Publicis Groupe to acquire Alliance Data’s Epsilon division

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 

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Informa Exhibitions and UBM rebrand as Informa Markets

Informa Markets, a division of Informa PLC (LON:INF) formerly known as Informa Exhibitions, today introduced its new name and brand identity and launched a new corporate website, reflecting the ongoing development and expansion of the business and its focus on enabling the success of its customers and the specialist markets in which they work.

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INM agrees sale for €146m to Belgian media group

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.

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Centaur agrees sale of HR business to DVV Media International

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.

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Simplify Compliance Announces Strategic Sale of Argosy Group

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.

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DC Thomson Media Acquires PSP Media

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.

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Centaur agrees sale of travel and meetings exhibitions to Northstar

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.

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Publicis in talks to acquire Epsilon

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.

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Enthuse Group acquires controlling stake in AA Media

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.

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European publishers welcome new digital copyright directive

European press publishers have welcomed the passing of a new digital copyright directive that seeks to reinforce the rights of publishers and journalists online across the European Union. European Parliament passed the Copyright in the Digital Single Market directive by 348 to 274 votes, a majority of 74, with 36 abstentions.

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VGC Partners closes fund at over £50m to invest in consumer, media tech

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

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Northstar Travel to acquire Centaur’s travel shows

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

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