zingku," the California-based firm said Friday in reply to an AFP inquiry.
Google added that it expects the acquisition to help it "provide people worldwide with direct access to Google applications, and ultimately the information they want and need, right from their mobile devices."
Zingku's website says it launched in 2005 after its founders "noticed that teenage/twenty something's and their friends were engaging in rich media conversations drawing upon the full reach of mobile text messaging."
Zingku says its technology makes it easy to share messages, pictures, "mobile flyers," or other creations using mobile devices, according to the firm.
"Our service integrates your mobile phone with a personalized web site so that you can easily move (zing) things back and forth between the web and your mobile as well as...connect with friends," Zingku's website says.
Zingku will not register new members while the deal is pending and informed existing users that they can cancel their accounts or have them transferred to Google.

(c) AFP

Boursorama / OnVista

2007-09-25T07:43:00.000+02:00

Boursorama annonce l'acquisition de 77,4% du capital d'OnVista AG, propriétaire de http://www.onvista.de/, leader allemand de l'information financière sur internet.
Dans un communiqué, la filiale de la Société générale précise qu'elle lancera une offre publique d'achat sur le solde du capital pour retirer le titre de la cote, après l'approbation de la prise de contrôle par les autorités anti-trusts allemandes.
Cette participation de 77,4% sera acquise auprès des dirigeants de l'entreprise et de la famille Burda, en numéraire, pour un prix de 20,6 euros par action, ce qui valorise OnVista à 138 millions (dont 10 millions de trésorerie).
Le portail allemand d'informations financières (1,04 million de visiteurs uniques et 72 millions de pages vues par mois) a réalisé en 2006 un chiffre d'affaires de 14,1 millions d'euros, en progression de 45% sur un an et a enregistré un résultat net de 1,6 million.
Au premier semestre 2007, OnVista a réalisé un chiffre d'affaires de 11,3 millions avec un résultat net de 1,9 million.
Boursorama est présent en Allemagne depuis 1997 à travers sa succursale de courtage en ligne Fimatex, qui est plus particulièrement active sur les warrants et les produits dérivés.
"La combinaison des activités de Fimatex et d'OnVista permettra au nouvel ensemble d'accélérer son développement sur le segment de l'épargne en ligne dans ce pays", souligne le groupe dans un communiqué.
Créé en 1995, Boursorama est l'un des principaux acteurs de l'épargne en ligne en Europe avec quelque 3,2 millions d'ordres exécutés au 30 juin 2007, 557.300 comptes en direct et un encours total de 13,4 milliards d'euros à fin juin 2007.
En dehors de la France et de l'Allemagne, Boursorama est également n°2 au Royaume-Uni sous les marques Self Trade et n°3 en Espagne, également sous la marque Self Trade.

Caisse d'Epargne / Meilleurtaux.com

2007-09-25T07:19:00.000+02:00

Caisse Nationale des Caisses d'Epargne (CNCE), the listed French bank, announced the acquisition of a 50.14% stake in French Internet and e-commerce company Meilleurtaux.

The company will acquire 50.14% of the shares via the Oterom Holding vehicle at a price of EUR 14 per share. The vendors are Ventech, Galileo Partners and Edmond de Rothschild Investment Partners. Christophe Cremer, founder and head of Meilleurtaux is also selling part of its share. He will also transfer a 7% stake in Meilleurtaux to Oterom in exchange of a 14% stake in the vehicle.

Once the acquisition is completed, French insurers Macif and Maif will acquire a 17% stake each in the Oterom Holding, and 5% for Nexity. CNCE will retain a 47% stake in the vehicle, which will hold about 57% of Meilleurtaux. CNCE said that it also plans to launch a public offer for the remainder of the shares at a price of EUR 14 per share.

(c) Mergermarket

NetScout / Network General Corp.

2007-09-23T07:48:00.000+02:00

NetScout Systems, Inc. an industry pacesetter for advanced network and service assurance solutions, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Network General Corporation, in a combined cash, stock, and debt transaction currently valued at approximately USD 205m. The acquisition, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed by early November. Network General employees will become NetScout employees, and the newly combined entity will be headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts. NetScout believes that for the full year of fiscal 2009 the combined company will approximately double NetScout's current revenue rate, and that the transaction will be accretive for fiscal year 2009 on a non-GAAP basis and accretive on a GAAP basis by the end of fiscal 2009. The combined company will have a larger and more diversified customer base supported by a larger sales force and a planned doubling of R&D spending. Faster revenue growth is expected to be achieved through a broader, integrated product portfolio which will provide customers greater efficiency and value. It is anticipated that there will be significant cost savings realized across the combined company, improving operating margins and earnings per share.

The acquisition furthers NetScout's vision of providing superior network-based performance management based on a KPI (key performance indicator)/Flow/Packet paradigm. The new, extended portfolio will directly benefit both customer sets by increasing the value of the NetScout solutions available to them while protecting their existing investments. NetScout customers will benefit from the addition of best-of-breed expert packet analysis and data mining, and Network General customers will benefit from best-of-breed real-time monitoring and rapid top-down troubleshooting. For all customers, this will translate into meaningful reductions in their MTTR (mean time to restore) metrics, while reducing the training and skills required to manage complex network-based operations.

The acquisition will accelerate NetScout's recently announced entry into the Wireless Service Provider segment. This segment is currently dominated by several large competitors, whose solutions have relied on deep packet analysis versus NetScout's superior real time monitoring and reporting. With the addition of Network General's leading technology, NetScout will be able to offer the best solution across a broad spectrum of performance monitoring and troubleshooting requirements.

NetScout is making the acquisition, valued at approximately USD 205m (based on the closing price of NetScout common stock on 19 September 2007), with a combination of six million shares of NetScout stock, USD 50m of cash and USD 100m of debt financing. NetScout anticipates obtaining the debt financing either from affiliates of Silver Lake and TPG or from third party financing sources. After completion of the acquisition, Silver Lake and TPG will become NetScout shareholders and representatives of Silver Lake and TPG are expected to join the NetScout Board. The transaction is slated to close in early November subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Yahoo! / Zimbra

2007-09-18T05:56:00.000+02:00

Yahoo! Inc., a leading global Internet company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Zimbra, Inc., a leader in next generation e-mail and collaboration software. Under the terms of the agreement, Yahoo! will acquire Zimbra for approximately USD 350 million.

The acquisition of Zimbra will help Yahoo! to expand its presence in universities, businesses and through ISPs by enabling organizations to host e-mail on or off premises with their own domain. Zimbra's offerings include rich, AJAX-based e-mail, calendar, and contact management features that can be used both on and offline. Their open platform enhances the user experience by enabling creative mash-ups called Zimlets that tie in valuable Web services to e-mail, and can be tailored to fit the needs of every customer.

Yahoo! Mail celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and continues to be one of the world's most popular Web mail services with 250 million(1) users worldwide. The service provides people with more ways to connect to their friends and online contacts and is fully integrated with Yahoo!'s many other popular services to make it easy to access all the Internet services people need.

Following the acquisition, Zimbra will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Yahoo!. Satish Dharmaraj will continue to lead the Zimbra team based in Yahoo!'s Sunnyvale headquarters and will report to Brad Garlinghouse. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval. It is expected that the transaction will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2007.

(c) mergermarket.com

Axel Springer / auFeminin.com

2007-06-29T07:28:00.000+02:00

Le groupe de presse allemand Axel Springer a annoncé le rachat à ses fondateurs de 41,4 % du capital d'auFeminin.com (CA 2006 : 13,4 MEUR, capitalisation boursière : 124 MEUR) et le lancement d'une OPA sur le solde du capital au prix de 32 EUR par action.

L’offre d'Axel Springer valorise la société à 288 MEUR. 27,4 % seront réglés en numéraire aux trois fondateurs, pour un montant de 78 millions d'euros, et 14,3 % seront apportés à une société allemande, qui sera contrôlée par Axel Springer.

Fondé en 1999 et présent dans huit pays en Europe et au Canada, auFeminin.com se définit comme le premier portail Internet féminin. Avec cette acquisition, Axel Springer compte s'assurer le leadership dans la presse féminine en ligne, notamment en France et en Allemagne.

(c) Fusacq.com

2007-06-28T08:44:00.000+02:00

Website Pros and Web.com, the listed Internet services providers, have announced they have agreed to merge in a USD 129m transaction.

Shareholders of Georgia-based Web.com may elect to receive for every Web.com share either 0.6875 shares of stock in Florida-based Website Pros or USD 6.5233 in cash, subject to proration so that the total cash paid shall equal USD 25m. In the aggregate, Website Pros will issue approximately nine million shares of Website Pros stock and pay USD 25m in cash.

In addition, Website Pros will assume all of the outstanding options to purchase common stock of Web.com at an exchange rate consistent with the value offered to holders of Web.com common stock. Based on the closing price of Website Pros' stock on 26 June, the transaction is valued at USD 129m.

The merger, which is subject to regulatory reviews and approvals, approval by the shareholders of both companies and certain other customary conditions, is expected to close during the second half of 2007.

(c) Company press release

Cybersource / Authoriza.net

2007-06-19T13:36:00.000+02:00

Cybersource, the California-based company that provides electronic payment and risk management solutions, acquired Authorize.Net, a listed Massachusetts provider of IP-based payment solutions.
The deal is valued at USD 565m, according to a press release.

The acquisition joins two highly complementary businesses, positioning CyberSource to further capitalize on the growing Web-based payment opportunity.
Both companies are leaders in enabling e-commerce businesses to accept online payments for goods and services. CyberSource, with approximately 20,000 customers, has traditionally focused on managing payments for midsized and enterprise customers.

Authorize.Net, with more than 175,000 customers, has specialized in small businesses. Collectively, the companies processed approximately 1.1bn transactions in 2006, representing USD 65bn of e-commerce.
The acquisition will enable CyberSource to provide leading payment solutions to all segments of the e-commerce industry.

Under the agreement, Authorize.Net shareholders will receive 1.1611 shares of CyberSource common stock for every share of Authorize.Net common stock.
Additionally, shareholders will receive a pro-rata share of approximately USD 125m in the form of a cash payment. The agreement was approved by the boards of directors of both CyberSource and Authorize.Net.

Subject to obtaining applicable shareholder approvals and satisfaction of all regulatory requirements, the transaction is expected to close in late September or early October 2007.

This transaction is expected to be accretive in the fourth quarter of 2007 on a non-GAAP basis, which excludes stock-based compensation expense, a reduction in the tax allowance, the noncash portion of the tax provision, depreciation and amortization expense, and certain nonrecurring charges and income.

Goldman Sachs & Co. served as financial advisor to CyberSource, and Jefferies Broadview, a division of Jefferies & Co., served as financial advisor to Authorize.Net for this transaction.

(c) Company Press Release

France Telecom / Ya.com

2007-06-08T07:07:00.000+02:00

France Télécom a annoncé l'acquisition du fournisseur d'accès à Internet via l'ADSL Ya.com.

La valorisation du troisième opérateur Internet espagnol ressort à 320 MEUR. France Télécom, qui mise beaucoup sur son développement en Espagne, franchit une étape supplémentaire en rachetant le troisième acteur du marché espagnol de l'Internet haut débit avec quelque 400.000 abonnés à l'ADSL, France Télécom va ainsi devenir le numéro deux de l'ADSL sur le marché espagnol avec 1,08 million de clients, part de marché (18 %) qui reste cependant relativement faible par rapport à l'opérateur historique, Telefonica.

Côté téléphonie mobile, après le rachat d'Amena pour 10 MdEUR en 2005, Orange occupe la troisième place avec 24 % du marché derrière TelefonicaMobiles (46,2 %) et Vodafone (29,7 %).

(c) Fusacq.com

CBS / Last.fm

2007-05-31T10:10:00.000+02:00

CBS, the New York listed media company, announced it has acquired Last.fm, the UK online radio company, for USD 280m. CBS purchased the property which is one of the largest social platforms online for USD 280m in cash. Last.fm currently has more than 15 million active users in more than 200 countries. This acquisition follows a number of CBS Interactive announcements including the purchase of Wallstrip.com, investments in Joost and Spot Runner and the recent expansion of the CBS Audience Network to include a total of 25 online partners.

As part of the acquisition, the Last.fm team, including founders Felix Miller, Martin Stiksel and Richard Jones, will continue to independently run the online network. The Last.fm management team will work with all relevant CBS divisions to apply their community-building and technology expertise to extend CBS businesses online and within the mobile space.

Founded in 2002, Last.fm creates communities around music by bringing together listeners, artists and music. Through its unique "scrobbling" technology and social recommendation engine, Last.fm builds a comprehensive profile of each user's musical taste and leverages each user's song list to make highly personalized recommendations, connect users who share similar tastes, provide custom radio streams and other music related community features. In addition, the site has an "Events" listing that can recommend over 200,000 festival and music events globally. Last.fm has a sizable global footprint spanning more than 200 countries with the largest concentration of users in the United States, Britain, Germany, Poland, Brazil, and Japan. Last.fm's large and growing user base is predominately young, engaged and very involved on the site.

(C) Company Press Release

ThirdForce / MindLeaders.com

2007-05-22T09:33:00.000+02:00

ThirdForce has entered into a conditional agreement pursuant to which MindLeaders.com, Inc., an e-learning business, will be merged with and into a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company for a total consideration of USD 18m, to be satisfied as to USD 9m in cash and as to USD 9m by the issue of new ordinary shares in the Company.
ThirdForce also intends to raise up to EUR 13.0m, before expenses, through a share placing at a price per share of EUR 0.19. The proceeds of the Placing will be utilised by the Company to satisfy the cash element of the consideration, to contribute towards the discharge of costs associated with the proposed transactions and to provide working capital to fund the growth plans of the enlarged group.
The Merger of MindLeaders into the group will take place by way of a merger agreement. Under the terms of the Merger the vendors will receive 85% of the consideration on closing, comprising of ordinary shares in ThirdForce to a value of USD 7.65m valued at the placing price of EUR 0.19 per share and cash of USD 7.65m.
The remaining 15% of the consideration, comprising further ThirdForce ordinary shares at the placing price to a value of USD 1.35m and cash of USD 1.35m, will be deferred consideration payable 21 months after the closing of the transaction if no warranty claims under the merger agreement have been filed by or settled in favour of the Company.
The Merger will be conditional upon inter alia the Placing and the admission of the merger shares and placing shares to trading on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange and IEX, a market operated by the Irish Stock Exchange.

(c) Stock Exchange Announcement

Microsoft / aQuantive

2007-05-18T17:13:00.000+02:00

Microsoft, the listed Washington software company, acquired aQuantive, the listed Washington company, for USD 66.50 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at USD 6bn.
Founded in 1997, aQuantive is the parent company of one of the industry's most successful families of digital marketing service and technology companies, encompassing three primary brands. Atlas provides a set of advanced tools for both advertisers and publishers. The Atlas Media Console is an industry-leading toolset providing agencies and advertisers with capabilities to maximize ROI. The Atlas Publisher platform enables publishers to maximize monetization opportunities for their content.
DRIVEpm provides services to publishers and advertisers that match advertiser campaigns with publisher inventory enabling all parties to maximize ROI.
Avenue A | Razorfish is one of the largest interactive ad agencies in the world, providing advertisers with industry-leading digital marketing consultation, media planning and buying, and creative services that help advertisers use the online channel to build meaningful, profitable relationships with their customers.
The deal is expected to be completed in the first half of Microsoft's fiscal year 2008. The acquisition is not expected to have a significant impact on the financial guidance previously issued by the company.
aQuantive, which has approximately 2600 employees, will continue to operate from its Seattle headquarters as part of Microsoft's Online Services Business. The combination of Microsoft and aQuantive takes the Company's advertising platform to the next level in its ability to serve Microsoft's first party audience assets like MSN, Windows Live, Xbox Live, and Office Live, as well as for third party publishers and applications such as Facebook and Activision game titles.

(c) Company Press Release

Pearson / eCollege

2007-05-15T08:04:00.000+02:00

Pearson, the international education and information company, today announced it has agreed to acquire eCollege, a leader in the fast-growing US online distance learning market.

The net cost to Pearson is USD 477m, consisting of a consideration of USD 538m (USD 22.45 per share) less USD 41m of proceeds from the agreed sale of eCollege's Datamark division and approximately USD 20m of net cash on eCollege's balance sheet.
The transaction has been approved by eCollege's Board of Directors and is subject to approval by its shareholders.

eCollege, founded in 1996, works with its partner educational institutions to design, build and support online degree, certificate, diploma and professional development programs. It provides a full range of on-demand software services including course management, virtual campuses, and assessment, reporting and retention monitoring tools. The company also provides a suite of support services which include hosting, help desk, course development, technical consulting, instructional design and faculty training. eCollege supports approximately 180 institutions and its customers include some of America's leading university and career colleges including DeVry University, Kaplan University, Laureate, Texas A&M University at Commerce and Eastern Michigan University.

In 2006, student enrollments in its online courses were approximately 1.2 million. It has played a particular role in helping educational institutions broaden access to post-secondary education for students who may be unable to attend full-time. From 2002 to 2006, the number of students taking online postsecondary qualifications with US institutions grew at a compound annual rate of more than 30% (source: Eduventures).

This acquisition extends Pearson's position as the world's leading education company and supports its goals of building its digital and international education businesses.

Pearson expects the acquisition to strengthen both its own education business and eCollege in three major areas: Pearson and eCollege share many customers in the higher education market. Together the two companies expect to provide customers with additional value and choice, and a full range of services across content, curriculum development, formative assessment and homework technologies and outsourced solutions. Pearson's publishing divisions will continue to work with third party commercial and open source course management providers, and eCollege will continue to work with third party publishers; Pearson's scale and reach will enable eCollege to serve new customers in school, post-secondary education and professional/ vocational markets, both in the US and around the world.

In 2006, eCollege generated sales of USD 52m and operating profit of USD 22m before central costs (and excluding the Datamark division). From 2003 to 2006, sales grew at a compound annual rate of 22%. Pearson expects the acquisition to be broadly neutral to adjusted earnings per share in 2008, its first full year, and to enhance adjusted EPS and generate a return above Pearson's cost of capital from 2009.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007. It includes an agreement to sell the Datamark student enrollment business to a group of investors led by Oakleigh Thorne, eCollege's chairman and CEO. Matthew Schnittman, President of eCollege's eLearning division, will join Pearson and continue to lead the company. It will operate as a separate unit from Pearson's textbook publishing companies and will retain its offices in Denver, Colorado.

Internet Commerce / EasyLink Services

2007-05-04T09:41:00.000+02:00

Internet Commerce (ICC) and EasyLink Services, the listed technology companies, today announced they have agreed ICC will acquire EasyLink for USD 5.80 per share.
The deal has an aggregate transaction value of USD 67m. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2007, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, as well as stockholder approval from both companies.

Georgia-based ICC's acquisition of New Jersey-based EasyLink brings together two market leaders with a shared vision for helping organizations of all sizes improve the flow and exchange of essential data and business documents. By combining forces, ICC creates an entity that brings to market an unrivaled portfolio of offerings, accelerates growth in core network services, gives greater presence in international markets, expands penetration in key industry verticals and extends into new product segments.

(c) Company Press Release

Yahoo! / Right Media

2007-04-30T14:34:00.000+02:00

Yahoo! Inc, the Nasdaq-listed Internet company, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Right Media Inc., creator of the Right Media Exchange.

Under the terms of the agreement, which follows Yahoo!'s 20% strategic investment in Right Media in October 2006, Yahoo! will acquire the remaining equity interest in Right Media for approximately USD 680m. Shareholders will be paid in approximately equal parts cash and stock, and Right Media options and similar equity awards will be assumed by Yahoo!.

The Right Media Exchange is the industry’s largest emerging online advertising exchange, and as publishers increasingly turn to exchanges to monetize their ad inventory, this acquisition will help Yahoo! establish a leading position in this large, attractive and fast growing segment of the online ad market.

Right Media’s open exchange will facilitate a frictionless model where buyers have equal opportunity to engage with the largest, most valuable audiences and to extract the maximum value from their campaigns and sellers can access an enormous pool of advertisers and foster competition for their inventory to maximize revenue. Yahoo! will increase its participation in the Right Media Exchange both as a buyer and seller to help increase liquidity in the exchange while empowering publishers and advertisers to generate more value for themselves within this vibrant marketplace.

(c) Company Press Release

Google / DoubleClick

2007-04-16T08:44:00.000+02:00

Google, a listed California search engine company, said it will acquire DoubleClick, a New York digital marketing technology and services, for USD 3.1bn in cash.
DoubleClick was acquired from California-based private equity firm Hellman & Friedman, along with JMI Equity and management.

The acquisition will combine DoubleClick's expertise in ad management technology for media buyers and sellers with Google's leading advertising platform and publisher monetization services. Both companies have approved the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, and is expected to close by the end of the year.

(c) MergerMarket.com

Software / webMethods

2007-04-05T14:59:00.000+02:00

Software, the listed German software company, and webMethods announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement for Software AG to acquire webMethods in a cash tender offer for USD 9.15 per share or approximately USD 546m.

webMethods is a leading business integration and optimization software company. It reported revenue of USD 208m in fiscal 2006. Software AG would add this to its fast growing business line Crossvision (fiscal 2006 revenue EUR 108m/ USD 134m) which offers a comprehensive SOA suite with SOA Governance and Legacy Modernization capabilities. The combination is expected to enhance Software AG’s competitive position with a leading product portfolio in the SOA market and to improve its position in the US market.

Software AG expects this transaction to be strongly accretive to Software AG’s operating earnings from 2008 onwards.

The transaction has been approved by the Supervisory Board of Software AG. webMethods’s Board of Directors also approved the transaction and will recommend that its shareholders accept the offer. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close by the end of the first half of 2007. Software AG expects to fund the USD 546m acquisition through its existing cash resources as well as debt financing. Given the complementary nature of Software AG’s and webMethods’ businesses, Software AG expects to recognize synergies through both revenue enhancement and cost savings.

(c) MergerMarket.com

AOL / TradeDoubler

2007-01-16T07:15:00.000+01:00

AOL, the internet subsidiary of Time Warner, the US media group, on Monday made a recommended SKr6.3bn (£460m, $900m, €695m) cash offer for TradeDoubler, the listed Swedish online marketing group.

The SKr215 a share offer – a 20 per cent premium to the average TradeDoubler share over the preceding three months – reflects AOL's drive to bolster its European advertising business following the sale of its internet access operations in markets such as the UK.

It comes as AOL has restructured in most of its markets to become a more advertising-led business, competing with the likes of Yahoo and Google in the growing web marketing sector.

AOL sold its UK access unit to Carphone Warehouse , the retailer and telecommunications group, for £370m cash last October.

TradeDoubler's biggest market is the UK, where it has benefited from rapid adoption of online advertising by marketers. It also operates in France and Germany as well as the Nordic regions and other parts of Europe.

The group, which numbers BT and Asda among its customers, is best known for running affiliate marketing programmes in which websites get paid for passing traffic on to third parties.

In its third-quarter filing, TradeDoubler reported a 54 per cent rise in revenues to SKr427m and an operating profit of SKr47m, up from SKr19m in the same period of 2005.

Following press speculation in December, it confirmed it had been in talks with different parties over possible transactions.

Time Warner believes the acquisition will complement Advertising.com, the AOL-owned company which runs an online advertising network for publishers and advertisers.

The TradeDoubler board has recommended AOL's offer. Some 20 per cent of the Swedish group's shareholders, including Arctic Ventures, its biggest investor, have also given irrevocable undertakings to accept the offer. The acceptance period runs until February 19.

(c) 2007 Financial Times

Meetic / Dating Direct

2007-01-10T19:33:00.000+01:00

DatingDirect.com, which grew to be one of the UK's lasting successes of the dotcom boom, is to be sold to Meetic, the pan-European dating website, in a deal worth £27.3m.

The company, which was set up by internet entrepreneurs Darren Richards and Andrew Pike in 1999, has undergone substantial growth over the last eight years, increasing its membership from an initial 40,000 to more than 4.5m.

Meetic, one of Europe's most popular dating websites according to Nielsen/NetRatings, has operations in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium.

DatingDirect has extended its service through a number of third-party deals with major media companies. Most recently, it signed a deal with Trinity Mirror to provide dating services through the online editions of the Daily Mirror, The People and the Daily Record.

Previous deals DatingDirect.com has signed include ones with iVillage.co.uk, AOL, ITV.com and Channel 4. It is ranked as the number one personals site in the UK by Nielsen/NetRatings.

Google / Xunlei

2007-01-08T06:19:00.000+01:00

Google, the US-based search engine, has taken a stake in Xunlei Network Technology (Thunder) for as much as USD 20m, reported Mingpao Daily News and Hong Kong Economic Journal.

The report in the Hong Kong Economic Journal, citing an announcement from Google, said that the company has taken a stake in Xunlei, a downloading service company based in China. However, both companies had not revealed the financial details of the deal, the report said. It added that Xunlei has more than 120 million users so far.

The Mingpao Daily News report said that Google has taken the stake in Xunlei together with Ceyuan Ventures, an investment company in Shanghai. The deal value is estimated to be as much as USD 20m, according to the report. The report, citing an unnamed China-based media, further said that Google invested USD 5m while Ceyuan Ventures invested 15m in Xunlei. An analyst was also cited as saying that Google hopes to gain the promoting channels in China through the sharing of software with Xunlei. It also said that the turnover of Xunlei in 2005 was more than CNY 100.

(c) MergerMarket.com

Cisco / IronPort Systems

2007-01-05T08:42:00.000+01:00

Cisco Systems said Thursday that it has agreed to pay $830 million in cash and stock to acquire privately held IronPort Systems, a maker of anti-spam and anti-virus security products.

The deal is the latest in the quickly consolidating security-software market. Microsoft, Symantec and others have scooped up smaller firms so they can offer comprehensive consumer packages amid a wave of computer viruses, spam and phishing scams.

It also highlights Cisco's efforts to shed its image as solely a maker of networking infrastructure gear and capitalize on products and services that utilize the network itself, analysts say.

Cisco, which makes the routers, switches and other devices used to link networks and direct traffic on the Internet, has established itself in the network security arena. Cisco executives say they are keenly interested in entering the $2 billion-plus messaging security market.

The deal also allows IronPort to compete better with larger rivals such as Symantec and SOPHOS, Weiss said.

Cisco says it plans to retain virtually all of IronPort's 408 employees and keep its headquarters in San Bruno, Calif.

The acquisition allows Cisco to use data gathered by IronPort's technology and stop threats such as spam and computer viruses before they can reach a company's computer system.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of fiscal 2007.

It is the second mega-deal involving a security start-up in recent months. In July, Secure Computing acquired CipherTrust for $273 million.

Iberostar / Viajar.com

2007-01-05T07:14:00.000+01:00

Viajar.com, the Spanish travel internet portal unit owned by Deutsche Telekom's Spanish subsidiary Ya.com, has been acquired by Iberostar, reported Expansion.

The deal is valued at EUR 17m but includes a commitment to contract Ya.com services worth EUR 3m. The report cited Iberostar sources who explained that the company wanted to focus its attention on the Internet as it was one of the motors driving sector growth.

The report said that Iberostar has been renamed Orizonia [after it was acquired by the private equity firms Carlyle (60%) and Vista Capital (35%), and by a team of directors (5%) in July 2005].
(c) MergerMarket.com

CheckFree / Carreker

2007-01-03T06:14:00.000+01:00

CheckFree, a listed Georgia e-commerce service provider, said it entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Carreker, a listed Texas payments technology provider.

The deal will expand CheckFree's software business and consulting expertise. Under the terms of the agreement, CheckFree will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Carreker common stock at a price of USD 8.05 per share, for a total purchase price of USD 206m on a fully diluted basis. Through this acquisition, CheckFree will expand its presence in payments processing to play a leading role in providing processing and risk management capabilities for ACH, check and cash. It will also become a leading provider of solutions and expert consultancy for the convergence of check and electronic payments.

Carreker is also a consulting services company for the financial services industry. The company has more than 250 clients in the US, UK, Ireland, Continental Europe, South America, and Australia. It reported revenues of USD 116.6m in fiscal 2005.

The proposed acquisition is subject to regulatory review, Carreker shareholder approval, and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close by March 31, 2007.

CheckFree will finance the transaction with a combination of existing cash balances and revolving debt, although there are no financing contingencies in the merger agreement. The transaction is expected to be modestly dilutive to CheckFree's underlying earnings per share in the current fiscal year (ending June 30, 2007) and in fiscal 2008, and dilutive to GAAP earnings per share in each of 2007 and 2008. The company plans to share specific financial details when the transaction closes.

(c) MergerMarket.com

PartyGaming / Empire Online & Intercontinental Online Gaming

2007-01-01T07:33:00.000+01:00

Listed online gaming firm PartyGaming Plc has announced the acquisition of businesses and assets from both Empire Online [EOL] and Intercontinental Online Gaming in a deal worth USD 66.3m combined.

From the former, PartyGaming is acquiring the assets, players and gaming related contracts associated with Empire Online's gaming business; from the latter it is acquiring all of its business and assets. Neither EOL nor Intercontinental accept bets from customers in the United States.

Both deals will be financed by the issue of 115,193,842 new PartyGaming shares. In a statement today, PartyGaming said it expects the businesses and assets being acquired to generate clean EBITDA of at least USD 8.5m, comprising USD 6.0m from EOL and USD 2.5m from Intercontinental, and to be earnings enhancing in 2007.

Online gaming websites operated by EOL and Intercontinental that are being acquired by PartyGaming include: NoblePoker.com, Clubdicecasino.com, EnterCasino.com, MissBingo.com, FairPoker.com, and MagicBoxCasino.com. Subject to completion a software licensing agreement will also be entered into with Playtech, which hosts the sites being acquired from EOL and Intercontinental.

(c) MergerMarket

Lagardère / Newsweb

2006-12-15T05:51:00.000+01:00

Le groupe Lagardère a acquis le groupe Newsweb, coté sur le marché Alternext à Paris. Le montant de la transaction s'est fait sur la base d’une valorisation de 74 MEUR à 100%, soit une prime de 15% sur le dernier cours coté.

Newsweb est spécialisé dans la diffusion de contenus sportifs avec quatre sites (Sports, Sport4Fun et Autonews), ainsi que d'informations financières sur le site Boursier.com. Outre la fourniture d'informations, l'intérêt de Newsweb pour le groupe Lagardère vient de son expertise dans la vente d'espaces publicitaires sur le Net.

Avec cette acquisition, Lagardère renforce son offre dans le domaine du numérique et continue son développement dans le monde du sport, après l'acquisition du groupe de gestion de droits sportifs Sportfive, pour 863 MEUR le mois dernier.

(c) Fusacq

News Invest / Pulpmedia

2006-10-27T06:48:00.000+02:00

News Invest, la société de communication financière dédiée aux sociétés cotées a annoncé l'acquisition de 100% du capital de la société Pulpmedia, société pionnière en marketing sur Internet. Le montant de l’opération n’a pas été dévoilé.

Pulpmedia figure parmi les 10 sociétés en France accréditées par Google et Yahoo et parmi les 3 sociétés indépendantes du secteur. Pulpmedia est fortement positionnée sur le secteur de la finance avec des clients prestigieux tels que la Macif, AGF, BNP Paribas, GMF Vie ou le Crédit Foncier.

L'agence est également présente sur le secteur de l'e commerce avec des clients tels que ADA, Houra.fr, PlantesEtJardins.com, AutoIES.com et EntreParticuliers.com. Le rapprochement News Invest/Pulpmedia va aboutir à la constitution du 1er groupe de marketing Internet financier en France. News Invest va en effet élargir son offre aux sociétés cotées avec l'optimisation de leur base d'actionnaires individuels et l'accroissement de leur visibilité sur internet.

(c) Fusazq

Iliad / Citéfibre

2006-10-23T08:15:00.000+02:00

Iliad va acquérir Citéfibre, l'opérateur de fibres optiques jusqu'à l'abonné, annoncent les deux groupes dans un communiqué.

Citéfibre, créé en novembre 2004, compte plus de 500 clients, 3.000 kilomètres en fibres optiques et plus de 130 bâtiments fibrés dans le 15e arrondissement de Paris. L'opérateur est également titulaire d'autorisations lui permettant de raccorder 4.000 foyers supplémentaires.

Cette acquisition, d'un montant non communiqué, n'aurait aucun impact significatif sur le compte de résultat, sur le bilan ou sur le tableau de flux de trésorerie d'Iliad, selon le communiqué de presse.

MTV / Quizilla.com

2006-10-17T07:20:00.000+02:00

MTV, the TV channel owned by US media group Viacom, announced the acquisition of Quizilla.com, a California online, user-generated community of original teen authors.

The authors, who are 14 years and up, create and share quizzes, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, polls, and other creative content. The website was acquired from Gorilla Nation Media, on behalf of the Nickelodeon/MTVN kids and family group.

Quizilla is a top-five online destination for female teens and will join the MTVN kids and family digital portfolio that includes popular teen sites The-N.com and NeoPets.com.

Quizilla.com drew 3.1 million unique visitors globally during September, 2006, according to comScore Media Metrix. By combining Quizilla and the The-N.com's The Click embedded video player, the Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group will provide its teen female audience with a 360 degree, multi-platform entertainment experience and an unprecedented platform for creating and sharing creative content with their peers.

Founded in 2002, Quizilla originally launched as a site that helped users create, maintain and share only quizzes. As user-generated content became more popular, it evolved into a creative community for exchanging a wider variety of self-published works, including original fiction and nonfiction, poems, and journals. Quizilla users today can create an original work, share it with friends, post on social networking sites such as MySpace, and view feedback from other readers. Users can also post photo albums, play games, and read horoscopes.

(c) MergerMarket

Aufeminin.com / Marmiton.org

2006-10-13T08:24:00.000+02:00

Aufeminin.com a annoncé l'acquisition de 100% de Marmiton.org, premier site francophone de gastronomie et leader des magazines thématiques à destination des femmes.

Le montant de l’opération s’élève à environ 7 MEUR (soit 13x le résultat opérationnel post synergies attendu pour 2007 pour Marmiton), 3,75 MEUR étant payé en numéraire, le solde provenant de l’émission de 162 750 actions d'Auféminin (environ 2% du capital). L'opération doit être finalisée au cours du mois de décembre 2006.

Créé il y a 6 ans, Marmiton (dont la marque va être maintenue) se démarque de ses concurrents par une audience très large (1,9 millions de visiteurs uniques) et par une vraie logique communautaire synonyme de fidélité, précise le portail Internet dédié aux femmes. Cette acquisition portera l'audience du groupe Auféminin.com à environ 7,5 millions de visiteurs uniques mensuels en France et 12,5 millions de visiteurs uniques en Europe.

(c) Fusacq.com

Carphone Warehouse / AOL UK

2006-10-11T14:29:00.000+02:00

Carphone Warehouse and Time Warner Inc. have reached agreement for Carphone Warehouse to acquire AOL's Internet access business in the UK for a cash consideration of GBP 370m (USD 688m) funded via an extension of existing debt facilities. Completion is subject to EU competition authority clearance and is expected to take place by 31 December 2006.

Under the agreement, Carphone Warehouse will acquire AOL's Internet access customer base in the UK as well as the supporting management and infrastructure (the 'Access' business). For its part, AOL will provide co-branded portal, content and other audience services and will manage the online advertising sales for Carphone Warehouse's combined broadband customer base through a revenue-sharing agreement.

AOL is one of the largest Internet service providers in the UK, with approximately 2.1m ISP customers. On completion, it is anticipated that this will comprise 1.5m broadband customers and 0.6m dial-up customers. In the year to December 2005, the assets to be acquired generated revenues of GBP 442.1m and an operating profit of GBP 14.1m. Gross assets at December 2005 were GBP 77.9m.

Since 2003, Carphone Warehouse has been building a significant presence in the UK residential telecoms market. Through organic growth and acquisition, it has grown to a base of 2.7m voice customers in under four years, giving it approximately 11% of the residential calls market. In April 2006, Carphone Warehouse launched a major new initiative, offering free broadband to its voice customers, and has attracted 625,000 applications for this service over the last six months.

The acquisition of the Access business will give Carphone Warehouse an enlarged broadband customer base of approximately 2m customers, making it the third largest broadband provider in the UK. Over time, the additional scale is likely to create significant operating efficiencies in relation to network infrastructure and marketing costs. In addition, the commercial agreement in relation to the Audience business provides Carphone Warehouse with a ready-made platform via which it can generate material incremental value from its large and growing customer base.

The management time and investment cost involved in replicating the Audience business model would be significant, so the structure of the deal allows Carphone Warehouse to accelerate its plans without the requirement to build further internal resource.

For Time Warner and AOL, this transaction marks an important step in positioning AOL's audience business to take further advantage of the rapid growth in online advertising - in keeping with AOL's overall worldwide strategy. In addition to exiting its Internet access businesses in Germany, France and the UK, AOL will now have a stronger platform for providing portal, content and other audience services, on a stand-alone as well as a co-branded basis, and managing online advertising sales.

The total cash consideration is GBP 370m, of which GBP 250m will be paid on completion and the balance paid in three instalments over the following 18 months. The consideration is being funded by an extension of existing bank facilities. The transaction is due to complete by 31 December 2006 and is subject to EU competition authority clearance. At this stage it is anticipated that the acquisition will increase current year pre-tax profits by approximately GBP 10m (subject to completion by 31 December 2006), and next year's pre-tax profits by GBP 30-40m.

(c) MergerMarket.com

Google / YouTube

2006-10-10T07:05:00.000+02:00

Google, the listed California-based Internet search provider, announced today it has agreed to acquire YouTube for USD 1.65bn in stock.

Privately held YouTube, also based in California, is the consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos through a Web experience. Following the acquisition, YouTube will operate independently to preserve its successful brand and passionate community. All YouTube employees will remain with the company. The number of Google shares to be issued in the transaction will be determined based on the 30-day average closing price two trading days prior to the completion of the acquisition.

Both companies have approved the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2006. The acquisition combines one of the largest and fastest growing online video entertainment communities with Google's expertise in organizing information and creating new models for advertising on the Internet. The combined companies will focus on providing a better, more comprehensive experience for users interested in uploading, watching and sharing videos, and will offer new opportunities for professional content owners to distribute their work to reach a vast new audience.

(c) MergerMarket

2006-09-21T21:14:00.000+02:00

Time Warner, qui réorganise son pôle internet en Europe, a annoncé la vente à Neuf Cegetel des activités d'accès à internet d'AOL France pour 288 millions d'euros en numéraire.

Le numéro un mondial des médias compte transformer sa filiale en une destination uniquement gratuite qui tirera l'essentiel de son chiffre d'affaires, non plus des abonnements, mais des recettes publicitaires liées à la fourniture de services email ou de divertissement.

Cet accord avec Neuf Cegetel, deuxième opérateur fixe dans l'Hexagone, a été passé au terme de négociations exclusives.

Les deux sociétés précisent que l'opération nécessite l'autorisation des autorités de la concurrence françaises, qui pourrait intervenir à la fin octobre.

L'activité d'accès à internet d'AOL France compte quelque 500.000 abonnés à haut débit, ainsi que des services à la clientèle. Neuf Cegetel revendique 13,4% du marché ADSL en France, une part qui se montera à 18% après le rachat d'AOL France. Le groupe a accepté de reprendre jusqu'à 140 employés d'AOL France.

L'accord prévoit aussi qu'AOL fournira du contenu éditorial et exploitera les recettes publicitaires de tous les portails internet de Neuf Cegetel, ce qui devrait lui permettre de renforcer sa présence sur le territoire.

Le site AOL en France compte près de 5,5 millions de visiteurs individuels par mois.

Time Warner a déjà vendu ce mois-ci l'activité d'accès internet d'AOL en Allemagne à Telecom Italia pour 675 millions d'euros. Il cherche toujours un repreneur pour l'unité britannique. Orange, filiale de France Télécom, a fait savoir jeudi qu'elle s'était retirée de ce dernier dossier.

Telecom Italia / AOL Germany

2006-09-18T08:29:00.000+02:00

Telecom Italia, a listed Italian broadband internet company, and Time Warner announced that Telecom Italia agreed to acquire Time Warner's AOL Germany internet access business. The price is EUR 675m (USD 870m equity value) in cash.

The companies expect to close the transaction in four to six months, after receiving the customary regulatory approvals. Telecom Italia is moving to consolidate its presence in Germany, which started with its acquisition of Hansenet in 2003 and expanded with its organic growth. Once its acquisition of AOL Germany's internet access business closes, Telecom Italia will be Germany's second-largest broadband provider - with more than 3.2 million total subscribers, including nearly 2 million broadband customers.

Telecom Italia has a presence in Italy, France, Germany and the Netherlands. With its pending acquisition of AOL Germany's internet access business, Telecom Italia will serve approximately 9 million broadband subscribers in Europe. Under a new partnership, AOL will provide co-branded audience services and content on a joint web portal for all of Telecom Italia's residential internet access subscribers in Germany, and will handle all online advertising sales.

AOL Germany has operated as an ISP for over 10 years and competes in both narrowband and broadband internet access. As of June 2006, AOL Germany, ranked second and third among German narrowband and broadband access providers, had 1.1 million broadband subscribers and approximately 1.3 million narrowband subscribers.

Under the terms of the five-year partnership, AOL will design, host and operate audience services for Telecom Italia's entire residential internet access customer base in Germany. AOL will be responsible for all online advertising sales for the co-branded audience services. The financial terms of the audience services partnership were not disclosed.

Time Warner Inc. is a New York media and entertainment company, whose businesses include interactive services, cable systems, filmed entertainment, television networks and publishing. AOL is a Virginia-based majority-owned subsidiary of Time Warner.

(c) MergerMarket

Come&Stay / Retail Internet

2006-09-11T12:15:00.000+02:00

Come&Stay (CA 2005 : 5 MEUR, capitalisation boursière : 50 MEUR), société spécialisée dans les prestations de marketing direct sur Internet basées sur l'envoi de courriers électroniques a annoncé l'acquisition de Retail Internet (CA 2006 attendu : 8,5 MEUR), le leader en Europe du Nord de la publicité par email et marketing mobile.

Le montant de lopération na pas été dévoilé. Retail Internet a connu une croissance très rapide avec une progression annuelle supérieure à 100 % lors des 3 trois derniers exercices et sur le premier semestre 2006. Le groupe a tiré profit des solutions d'email marketing entièrement basé sur la performance et une base de données de plus de 10 millions d'adresses email optin et de numéros de mobile.

Avec cette opération qui fait suite au rachat de RelationServe Access (un des leaders américains de la publicité par email), Come&Stay devient un leader incontesté en Europe pour la publicité par email et SMS, étant présent dans plus de dix pays européens.

(c) Fusacq.com

Spreadshirt / LaFraise.com

2006-09-01T07:34:00.000+02:00

LaFraise.com, l'éditeur de tee-shirts conçus par des graphistes et commercialisés sur le net a été cédé par son fondateur à son concurrent allemand Spreadshirt. Le montant de l'opération na pas été dévoilé.

Lancé début 2004 par Patrice Cassard, un informaticien autodidacte, LaFraise.com vend des tee-shirts au graphisme original conçus par des internautes et produits en quantité limitée (500 exemplaires). Les modèles retenus sont rémunérés 1.000 euros, puis sérigraphiés sur des articles en coton de bonne qualité fabriqués en Californie par American Apparel, entreprise réputée pour son engagement éthique.

Associé à un blog, le site marchand annonce une audience de 2 millions de visiteurs uniques par mois. Son CA mensuel est passé de 8.000EUR en mars 2004 à 206.000EUR en juin dernier.

Créé en 2002 à Leipzig, Spreadshirt est un éditeur d'articles personnalisables de tee-shirts, mais aussi de casquettes, sous-vêtements, écharpes, sacs à dos, parapluies, tasses, tapis de souris, etc. Elle revendique 150.000 boutiques en marque blanche installées sur des sites partenaires d'entreprises et de particuliers. L'acquisition de LaFraise lui permettra de se doter dune marque à forte notoriété.

(c) Fusacq.com

MegaPath / DSL.net

2006-08-30T07:08:00.000+02:00

MegaPath, the California-based company, has acquired listed DSL.net, based in Connecticut. MegaPath is a virtual private network (VPN) company, offering solutions and other managed IP services to businesses nationwide.

This acquisition, which involves additional funding from existing MegaPath investors, would further strengthen the company's market position and enable it to deliver a wider selection of managed IP (Internet Protocol) data, voice and security services.

The addition of DSL.net's broadband and voice over IP (VoIP) infrastructure would also give MegaPath greater control over the performance and reliability of its services, and improve its margins and profitability. DSL.net had sales of USD 68.4m in 2005.

DSL.net currently offers services via its own facilities in over 350 collocations in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The associated round of funding includes certain of MegaPath's existing investors, including Fidelity Ventures, Rho Ventures, U.S. Venture Partners, Columbia Capital, Trident Capital and Boston Millennia Partners.

MegaPath will use this funding to accelerate the growth of its managed IP service business and expand its portfolio of value-added services organically and through strategic acquisitions. The acquisition is subject to shareholder and regulatory approval; final closing is expected by the end of 2006, however, this date is subject to change.

DSL.net. is a leading nationwide provider of broadband communications services to businesses. The company combines its own facilities, nationwide network infrastructure and Internet service provider (ISP) capabilities to provide high-speed Internet access, private network solutions and value-added services directly to small- and medium-sized businesses or larger enterprises looking to connect multiple locations.

(c) MergerMarket

Sony / Grouper.com

2006-08-24T16:58:00.000+02:00

Grouper.com, a web video-watching site, is to be purchased by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), the entertainment unit of Sony Corp, for USD65m.

The Grouper website, which is based along the lines of the YouTube.com site for user-generated videos, is reportedly used by millions of people. It allows users to create videos and share them with other users for viewing or download to portable video-playing devices such as Apple Computer Inc's iPod music and video players and Sony's PSP device.

Unlike other companies Sony does not have its own broadcast network, and Grouper is expected to provide Sony with a ready-made network to enable consumer-created videos and Hollywood-produced content to be distributed.

According to Sony no immediate changes are planned for the Grouper site, although ad-supported and premium content businesses may be added in the future. Grouper will work within Sony Pictures, keeping its existing management structure.

(c) Internet Business News

IBM / Internet Security Systems

2006-08-24T10:36:00.000+02:00

Computing giant IBM Corp. said Wednesday it was buying Internet Security Systems Inc. (ISS) for 1.3 billion dollars to expand its reach into secure online networks.

The Atlanta-based ISS says it helps to “proactively protect” its 11,000 customers, including some of the world’s leading companies and governments, against Internet threats across networks and servers.

“The acquisition is an important addition to IBM’s security and privacy services business,” the companies said in a joint statement.

“Together, IBM and ISS will help clients of all sizes preemptively stay a step ahead of targeted security threats or attacks.”

The companies said they expected to close the deal by the end of the year. IBM’s purchase price comes to 28 dollars per ISS share, a premium of about 8.0 percent on the security firm’s closing price Tuesday of 26 dollars.

In early trade Wednesday, ISS stock surged nearly 7.0 percent to 27.81 dollars. IBM shares were up 0.23 percent at 79.13 dollars.

(c) Khaleej Times

Tiscali / Video Networks

2006-08-13T08:23:00.000+02:00

Italian internet firm Tiscali said yesterday it will merge its UK operations with privately owned Video Networks International to increase the content it provides to its clients.

Video Networks, which offers TV, broadband and telephone services under the Homechoice brand, will contribute its British operations in exchange for 11.5 per cent of Tiscali UK, and may increase the stake to 20 per cent if profit targets are met, Tiscali said.

The agreement allows Tiscali to become a "triple play operator" in the UK, offering broadband, telephone and television to its clients, Tiscali chief executive Tommaso Pompei said.

The move comes as competition heats up in the UK broadband sector, with companies like BT, NTL and BSkyB vying for dominance by offering a bundle of services, putting Internet firms like Tiscali under pressure. Tiscali has a 10 per cent UK market share, behind BT, NTL and AOL.

Publicis / Moxie Interactive

2006-08-11T07:52:00.000+02:00

Publicis Groupe's Zenith Media has acquired Moxie Interactive, an Atlanta-based i-shop.

The move expands Zenith's digital offering beyond online planning and buying, bringing creative, search engine and e-mail marketing, mobile and gaming, viral, technology development and hosting, interactive kiosks, and e-commerce into the fold.

Terms were not disclosed, but sources said the acquisition would bring Zenith's digital billings to more than $300 million annually.

The two agencies have teamed for five years on the Verizon Wireless account, with Moxie serving as lead digital agency and Zenith as the client's primary media shop.

Moxie, with 110 employees, will function as Zenith's branded digital offering, and the Zenith digital team (about 50 staffers split between New York and San Francisco) will be integrated into the Moxie operation. In addition, some members the digital team will be attached to client services teams throughout Zenith.

Moxie founder and CEO Kris Zagoria will oversee the merged digital operation, reporting to Jones. Zagoria, who founded the agency in 2000, will remain based in Atlanta.

In addition to Verizon, other Moxie clients include Best Buy, Blockbuster, Coca-Cola, Earthlink, Home Depot, Turner Broadcasting, Saks and UPS.

Cisco / Nueva System

2006-08-11T07:29:00.000+02:00

Cisco Systems, the listed, California-based company has made an investment in Nuova Systems, by acquiring 80% of it for USD 50m. It has made this acquisition to accelerate next-generation product development in the data center. As a result of Cisco's financial commitment, Nuova Systems will become a majority-owned subsidiary of Cisco.

Cisco has committed certain technology and USD 50m of funding to Nuova Systems with the possibility of up to USD 42m in additional funding in the future. The subsidiary will be approximately 80% owned by Cisco, with the remaining 20% interest held by employees of the subsidiary. Because of Cisco's majority ownership interest, the accounts of the subsidiary will be consolidated with the accounts of Cisco starting in fiscal year 2007.

As part of the agreement, Cisco has the option to purchase the remaining 20% interest in this subsidiary. Should Cisco decide to exercise this option, the transaction would occur in late fiscal year 2008 or early fiscal year 2009. The potential payouts made under the call option are primarily based on the success of Nuova Systems' products sold through Cisco, with a minimum potential payout of $10 million and a maximum total payout of $578 million. Nuova Systems' product development efforts will complement Cisco's current data center product portfolio which includes the Catalyst 6500, Cisco's core enterprise networking platform, the MDS line of storage switches, SFS server networking switches and application networking solutions for accelerating applications within the data center and to the rest of the enterprise.

(c) Mergermarket

Pearson / Mergermarket

2006-08-09T07:23:00.000+02:00

Pearson Plc said on Tuesday it had bought deal news and data firm Mergermarket for 101 million pounds with an eye to enhancing what its Financial Times business newspaper can offer readers.

Mergermarket’s flagship product combines data about corporate mergers and acquisitions from around the world with news gathered by 160 journalists in 31 countries. It mainly sells the information to investment banks and law firms.

The closely held company was founded in 2000 and does not disclose financial information. London-based Pearson, which generates most of its profit from publishing educational materials, said it expects the deal to add to its earnings per share in 2007, the first full year after the purchase.

(c) Reuters

Nokia / Loudeye

2006-08-09T07:12:00.000+02:00

Nokia said it has agreed to buy U.S.-based digital music distributor Loudeye Corp. for $60 million as the world's largest handset maker aims for a bigger slice of a potentially lucrative music market.

Nokia said on Tuesday it had offered $4.50 per share in cash to Loudeye shareholders, a premium of more than 150 percent over the shares' closing price on Monday. Shares in Loudeye surged at the start of trade on Tuesday and were up 146 percent at $4.36.

Shares in Nokia were 1 percent higher at 15.29 euros at 1406 GMT outperforming slightly stronger European technology shares.

Nokia has stepped up a gear on the acquisition trail after its new Chief Executive Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo took over in June. It has agreed to spin off its mobile networks infrastructure unit and dropped a planned phone making venture with Sanyo.

Kallasvuo has said Nokia is set to strengthen its multimedia and enterprise units through acquisitions.

(c) Reuters

TheStreet.com / Weiss Ratings

2006-08-07T19:59:00.000+02:00

TheStreet.com, Inc., a leading provider of financial commentary, analysis and news, today announced that it has acquired certain assets of Weiss Ratings, Inc. ("Ratings") a wholly owned subsidiary of Weiss Group, Inc.

Founded in 1988, Ratings provides independent financial evaluations in industries where it believes investors are at risk. Ratings tracks the risk-adjusted performance of more than 16,000 mutual funds and more than 6,000 stocks. In addition, Ratings uses proprietary quantitative computer models to evaluate the financial strength of more than 13,000 financial institutions, including life, health and annuity insurers; property and casualty insurers; HMOs; Blue Cross Blue Shield plans; banks and savings and loans.

TheStreet.com believes the Ratings acquisition is consistent with two aspects of its previously disclosed strategic plan: completion of what it believes are accretive acquisitions, while diversifying both the sources of revenue and content to emphasize the fast growing advertising category and to diminish reliance on any one product or service.

This well-regarded content will be woven into both TheStreet.com's free advertising supported and paid subscription services, adding a new level of variety and value for our users. Planning for these new offerings is well underway and TheStreet.com users in particular can look forward to a number of new, innovative features in the near future.

Ratings' focus on mutual fund information adds particular value to TheStreet.com because of the high demand for this content category by both our users and our advertisers. Furthermore, the acquisition is a step toward TheStreet.com's goal of transforming off-line subscription products into advertising supported, page view driven on-line augmentations to the Company's free Web site, www.thestreet.com.

Neuf Cegetel / AOL France

2006-08-04T09:50:00.000+02:00

Après avoir renoncé au rachat de Télé2 France, Neuf Cegetel s'est finalement tourné vers AOL France, pour une somme qui devrait avoisiner les 300 millions d'euros. Le rachat d'AOL a été officialisé hier soir. Le mariage, quant à lui, devrait être réalisé avant la fin de l'année 2006.

Neuf Cegetel devrait ainsi reprendre l'ensemble des activités de fourniture d'accès Internet d'AOL (en France) soit un nombre de clients estimé à un million par l'AFP : 500 000 en haut débit et 500 000 en bas débit. Le centre de service client basé à Marseille qui emploie quelques 500 personnes fait également parti du rachat.

AOL conservera néanmoins son nouveau portail aol.fr et continuera ses activités de production de contenus exclusifs. AOL souhaiterait en effet élargir l'audience de son portail aux abonnés Neuf Cegetel.

Les services de Neuf Cegetel devraient coïncider avec ceux d'AOL, ces derniers ayant annoncé l'arrivée imminente de la télévision grâce au décodeur NetGem (utilisé également Neuf depuis plus d'un an).

(c) 01net et silicon.fr

3 Suisses / 2xMoinsCher

2006-07-21T11:37:00.000+02:00

Le groupe 3 Suisses International fait un pas vers le « C to C » en rachetant la société Trokers éditeur du site 2xMoinsCher.com. Le montant de la transaction na pas été révélé.

2xMoinsCher.com sert d'intermédiaire pour la vente de produits d'occasion entre particuliers et propose également des articles neufs mis en vente par des professionnels. Avec ce site spécialisé, le groupe 3 Suisses met ainsi la main sur le concurrent direct de PriceMinister et confirme le phénomène de concentration dans le-commerce français notamment après le rachat de Clust et Top Achat par France Telecom.

Cadremploi.fr / Explorimmo / Keljob

2006-07-05T08:10:00.000+02:00

Le groupe Figaro, via sa régie Publiprint, actionnaire majoritaire de cadremploi.fr et d'Explorimmo, et Keljob ont confirmé être en discussions dans l'optique d'un rapprochement stratégique qui donnerait naissance à un poids lourd des annonces classées sur Internet.

Ce mariage devrait donner naissance au leader sur le marché français des annonces classées sur Internet, présent à la fois sur l'emploi, la formation et l'immobilier avec plus de 700.000 petites annonces. La nouvelle société, provisoirement baptisée Kelsearch,sera numéro un devant le site Monster.fr sur le marché de l'emploi et numéro deux, derrière Seloger.fr, sur les annonces immobilières.

Dotée d'un chiffre d'affaires consolidé de 26 millions d'euros, la nouvelle société pourra immédiatement mettre en avant un trafic important sur le Web, totalisant 3,4 millions de visiteurs uniques, 8,8 millions de visites et 70 millions de pages vues par mois. Elle pourra surtout s'appuyer sur une équipe de 150 commerciaux, sur un effectif total de 250 salariés, répartis sur l'ensemble du territoire.

(c) Les Echos et Journal du Net

Sprint Nextel / UbiquiTel

2006-07-02T15:57:00.000+02:00

Sprint Nextel Corp. announced today that it has successfully completed its acquisition of UbiquiTel Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, announced in April, Sprint Nextel acquired UbiquiTel in an all-cash transaction for approximately $1.3 billion, including the assumption of approximately $300 million of net debt.

The closing of the UbiquiTel acquisition brings final resolution to the litigation pending between Sprint Nextel and UbiquiTel Inc. in the Delaware Court of Chancery.

UbiquiTel, based in Conshohocken, Pa., provides Sprint PCS services in mid-size markets in California, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, Tennessee, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, covering 8.3 million people. As of March 31, 2006, the company served approximately 452,000 direct wireless subscribers and 151,000 wholesale subscribers. UbiquiTel employs about 425 people and had revenues for the 12 months ended Dec. 31, 2005 of $422.7 million.

(c) BUSINESS WIRE

Internet Gold / 012- Golden Lines

2006-07-02T15:52:00.000+02:00

Internet Gold today announced that it reached an agreement to acquire 60% of the control and equity in 012 Golden Lines Ltd ("012") according to a company valuation of US$140 million. Detailed agreement shall be signed by the parties within the coming days and will be subject to the approval of the Boards of Directors and the relevant regulatory authorities.
According to the agreement, following the acquisition, the companies will act to merge 012 with Smile.Communications Ltd ("Smile.Communications ") which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Internet Gold and specializes in providing internet and international communications services.

Internet Gold is one of the pioneering internet companies in Israel which acts in this market since 1996. The company is controlled by the Eurocom Communications Group which is owned by the Elovitch family. Internet Gold operates under the brand Smile and during the beginning of this year the company have reorganized its operation and separated its activities into two wholly owned specialized subsidiaries: Smile.Communications which provides internet and international communications and, along side with it, Smile.Media which specializes in internet media and advertising, e-Commerce and paid content services.

(c) PRNewswire-FirstCall

Cisco / Metreos & Audium

2006-06-30T16:01:00.000+02:00

Cisco Systems today announced it has completed the acquisition of the privately-held companies Metreos Corp. of Austin, Texas, and Audium Corp of New York, New York. Both of these companies offer easy to use, drag and drop, application creation/integration environments which will strengthen Cisco's Service Oriented Network Architecture (SONA).
With these acquisitions, Cisco will help enable its ecosystem of development partners to easily create and deploy applications that integrate Cisco's Unified Communications solutions with value-added business applications. The result is more effective communications and streamlined business processes.

By acquiring Metreos and Audium and their standards-based creation and integration tools, Cisco can enable customers and partners to rapidly build customized unified communications applications that are fully integrated across the enterprise IT infrastructure, enterprise applications, and enterprise contact centers.

DoubleClick / Klipmart

2006-06-29T18:53:00.000+02:00

DoubleClick Inc., the premier provider of digital advertising technology and services, today announced that it has acquired Klipmart, the USA's largest provider of online video advertising and management solutions for web publishers, agencies, and marketers. 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.

Klipmart brings to DoubleClick a strong record of creative innovation, video service and relationships with the community of creative agencies. The combination of those assets with DoubleClick's industry-leading ad management and workflow platform for digital media creates a comprehensive rich media solution suite for video and non-video enhanced ad units. Klipmart products and technologies will remain available to all clients on both DART and non- DART platforms.

The acquisition highlights DoubleClick's commitment to providing a digital media platform integrating the management and measurement of all rich media, display and search channels. Media agencies will benefit from a combined source of technology, service and reporting through the combination of Klipmart's video and DoubleClick's DART Motif and DART ad management technologies. Creative agencies will continue to benefit from the video advertising innovation and campaign flexibility from Klipmart's full-serve customer service and quality assurance, backed by DoubleClick's operational reliability, global reach, scalability and technology infrastructure.

Education World / SchoolNotes

2006-06-18T17:35:00.000+02:00

SchoolNotes has been acquired by Education World, combining two of the Web's most important education resources.

Education World, the leading free education Web site, features new, original content every weekday of the school year. Education World is a trusted provider of practical, high quality resources - virtually every one of its 60,000+ resources gives educators something they can put to immediate use in their mission to help students learn.

SchoolNotes provides easy-to-use school-to-home communications tools, enabling teachers to set up Web pages where students can get their homework and consult learning resources. SchoolNotes also offers classroom updates for parents to check on student progress. This platform is provided free for all, with advanced features available for a modest subscription fee.

(c) PRNewswire

Carlyle / Global Media

2006-06-14T21:11:00.000+02:00

US private equity giant The Carlyle Group has acquired a significant minority stake in Munich, Germany-headquartered Global Media, an internet marketing agency. Further details regarding the size of the stake and financial details were not disclosed.

Global Media offers online services including search engine optimisation, key word advertising and online media planning. The company currently has 200 customers across Europe. These are mainly mid to large-size brands or companies including AOL, eBay and lastminute.com. Global Media has subsidiaries in the UK, France, Italy, Scandinavia, Russia and Korea.

The investment was made through Carlyle's European technology fund, Carlyle Europe Technology Partners. The fund is dedicated to small buy-out transactions and growth capital investments in European technology companies with an enterprise value of €25m to €250m.

(c) AltAssets

Yahoo / eBay

2006-05-25T18:49:00.000+02:00

Yahoo Inc. and Web auctioneer eBay Inc. formed a U.S. advertising and e-commerce alliance seen as a broad challenge by two of the biggest Internet companies against their main rivals, Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp.

While short of a merger, one eBay executive on Thursday said cooperation could deepen over time. The move reflects the growing need for the biggest Internet companies to consolidate in the face of a mounting four-way competition and slowing growth.

EBay shares soared more than 12 percent -- adding more than $5 billion to the company's market capitalization -- and Yahoo stock rose more than 3 percent on news of the deal, which had been expected by some on Wall Street and Silicon Valley, Reuters reported earlier this week.

Yahoo, the world's largest Internet media company, will become the exclusive provider of online banners and other graphic advertising on eBay, and provide some search services within eBay's site to connect buyers to items they seek.

In return, Yahoo will promote PayPal, EBay's popular online payment system used by 73 million U.S. consumers, as a way for Yahoo's hundreds of thousands of affiliated Web sites and small business owners to conduct transactions online.

Executives said the alliance will not have a material impact on 2006 results for either company but could help fuel growth of the respective businesses next year as the ties become embedded in one another's products and services.

The agreed alliance is a response to inroads by Google's popular Web search system in setting the terms of where consumers go to shop, entertain or inform themselves. This competitive dynamic is forcing every major Internet player to consider joining forces instead of trying to go it alone.

EBay and Yahoo officials said the deal builds on cultural similarities that bind two of Silicon Valley's Web pioneers.

The current partnerships are centered on the United States. Depending on how these initiatives work, further relationships could develop internationally, Donahoe said.

In addition to the search and PayPal aspects of the deal, Yahoo Web search features also will be offered through a co-branded version of a browser toolbar for eBay users, and the companies said they would explore developing "click-to-call" Internet advertising that could take advantage of eBay's Skype Web telephone service or Yahoo's own version of Web-calling.

For Wall Street analysts, the word of the day was "monetization," which Internet industry insiders use as shorthand for finding ways to make more money out of a property or asset, such as placing more ads on a Web page.

Shares of eBay jumped $3.68, or 12.19 percent, to $33.88 on Nasdaq, while Yahoo closed up $1.13, or 3.55 percent, to $32.92, also on Nasdaq.

Shares of Google rose $1.74 or 0.46 percent to $382.99 and Microsoft closed up 24 cents or slightly more than 1 percent at $23.74, both on Nasdaq.

Meetic / ParPerfeito

2006-05-12T08:59:00.000+02:00

Le site français de rencontre Meetic (CA 2005 : 43 MEUR, capitalisation boursière : 450 MEUR) a annoncé le rachat du numero un de la rencontre en ligne au Brésil, le site ParPerfeito (CA 2005 : 4 MEUR).

La société française a convenu de débourser 21,6 MEUR en cash (hors complément de prix lié aux résultats de la société sur les trois prochains exercices) pour acquérir le site brésilien, qui a affiché une remarquable rentabilité (bénéfice d'exploitation de 2,3 MEUR en 2005, soit une marge opérationnelle de 57% !).

Depuis son lancement commercial il y a 4 ans, Meetic, s’est déjà implanté dans 13 pays d'Europe et en Chine. Alors que 50% des internautes sud-américains sont au Brésil, il compte aussi se développer dans d'autres pays d'Amérique du Sud.

(c) Fusacq.com

eBay / Tradera

2006-04-30T11:33:00.000+02:00

The international online auctions operator eBay announced on Monday (24 April) that it has agreed to acquire Swedish Internet auction operator Tradera AB.

Tradera operates Sweden's leading online auction website tradera.com.

The purchase consideration comprises a fixed purchase price of SEK365m and additional payments.

The sellers include Provider Venture Partners AB (48.9%).

News Corp / Simply Hired

2006-04-22T08:04:00.000+02:00

Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has made another foray into the world of internet businesses, this time with an investment in the world's largest job search engine.

Simply Hired says it has received a total $US13.5 million from New Corp's Fox Interactive Media and venture capital firm Foundation Capital.

Representatives from both groups will join Simply Hired's board of directors.

News Corp has been accelerating its push into digital media after spending more than $US1 billion on several internet sites last year including the $US850 million acquisition of Intermix Media, which owns the popular MySpace.com website.

Simply Hired, based in California's Silicon Valley, was founded in 2003 and is currently indexing more than four million jobs.

(c AAP News

NeuStar / UltraDNS

2006-04-21T18:54:00.000+02:00

NeuStar, Inc., a leading provider of essential communications services to the global communications and Internet industry, announced today the completion of its acquisition of UltraDNS Corporation of Reston, Virginia. UltraDNS is now a wholly owned subsidiary of NeuStar.

The combined strengths and capabilities of NeuStar and UltraDNS will increase security, reliability and simplified administration for thousands of global enterprises, built on a solid foundation of innovation. Through its thousands of enterprise, service provider and TLD infrastructure customers, UltraDNS powers the resolution of over 15 million domains around the globe. On a worldwide combined basis, NeuStar and UltraDNS provide services to more than 20 top-level Internet domains (TLDs), such as .org, .info, .us, .biz, .in, and .mobi.

(c) PRNewswire-FirstCall

inRESONANCE / Schoolyard

2006-04-20T19:04:00.000+02:00

inRESONANCE, a leading provider of technology solutions for schools and educational institutions, today announced plans to acquire Schoolyard, Inc., a leading developer of web-based solutions and tools for independent schools in the United States and worldwide.

inRESONANCE currently provides popular database solutions for admission, registrar and development as well as CMS websites. It is the only company serving the independent school market providing both web and database solutions, and has more than 250 clients worldwide.

The purchase of Schoolyard, Inc. would be the second acquisition that inRESONANCE has made in 2006. In March, the company announced it acquired the online admissions application service from one of its strategic partners, AdmissionsQuest, a leading on-line school directory, information provider, and promoter of independent boarding and day schools.

(c) PRNewswire

Internet Brands / Wikitravel & World66

2006-04-20T18:58:00.000+02:00

Internet Brands, Inc, a leading operator of media and e-commerce sites for "large ticket" consumer purchases, today announced the acquisition of Wikitravel and World66, two leading community travel guides of up-to-date, traveler-focused content. The sites are growing exponentially, collectively attracting more than 2 million visits per month, more than triple a year ago.

Both websites utilize wiki-based collaborative editing technology, and are built on the principle that travelers often get their best information from other travelers. The Wikitravel website offers more than 12,700 travel guides in 10 languages, with contributors working together to continually enhance the site's content. World66 delivers nearly 80,000 articles on more than 19,000 destinations all over the world. The sites have extraordinary community participation, currently receiving as many as 10,000 editorial contributions per week -- meaning that on average a new addition to the travel guides arrives every 60 seconds, 24 hours per day. This rate of participation is also rapidly increasing.

Wikitravel founders Prodromou and Michele Ann Jenkins will continue to lead the Wikitravel site and community and will guide the integration of the World66 community. The founders of World66 will also stay closely involved with the project.

United Online / MyPoints.com

2006-04-11T11:15:00.000+02:00

United Online Inc, an Internet provider, revealed on Monday (10 April) that it is to acquire UAL Corp's travel and consumer rewards programme, MyPoints Inc. UAL Corp is the parent company of United Airlines.

The purchase price has reportedly been agreed at approximately USD56m in cash.

According to Reuters, MyPoints Inc, which is also known as MyPoints.com, sells advertisers access to its database.

The company has 4.5m registered users and generated revenues of USD38.4m in 2005, The Associated Press reported.

Verifone / Lipman

2006-04-11T09:00:00.000+02:00

VeriFone Holdings, a U.S. maker of point-of-sale payment terminals, has agreed to buy its Israeli counterpart, Lipman Electronic Engineering, for approximately US$793 million, in order to gain access to more wireless and IP payment technologies, the companies announced Monday.

The companies sell software and devices for processing payments by card—for example, at supermarket checkouts. VeriFone’s range includes terminals that can connect securely to central banking systems over phone lines, wireless connections or IP networks.

VeriFone hopes the acquisition will allow it to expand its share of the market for secure wireless and IP payment systems. Replacing dial-up technology with always-on IP networks can reduce the time it takes to process payments by removing the need to establish a connection for each transaction, while wireless systems make it easier to use electronic payment services in emerging markets with poor fixed-line telecommunications infrastructures.

The deal will make VeriFone the largest provider of payment systems in North America, it said. It expects to close the deal by the end of October.

The cash and stock offer values Lipman at about $793 million, based on Friday’s closing stock prices, and will lead to dual listing for the combined company on the New York and Tel Aviv stock exchanges.

VeriFone, of San Jose, Calif., reported adjusted net income of $49.7 million on revenue of $485.4 million in its fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2005. Lipman, based in Rosh Haayin, Israel, reported net income of $20 million on revenue of $235.4 million for the year ended Dec. 31.

Comverse / Netcentrex

2006-04-11T08:48:00.000+02:00

Comverse Technology has signed an agreement for its Comverse subsidy to acquire privately held voice-over-IP (VoIP) software vendor Netcentrex for about US$164 million, Comverse announced Monday.

Comverse could pay up to an additional $16 million, depending on the financial performance of Netcentrex during fiscal 2006 and 2007, Comverse said.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2005, Netcentrex, based in Paris, generated revenue of about $50 million. The acquisition, expected to close by July 1, shouldn’t affect Comverse’s pro forma net income for 2006, Comverse said in a news release.

Executives at Comverse, a provider of software and systems enabling network-based multimedia communication and billing services, said they were interested in Netcentrex’s network-based software that enables IP-based voice-video-data and fixed-mobile convergence. The acquisition should benefit companies looking to develop multimedia services over VoIP and IP multimedia subsystem domains, Comverse officials said in a news release.

Netcentrex has about 50 service providers as its customers, including AOL Germany, Fastweb, France Telecom and Telefonica Deutschland GmbH. Comverse’s Total Communication product line includes messaging, personalized data and content-based services, as well as real-time converged billing. More than 450 communication and content service providers in more than 120 countries use Comverse products, the company said.

The acquisition is subject to regulatory and Netcentrex shareholder approval.

Amazon.com / Shopbop.com

2006-02-28T14:09:00.000+01:00

Amazon.com Inc. said Monday it has acquired privately held fashion retailer Shopbop.com, and plans to continue to run the site separately.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

In a statement, Amazon.com said Shopbop.com, which specializes in high-end fashion, would maintain its base in Madison, Wis.

Amazon.com's also sells clothing through its main Web site. The company said Shopbop.com is meant to complement that business.

The Seattle-based Internet retailer, which started business selling primarily books, has since expanded its offerings to include everything from food to jewelry.

Amazon.com shares fell 34 cents, to close at $38.01 Monday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

eXpansys / Nomatica

2006-02-16T08:05:00.000+01:00

eXpansys (CA 2005 : 100 MEUR), la société britannique de vente sur Internet de téléphones portables, smartphones et ordinateurs de poche, vient de racheter Nomatica (CA 2005 : 71 MEUR), la société toulousaine qui est l’un des leader en Europe de la vente en ligne d'appareils photo et vidéo numériques.
Nomatica était en redressement judiciaire depuis décembre 2005 suite à un manque de fonds de roulement et la chute des prix des appareils photo. Expansys a payé 0,59 MEUR pour les actifs, les stocks, les obligations commerciales et maintient 32 des 58 salariés de la société.
Cette opération va permettre à Expansys de consolider ses parts de marché sur l'e-commerce européen de produits mobiles. Le groupe compte redorer la marque Nomatica avec l'objectif de réaliser de 20 à 25 MEUR de CA.

(c) Fusacq.com

Hi-Media / Eurovox

2006-02-10T11:38:00.000+01:00

Hi-Media annoncel'acquisition d'Eurovox, présenté comme le leader français des micro-paiements sur internet grâce à sa plateforme Allopass, pour 18,5 millions d'euros en numéraire.
Le groupe spécialisé dans la publicité en ligne et le commerce électronique précise que l'opération, qui lui permet de doubler de taille avec un chiffre d'affaires pro forma de 53,1 millions d'euros en 2005 et une prévision de plus de 70 millions en 2006, devrait être relutive pour ses actionnaires. Eurovox, dont les revenus ont atteint 28,3 millions l'an dernier, a réalisé un bénéfice avant impôt de 1,8 million (0,8 million après une charge non récurrente liée à un changement de méthode comptable), ajoute-t-il dans un communiqué.
"En 2006, une fois les équipes Eurovox intégrées et les économies d'échelle pleinement mises en oeuvre, Eurovox devrait dégager une rentabilité d'exploitation supérieure à 10%, soit un résultat d'exploitation supérieur à 3 millions d'euros".
Hi-Media présentera ses perspectives détaillées lors de la publication de ses résultats 2005 le 8 mars prochain.

(c) Reuters

Le Figaro / Sport24.com

2006-02-08T13:05:00.000+01:00

Le groupe du quotidien Le Figaro a annoncé mardi avoir acquis 100% de Sport24.com, société de contenus sportifs pour internet, et "confirme sa volonté d'élargir son lectorat à une cible plus jeune".
Spécialisée dans l'édition et la diffusion de contenus sportifs en ligne, créée en 1998, Sport24.com était partenaire éditorial des pages sports du site internet du Figaro depuis plus de trois ans.
Dans le domaine d'internet, le fondateur de Sport24.com, Frédéric Sitterlé, directeur des nouveaux médias du groupe Le Figaro, a annoncé le "lancement prochain d'une nouvelle version" du site du Figaro avec l'ambition d'en faire "le premier site francophone d'informations".

(c) AFP

Inventory Locator Service / Internet Business Applications

2006-02-06T07:34:00.000+01:00

Inventory Locator Service, LLC (ILS) today announced that it has acquired the assets of Internet Business Applications, Inc. (IBA), including the intellectual property of its inventory management software, Aerospace Repairable Management System (ARMS). ARMS provides tracking of the maintenance, repair and overhaul process and inventory management for aviation and defense industry distributors, suppliers and manufacturers. In addition, ILS will retain the services of IBA employees.

ILS offers the world's largest and most active e-marketplace for the aviation and defense industries. It also provides online tools such as electronic catalogs, auctions, and web hosting services for its customers. It was recently given its sixth consecutive "Best of Web" award by Forbes Magazine.

(c) PRNewswire

IDC / Quote.com

2006-02-03T07:31:00.000+01:00

Lycos, Inc. yesterday announced the sale of its finance site Quote.com® to Interactive Data Corporation, a leading global provider of financial market data and analytic tools to institutional investors, active traders and individual investors.

On February 1, 2006, Interactive Data entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Quote.com and related assets from Lycos, Inc. for $30.0 million in cash. The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter, subject to customary closing conditions including governmental approvals. Upon completion of the transaction, the assets of Quote.com will be operated as part of Interactive Data's eSignal division.

(c) PRNewswire-FirstCall

Time / Golf.com

2006-01-24T09:53:00.000+01:00

Magazine giant Time Inc. said Monday it has acquired golf news Web site Golf.com for an undisclosed amount, giving the company the widest print and online reach in the sport.

Time, whose magazines range from Sports Illustrated to Southern Living, said it acquired Golf.com and the company that operates it, SirenServ Inc., from a group of owners including founders NBC Universal Inc., New York Times Co. and private investors.

Golf.com has an average of 1.3 million unique visitors monthly. The site carries coverage of news and developments from the PGA, Champions and Nationwide tours, including hole-by-hole leaderboard results. The site also sells a fee-based membership program that allows eligible golfers to track playing performances.

The site will join Time's existing portfolio on the sport, including Golf magazine, GolfOnline, Sports Illustrated Golf Plus and SI.com's Golf Plus.

Time Warner shares rose 1 cent to $17.08 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

(c) AP

iCarMagic / e-Pencil.com & AutoPencil.com

2006-01-24T09:49:00.000+01:00

iCarMagic LLC is pleased to announce that it has completed the asset acquisition of two independent auto dealer software sites: e-Pencil.com and AutoPencil.com. Both companies were involved in helping car dealers prepare and estimate payment options on new and used cars for retail customers. The acquired "pencil" technology has been integrated into iCarMagic's suite of CRM, Website and Inventory tools and will launch on February 1st 2006 in full release.

iCarMagic is the fastest growing customer relationship management software company aimed at the expansive automobile retailing marketplace and is an approved solution for most of the major automobile manufacturers in the United States. The company creates customer relationship software, internet lead management solutions, inventory management systems, websites, DeskLog, AutoPencil and eBay auction services specifically for the automobile retailing industry.

(c) BUSINESS WIRE

Scientific Games / EssNet

2006-01-22T06:20:00.000+01:00

Scientific Games Corp., a lottery ticket supplier, said Friday it agreed to acquire substantially all of the online lottery assets of the Swedish firm EssNet AB for about $60 million.

EssNet specializes in online lottery systems and terminals to run numbers games, sports betting, instant tickets and mobile games on a national level.

Lottery customers include seven states in Germany, the national lotteries of Hungary and Norway, Golden Casket and Tattersall's Lottery in Australia and other national lotteries.

The acquisition will include substantially all of EssNet's existing online lottery contracts, as well as related technology and intellectual property. Scientific Games will also retain EssNet's technical staff and game designers.

EssNet's reported online lottery revenues for the first six months of 2005 were roughly $16 million.

Scientific Games will finance the purchase under its existing $250 million revolving credit facility. The company expects the acquisition to boost earnings.

Scientific Games shares rose 15 cents to $31.16 in morning trading on the Nasdaq.

(c) AP

WebMD Health / eMedicine.com

2006-01-19T16:46:00.000+01:00

WebMD Health Corp., a leading provider of health information services to consumers and physicians, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of eMedicine.com, Inc., an online publisher of medical reference information for physicians and other healthcare professionals. The purchase price was $25.5 million.

With in-depth coverage of approximately 6,000 topics, eMedicine.com provides physicians and healthcare professionals detailed clinical information relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of medical conditions. The acquisition of eMedicine.com further enhances WebMD's ability to deliver diversified promotional and educational programs on behalf of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, who spend more than $8 billion annually for promotional and educational programs for physicians and healthcare professionals.

The Company expects to realize the full benefits of the acquisition after the integration of sales, technology and editorial infrastructure is completed in the latter part of 2006. For 2005, eMedicine.com estimated revenues were approximately $6 million with a break even net income. The Company believes that eMedicine.com will have a small positive contribution to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges for 2006 as a result of eMedicine.com's anticipated level of profitability, offset by integration related expenses expected to be incurred during the first half of 2006.

(c) PRNewswire-FirstCall

Traffic.com / MyTrafficNews.com

2006-01-19T16:33:00.000+01:00

Traffic.com, Inc., a leading provider of accurate, real-time traffic information in the United States, announced today that it has purchased the assets of MyTrafficNews.com, a leader in traffic information and delivery in the Denver market. These assets include a patent for the delivery of traffic and transit information.

MyTrafficNews has an audience of more than 35,000 daily e-mail recipients. Its daily e-mail readers will now have the option to sign up for a full suite of free traffic solutions from Traffic.com. These services include traffic alerts delivered via e-mail, PDA and/or cell phone; the ability to personalize and save frequently-driven routes; city "hot spot" reports sent at a pre-determined time; and a toll-free, interactive traffic hotline for drivers on the go.

(c) BUSINESS WIRE

2006-01-18T07:00:00.000+01:00

Google Inc. is continuing to expand its advertising capabilities beyond the online world, agreeing to buy a company that automatically connects advertisers with radio stations. The price could top $1.2 billion.

The company, dMarc Broadcasting Inc. of Newport Beach, Calif., creates an automated platform that lets advertisers more easily schedule and deliver ads over radio and keep track of when they air. On the broadcaster side, the dMarc technology automatically schedules and places such advertising, helping stations minimize costs.

Under the deal, announced Tuesday, Google would pay dMarc at least $102 million in cash. If performance targets are met, Google would make additional payments of up to $1.14 billion over three years.

The up-front cash payment will make only a small dent in Google's reserves. Through September, Google had $7.6 billion in cash and marketable securities, though it has since committed to making a $1 billion investment in Time Warner Inc.'s America Online unit.

Google said it plans to integrate the dMarc technology with its highly successful Google AdWords platform, in which third-party Web sites share revenues with Google for carrying the Mountain View., Calif., company's highly profitable search ads.

Already, Google has bought advertising in print publications such as tech magazines and resold chunks of the space to its online advertisers.

Google shares rose 86 cents to close at $467.11 Tuesday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

(c) AP

Motorola / Kreatel Communications

2006-01-18T06:55:00.000+01:00

Motorola Inc. said on Tuesday it agreed to acquire Kreatel Communications, a Swedish developer of set-top television boxes, for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter 2006.

Kreatel, which is headquartered in Linkoping, Sweden, develops Internet Protocol-based digital set-top television boxes, and has a customer base that includes Telefonica in Spain, TeliaSonera in Sweden, and KPN, in The Netherlands. The Kreatel management team will remain in Linkoping, and will be integrated into Motorola's Connected Home Solutions division.

Shares of Motorola, which have traded between $14.48 and $24.99 over the last year, were down 8 cents at $23.95 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

(c) AP

MGIC Investment / Myers Internet

2006-01-16T15:52:00.000+01:00

MGIC Investment's Mortgage Guaranty Insurance acquired Myers Internet, an online mortgage outfit.

Terms weren't disclosed, but Milwaukee-based private mortgage insurer MGIC said Myers Internet automates many parts of the real estate mortgage transaction, ultimately making the home sale and mortgage origination processes easier and less expensive for all parties involved. The Myers platform also augments MGIC's eMagic subsidiary, which provides a collaborative work environment for originators, lenders and vendors. eMagic offers access to automated underwriting decisions, mortgage insurance, contract services, bundled services, rate locks, document imaging and delivery and more.

The move comes on the heels of an analyst downgrade of MGIC this morning, a day after the company posted disappointing fourth-quarter earnings.

Early Friday, MGIC fell $1.33 to $67.52.

(c) TheStreet.com

Netoy.com / SafePay Solutions

2006-01-16T15:49:00.000+01:00

Netoy.com is proud today to announce that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire SafePay Solutions Inc., an online payment processor which handles payment processing and funds transfers, for convertible preferred stock of Netoy.com.

The proposed transaction is expected to be closed no later than January 27th, 2006 and is subject to confirmation of certain conditions, covenants, representations and warranties made by the parties, which are expected to be completed within 90 days of the Closing.

(c) PRNewswire-FirstCall

Emblaze / Smart Content

2006-01-16T15:44:00.000+01:00

Emblaze Ltd, the telecom vendor group, announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire majority interest in Israeli based software technology company, Smart Content, developer of highly advanced technology for Content-Push over wireless and IP networks to mobile devices and personal computers.

Smart Content's technology is considered to be the "missing link" that will allow users to receive real-time personalized content directly on their devices personal computers. Their current FreeMate technology automatically collects information from the web, routes, and "pushes" a variety of digital content pre-defined as relevant by any mobile or PC user. Such technologies are essential as content and vital information are converging into everyday lives and devices as users demand relevant content to be present and directly available to them at all times without thinking or doing anything in order to actually get it. The trend is towards receiving quick updates, accurate information and personalized content at work, at home and on the move.

Emblaze intends to drive the FreeMate technology roadmap to be adapted into the mobile environment and physically embedded into Emblaze Mobile devices over the coming year which will create a significant advantage of its devices over potential competition and will create a new class of terminals that address the mobile needs beyond a regular voice call.

(c) BUSINESS WIRE

VeriSign / CallVision

2006-01-12T15:54:00.000+01:00

VeriSign Inc., a provider of digital security services, said Wednesday it is acquiring CallVision Inc. in a deal worth about $30 million net of cash.

Seattle-based CallVision offers Web-based billing and client management software and data analysis to major telecommunications firms, such as T-Mobile and Bell Canada.

The acquisition is expected to close during the first quarter and is not expected to affect VeriSign's 2006 financial results.

The acquisition will enable VeriSign to deliver converged electronic bill presentation, payment and customer self-care applications to mobile operators, Tier 1 carriers, broadband companies and consumer-brand MVNOs worldwide. By adding these applications to the comprehensive VeriSign Commerce Suite, VeriSign can help communications providers further simplify the billing process, improve customer satisfaction, reduce operational costs and mitigate churn.

(c) AP & (c) PRNewswire-FirstCall

VeriSign / CallVision

2006-01-12T14:32:00.000+01:00

Kerio Technologies / WebSTAR

2006-01-10T19:21:00.000+01:00

Kerio Technologies Inc., a leading provider of Internet security software and secure messaging solutions, today announces its acquisition of the 4D WebSTAR product lines from 4D SA, a software solution provider based in Clichy, France. 4D WebSTAR is a complete messaging system designed for Mac OS X.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed though Kerio Technologies obtains access to 4D WebSTAR's customer base and technology.

The WebSTAR name has been associated with Mac-based email technology for over 10 years. Today 4D WebSTAR and 4D Mail have several thousand customers worldwide.

(c) PRNewswire-FirstCall

AOL / Truveo

2006-01-10T19:17:00.000+01:00

America Online Inc. has acquired the video search company Truveo Inc. as it seeks to make online video offerings easier to find.

The acquisition announced Tuesday underscores the importance of video in drawing visitors to AOL's ad-supported sites, an important component in AOL's year-old strategy of emphasizing free content over its declining access subscription business.

Terms were not disclosed.

Online video is highly competitive, with Google Inc. just last week announcing plans to let content owners including CBS Corp. and the National Basketball Association sell clips through the search engine leader.

AOL and Google announced a partnership last month in which Google would, among other things, better integrate AOL's offerings in Google's fledging video service. That deal also involved Google buying a 5 percent stake in AOL.

AOL already has multimedia search technology from Singingfish Inc., a Seattle company the Time Warner Inc. unit acquired in 2003.

GeoTrust / TC TrustCenter

2006-01-10T19:13:00.000+01:00

GeoTrust, Inc., a leader in identity verification solutions for e-business and a leading issuer of digital certificates for web security, today announced that it has acquired the entire assets of TC TrustCenter, a German company with a strong portfolio of IT security solutions. The acquisition provides GeoTrust with industry-leading smart card solutions.

The TC TrustCenter acquisition will enhance GeoTrust's focus on providing identity verification and authentication solutions that enable businesses, institutions and consumers to conduct secure network transactions. The TC TrustCenter solutions will enhance GeoTrust's product set by allowing strategic applications such as secure e-mail, secure VPN (Virtual Private Networks), digital signatures, encryption and access control on a single identity card, providing portability for digital certificates. Additional GeoTrust solutions, which will be marketed by TC TrustCenter, include managed security services for large enterprises; web security services for hosting providers; identity verification services to confirm the identity of businesses, individuals and web sites; and digital signing services for documents and code.

(c) PRNewswire

CheckFree / PhoneCharge

2006-01-04T09:05:00.000+01:00

CheckFree Corp. said on Tuesday it bought PhoneCharge Inc., an online bill payment service provider, for approximately $100 million in cash.

CheckFree, an e-commerce service provider, said it expects the acquisition, which closed on Jan. 1, to be neutral to 2006 earnings and to add to earnings thereafter.

Shares of CheckFree, which have traded between $32.33 and $50.55 over the past 52 weeks, closed up by 68 cents, at $46.58, on the Nasdaq.

(c) AP

Symantec / IMlogic

2006-01-04T07:53:00.000+01:00

Symantec Corp. is bolstering its computer security offerings by acquiring IMlogic Inc., which helps companies secure and store instant-messaging traffic by employees.

Financial terms of Tuesday's deal were not released.

Acquiring privately held IMlogic will enable Cupertino, Calif.-based Symantec to broaden the security and legal compliance tools it offers to customers, said Enrique Salem, senior vice president of security products and solutions. This comes on the heels of Symantec's $11 billion acquisition last year of Veritas Software Corp.

Instant messaging has emerged as a popular means of real-time communications in companies but the technology can be vulnerable to malicious hackers.

In fact, earlier Tuesday, Waltham, Mass.-based IMlogic released a report saying that worms, viruses and other security threats on instant-messaging networks rose 826 percent in December from the same period in 2004. IMlogic said 48 percent targeted Microsoft Corp.'s MSN messaging network while 41 percent went after Time Warner Inc.'s AOL IM service.

Another driver for the deal is the need at many companies to archive IM communications to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley executive-accountability law.

The deal was announced after Symantec shares fell 1 cent to close at $17.49 on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The stock's 52-week range is $16.32 to $26.60.

LearnSomething / Isoph Corporation

2006-01-02T13:05:00.000+01:00

LearnSomething, Inc., a Tallahassee-based provider of e-learning solutions for professional industries, and Isoph Corporation, a trusted e-learning partner for nonprofit and membership organizations based in Carrboro, NC, have signed a definitive agreement to unite the two organizations into a single company bearing the LearnSomething name.

Isoph offers a turnkey e-learning success system that takes organizations from initial analysis through successful deployment and ongoing delivery of e- learning programs. Key to typical initiatives is Isoph Blue, Isoph's hosted database-driven e-learning platform designed for seamless connectivity with major association management systems.

(c) PRNewswire

Pegasus Wireless / CNet Technology

2006-01-02T12:59:00.000+01:00

Pegasus Wireless Corporation, a leading provider of advanced wireless solutions, announced today the acquisition of 51% controlling interest in CNet Technology, Inc., a China-based designer and manufacturer of computer network equipment, including wireless devices. The acquisition will be financed by a purchase of 222,222 restricted shares of Pegasus Wireless Corporation's common stock by Jasper Knabb, Company's President. The cash equivalent of $1 million will be used for the purchase of CNet Technology, Inc., while the additional $1 million cash will be used to obtain raw materials to begin the manufacturing of Pegasus Wireless' products that will be available for distribution within thirty days. The acquisition of CNet's manufacturing subsidiary will allow Pegasus Wireless to accelerate the assembly of its own products as well as goods for companies abroad, which will ultimately increase profit margins. Previously, Pegasus Wireless has been manufacturing their wireless products through various venues around the world, and the ability to manufacture its products in a centralized environment will greatly enhance the speed and volume of their product output.

(c) BUSINESS WIRE

uBid / Cape Coastal Trading Corporation

2006-01-02T12:54:00.000+01:00

uBid, Inc., one of the leading online auction companies in the U.S., announced today that it has merged with a subsidiary of Cape Coastal Trading Corporation, whose only business following the merger will be the execution of uBid's business plan under the uBid name.

Concurrent with the merger, the combined company completed a $45 million private placement involving the issuance of 10,000,000 shares of Cape Coastal Trading Corporation common stock to a group of institutional and accredited investors at $4.50 per share. The Company also issued to the investors warrants to purchase an additional 2,500,000 shares of Cape Coastal Trading Corporation common stock exercisable at $5.85 per share. The net proceeds from the financing of approximately $40 million will be used for the retirement of all debt and for general working capital purposes.

ITV / Friends Reunited

2005-12-08T10:53:00.000+01:00

Friends Reunited, the website reuniting old school friends, is to be purchased for GBP120m by ITV, a television broadcasting company.

ITV has also agreed to make a payment of up to GBP55m in 2009, depending on the performance of the website, which has 15m users and is the eighth largest in the UK. Profits for Friends Reunited have increased since the website introduced Internet dating and genealogy services and the purchase is expected to strengthen ITV's online presence substantially.

The website was set up in 2000 by Steve and Julie Pankhurst and their business partner Jason Porter - the couple kept a stake in the business and are expected to receive around GBP30m from ITV's purchase.

ITV hopes to generate new revenue streams from the purchase and plans to link the website with ITV.com in certain areas such as classifieds, dating and recruitment. The Friends Reunited, ITV.com and ITV Local management teams are to be integrated, but Friends Reunited will remain a separate presence on the web.