http://adage.com/article/digital/hootsuite-20m-investment-canadian-pension-fund/233780/?utm_source=digital_email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=adage
Social-media-management platform HootSuite has secured $20 million in secondary funding from OMERS Ventures, allowing a group of employees and early investors to cash out early.
Founded in 2008, Vancouver-based HootSuite has 140 employees, and 3 million users across desktop and mobile. It offers a free service to consumers and an enterprise offering to brands, including PepsiCo, the NBA, FOX and Time, that lets them publish and manage social-media content. Though it also lets users manage their Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+ content, it's best known for its Twitter client.
HootSuite wasn't swimming in cash. It raised $1.9 million in 2009 from investors that included Blumberg Capital, and it took on $3 million in debt last year. A person familiar with the recent deal told Reuters that OMERS Ventures' investment values the company at $200 million.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Havas Buys Majority Stake in Crowdsourcing Ad Agency
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/havas-buys-majority-stake-in-crowdsourcing-ad-agency/?scp=2&sq=viktors%20&%20spoils&st=Search
Havas, the French holding company that owns agencies like Euro RSCG Worldwide and Arnold Worldwide, is buying a majority stake in Victors & Spoils, an agency that specializes in crowdsourcing – that is, open innovation, online, to come up with ad concepts in collaborative fashion, rather than using traditional models like teaming up a copywriter and an art director at an advertising agency.
Havas is acquiring a majority stake in Victors & Spoils from the Tango Group, a private investment company, said John Winsor, chief executive of Victors & Spoils. He and the two other founders of Victors & Spoils, Claudia Batten and Evan Fry, continue to own a minority stake in the agency, he said.
Havas, the French holding company that owns agencies like Euro RSCG Worldwide and Arnold Worldwide, is buying a majority stake in Victors & Spoils, an agency that specializes in crowdsourcing – that is, open innovation, online, to come up with ad concepts in collaborative fashion, rather than using traditional models like teaming up a copywriter and an art director at an advertising agency.
Havas is acquiring a majority stake in Victors & Spoils from the Tango Group, a private investment company, said John Winsor, chief executive of Victors & Spoils. He and the two other founders of Victors & Spoils, Claudia Batten and Evan Fry, continue to own a minority stake in the agency, he said.
After Time of Tumult, Doner Sells a Stake to MDC
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/business/media/doner-after-tumultuous-times-sells-a-stake-to-mdc.html?_r=2&src=busln&nl=business&emc=edit_dlbkam_20120404
DONER, one of the largest independent advertising agencies, is ending its go-it-alone status after 75 years by selling a minority interest to an agency holding group, MDC Partners, that will have the option to take that ownership stake to a majority.
Doner, based in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, Mich., has an estimated $1 billion in billings and is considered the third largest independent agency by that measure, behind the Richards Group and Wieden & Kennedy. There are 600 Doner employees in Southfield and offices in Cleveland, London and Newport Beach, Calif., who work on the accounts of clients like AutoTrader.com, Avery Dennison, the Chrysler Group, Coca-Cola, Coleman, Serta, Sherwin-Williams and the UPS Store.
The decision of the Doner principals to cast their lot with a holding company comes after several trying, tumultuous years that included the loss of the agency’s largest account, Mazda North America, for which Doner created the well-known “Zoom-zoom” campaign; lawsuits filed by former executives; questions about the handling of the agency’s employee pension fund; and turnover among senior managers who included the chief executive, chief financial officer, chief marketing officer and the president of the Newport Beach office.
DONER, one of the largest independent advertising agencies, is ending its go-it-alone status after 75 years by selling a minority interest to an agency holding group, MDC Partners, that will have the option to take that ownership stake to a majority.
Doner, based in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, Mich., has an estimated $1 billion in billings and is considered the third largest independent agency by that measure, behind the Richards Group and Wieden & Kennedy. There are 600 Doner employees in Southfield and offices in Cleveland, London and Newport Beach, Calif., who work on the accounts of clients like AutoTrader.com, Avery Dennison, the Chrysler Group, Coca-Cola, Coleman, Serta, Sherwin-Williams and the UPS Store.
The decision of the Doner principals to cast their lot with a holding company comes after several trying, tumultuous years that included the loss of the agency’s largest account, Mazda North America, for which Doner created the well-known “Zoom-zoom” campaign; lawsuits filed by former executives; questions about the handling of the agency’s employee pension fund; and turnover among senior managers who included the chief executive, chief financial officer, chief marketing officer and the president of the Newport Beach office.
Friday, March 9, 2012
MDC Partners Buys Social-Commerce Firm Dotbox
MDC Partners has acquired a majority interest in Dotbox, a New York-based social-commerce firm with a portfolio of retail and luxury clients that includes 1-800-Flowers, Vince Camuto, Bebe, Harry Winston and Jessica Simpson.
Asked about the company's acquisitions plans going forward, Mr. Nadal said, "I think we will be very strategic and probably not do as many acquisitions as we were, and certainly not as much as we did in 2010. If we do things, you'll see some activity on the international front come through ... and you'll probably see us expand our media [offerings]. We'll be more discriminating as to what we do and how we do it."
Mr. Nadal said that he considers the company "more in a steady state of M&A activity" now and that no more than three or four transactions a year is probably a good pace for MDC from here on out.
http://adage.com/article/agency-news/mdc-partners-buys-social-commerce-firm-dotbox/233116/
Asked about the company's acquisitions plans going forward, Mr. Nadal said, "I think we will be very strategic and probably not do as many acquisitions as we were, and certainly not as much as we did in 2010. If we do things, you'll see some activity on the international front come through ... and you'll probably see us expand our media [offerings]. We'll be more discriminating as to what we do and how we do it."
Mr. Nadal said that he considers the company "more in a steady state of M&A activity" now and that no more than three or four transactions a year is probably a good pace for MDC from here on out.
http://adage.com/article/agency-news/mdc-partners-buys-social-commerce-firm-dotbox/233116/
Monday, March 5, 2012
Bensimon Byrne acquires OneMethod
Bensimon Byrne has added a mad scientist aspect to its capabilities with the acquisition of Toronto digital design agency OneMethod.
Established in March 2001, OneMethod has cultivated a reputation for producing “original and unexpected” work for clients including Nokia, Intuit, Sony and Quiznos. While the 25-person agency produces standard digital work such as websites and mobile apps, it also boasts an in-house “incubator” that develops non-traditional marketing – or experimental – solutions.
While founder and chief creative officer Amin Todai said about 70% of OneMethod’s business comes from outside Canada, the agency received considerable media attention last year for a Toronto-based venture called La Carnita – a pop-up restaurant and “social media experiment” combining tacos and art that will open a bricks and mortar location in the next couple of months.
Bensimon Byrne president Jack Bensimon told Marketing that the OneMethod acquisition dovetails with the continuing evolution of marketing from a traditionally mass media-based discipline to one in which digital often plays a lead role.
Bensimon said the next step for his agency is to continue to apply existing best practices in digital, while simultaneously developing some best practices of its own. Bensimon Byrne will continue to deliver on what’s now, he said, while OneMethod will focus on what’s next.
Bensimon said the deal allows existing Bensimon Byrne clients to indulge in marketing experimentation with an agency that understands their core business and strategic objectives.
OneMethod will remain in its current Toronto office, but will collaborate with Bensimon Byrne whenever it benefits clients, said Bensimon. Bensimon Bryne’s breadth of experience and offering will also make OneMethod attractive to prospective clients, said Todai.
Established in March 2001, OneMethod has cultivated a reputation for producing “original and unexpected” work for clients including Nokia, Intuit, Sony and Quiznos. While the 25-person agency produces standard digital work such as websites and mobile apps, it also boasts an in-house “incubator” that develops non-traditional marketing – or experimental – solutions.
While founder and chief creative officer Amin Todai said about 70% of OneMethod’s business comes from outside Canada, the agency received considerable media attention last year for a Toronto-based venture called La Carnita – a pop-up restaurant and “social media experiment” combining tacos and art that will open a bricks and mortar location in the next couple of months.
Bensimon Byrne president Jack Bensimon told Marketing that the OneMethod acquisition dovetails with the continuing evolution of marketing from a traditionally mass media-based discipline to one in which digital often plays a lead role.
Bensimon said the next step for his agency is to continue to apply existing best practices in digital, while simultaneously developing some best practices of its own. Bensimon Byrne will continue to deliver on what’s now, he said, while OneMethod will focus on what’s next.
Bensimon said the deal allows existing Bensimon Byrne clients to indulge in marketing experimentation with an agency that understands their core business and strategic objectives.
OneMethod will remain in its current Toronto office, but will collaborate with Bensimon Byrne whenever it benefits clients, said Bensimon. Bensimon Bryne’s breadth of experience and offering will also make OneMethod attractive to prospective clients, said Todai.
http://www.marketingmag.ca/news/agency-news/bensimon-byrne-acquires-onemethod-47202?p=47202?utm_source=EmailMarketing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=marketing_daily_PM
Henry Silverman, Bob Pittman Back Ad Agency Droga5.
Financier Henry Silverman and media executive Bob Pittman have invested several million dollars in ad agency Droga5, which the firm will use to finance expansion.
Droga5 is a privately held New York agency that is highly regarded on Madison Avenue. The firm, whose clients include Microsoft Corp., Coca-Cola Co. and Kraft Foods Inc., last year won several top prizes at the Cannes International Advertising festival, including for a multi-platform campaign promoting Jay-Z’s memoir “Decoded.”
While Droga5 declined to disclose the terms of the deal, a person familiar with the matter says the agency has raised roughly $6 million to $7 million.
Mr. Pittman is a veteran of MTV and AOL. Most recently he became chief executive of radio giant CC Media Holdings. Mr. Silverman, who is best known for his role in building Cendant Corp., is currently vice chairman of Apollo Global Management LLC, the private equity firm.
Mr. Silverman, who is joining Droga5’s advisory board, said he met Mr. Droga and was impressed by his socially conscious work.
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/02/17/henry-silverman-bob-pittman-back-ad-agency-droga5/?mod=dist_smartbrief
Droga5 is a privately held New York agency that is highly regarded on Madison Avenue. The firm, whose clients include Microsoft Corp., Coca-Cola Co. and Kraft Foods Inc., last year won several top prizes at the Cannes International Advertising festival, including for a multi-platform campaign promoting Jay-Z’s memoir “Decoded.”
While Droga5 declined to disclose the terms of the deal, a person familiar with the matter says the agency has raised roughly $6 million to $7 million.
Mr. Pittman is a veteran of MTV and AOL. Most recently he became chief executive of radio giant CC Media Holdings. Mr. Silverman, who is best known for his role in building Cendant Corp., is currently vice chairman of Apollo Global Management LLC, the private equity firm.
Mr. Silverman, who is joining Droga5’s advisory board, said he met Mr. Droga and was impressed by his socially conscious work.
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/02/17/henry-silverman-bob-pittman-back-ad-agency-droga5/?mod=dist_smartbrief
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