Deals

Publicis Groupe (Euronext Paris: FR0000130577, CAC 40) today announced it has entered into an agreement with Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS) under which Publicis Groupe will acquire Alliance Data’s Epsilon business for a net purchase price of $3.95 billion after tax step-up (total cash consideration of $4.40bn) and build a strategic partnership with Alliance Data remaining business. This acquisition will accelerate the implementation of Publicis’ strategy to become the preferred transformation partner for its clients 

The board of Independent News and Media has agreed a sale to Belgian newspaper group Mediahuis for €145.6m. The INM board has unanimously recommended the offer, which is conditional on acceptance by shareholders. Independent News and Media publishes the Irish Independent, Independent.ie, ‘Sunday Independent’, ‘Sunday World’, ‘The Herald’, ‘Belfast Telegraph’ and several regional newspapers.

Sir Martin Sorrell’s recently formed marcoms business S4 Capital has expanded its digital content and programmatic capabilities with the acquisition of Amsterdam and Miami-based film production studio Caramel Pictures and São Paulo-based programmatic consultancy ProgMedia.

Bauer Media Group has entered into an exclusive negotiation process for the acquisition of Télécâble Sat Hebdo, one of France’s leading TV magazines

The Mark Allen Group is in the final stages of completing on a deal to acquire 12 magazines currently published by the Dorking-based company, UKi Media & Events. These magazines fall into three B2B sectors: aviation, automotive and transport, and entertainment.

Centaur Media Plc (“Centaur” or the “Group”), an international provider of business information and specialist consultancy, today announces that it has entered into a conditional agreement to sell Centaur Human Resources Limited, the owner of the Employee Benefits brand and the rest of its HR business, to DVV Media International Ltd (“DVV Media International”) for a cash consideration of £5m (subject to customary post-completion adjustments). Completion of the disposal is expected to take place on 30 April 2019.

Simplify Compliance, a Leeds Equity Partners portfolio company, announced today that it has completed the sale of Argosy Group. The transaction resulted from a strategic decision to further hone the parent company’s focus on its core markets: human capital management, healthcare, environmental health and safety, and communications.

DC Thomson Media has confirmed the acquisition of PSP Media, a Glasgow based publisher and event specialist. Following the announcement of radio growth in March, DC Thomson Media’s acquisition of PSP Media is another key step in transforming the business from traditional publisher to modern media creator.

Centaur Media Plc (“Centaur” or the “Group”), an international provider of business information and specialist consultancy, today announces that it has entered into a conditional agreement to sell Centaur Media Travel and Meetings Limited (CTM), the owner of the Business Travel Show and The Meetings Show, to Northstar Travel Media UK Limited (“Northstar”), a leading B2B information and marketing solutions company focused on the global travel and meetings industries. Completion of the disposal is expected to take place on 30 April 2019.

Publicis Groupe is in talks to acquire data marketing giant Epsilon, the holding company confirmed Monday. Epsilon, which is owned by Irving, Texas-based Alliance Data Systems, is ranked as the world’s 13th largest agency company with revenue of $2.3 billion in 2017, according to the latest figures from the Ad Age Datacenter. Epsilon reported 2018 worldwide revenue of $2.2 billion.

Enthuse Group today announces the acquisition of a 51% stake in AA Media, the hospitality, publishing and merchandising division of The AA plc. Enthuse Group specialises in breathing new life into heritage brands and operates thirty  diverse specialist communities of enthusiasts. Titles include Hi-Fi News, Stereophile, Total Carp, The Woodworker, Stamp Magazine and  Patchwork and Quilting amongst others. The longest-running title in the Enthuse Group portfolio has been published fortnightly since the late 19th century.

Centaur Media Plc (“Centaur”), an international provider of business information and specialist consultancy, today announces that it has sold its financial services division to Metropolis Group (“Metropolis”), specialists in business and consumer media

Informa (LSE: INF.L), the International Exhibitions, Events, Information Services and Scholarly Research Group, announces the launch of Informa Ventures, a founder-friendly venture capital fund that makes early stage investments in the Knowledge & Information economy.

Growth capital investor VGC Partners has closed its Fund II at £50.3 million, to target UK-based consumer, media and tech companies. The firm, which currently has about £100 million of assets under management, has been supported by a £30 million commitment from the British Business Bank through its Enterprise Capital Funds (ECF) programme for early stage venture capital. Additional funds have been secured from private investors and high-net worth individuals

According to Colin Morrison’s Flashes&Flames It is believed the US-based Northstar Travel Group is poised to acquire three UK exhibitions – The Business Travel Show, Meetings Show, and Travel Technology Europe – from Centaur Media. The annual two-day events are one part of the Centaur portfolio put up for sale as it prepares to focus on its core XEIM marketing services group, which includes Marketing Week, eConsultancy, Festival of Marketing, and Oystercatchers

Accenture Interactive is acquiring digital shop Storm Digital to expand the network’s presence in Europe. Founded in 2006, the agency specializes in data collection, audience analytics, search, social and programmatic advertising services, media planning and buying, content creation, dynamic creative services and digital business services. The 90-person agency’s client roster includes ABN AMRO, Exact, KLM, Rituals and Transavia. 

Terrapinn [www.terrapinn.com], the global events company, announced today that it has acquired Accounting Business Expo [https://www.accountingbusiness.com.au] and Accountech Live [https://www.accountech.live], the two market leading exhibitions in Australia for the Accountancy and Finance Management profession

Gannett has sold sports, media and pop-culture website The Big Lead to Minute Media. Minute Media president Rich Routman told Morning Consult the company wants to land one media deal similar to The Big Lead acquisition every quarter this year, particularly in the technology, food and lifestyle space.

ReedPOP, the world’s largest producer of pop culture events and part of Reed Exhibitions, today announced that Florida Supercon will be joining its family of global fan conventions.  Florida Supercon is an annual convention held in Miami, Florida celebrating comics, superheroes, science fiction, anime, cartoons, video games, wrestling and all things pop culture.

Incisive Media has today announced the acquisition of The Financial Services Forum Limited (the ‘FSF’ or ‘the Forum’), the membership community for marketing professionals across the financial services industry.