Deals

Press Release: UDG Healthcare plc (“the Group”), a leading international healthcare services provider, is pleased to announce the acquisition of MicroMass Communications (“MicroMass”), a US-based healthcare communications agency specialising in behavioural change, for a total consideration of up to $75.8m. MicroMass designs solutions across all therapeutic areas that improve patient and health outcomes by changing patient and provider behaviour. These solutions are created bespoke to the needs of each of MicroMass’ pharmaceutical clients. As the role of patients in healthcare decision making expands, coupled with the ongoing shift to digital channels, demand from pharmaceutical companies for behavioural change and direct patient engagement capabilities is increasing.

Sky has struck a new £600m broadcasting deal with the English Football League, with the agreement also allowing clubs to livestream matches directly to fans from their own websites. Under the five-year deal that begins in 2019, Sky will screen up to 150 matches each season from the EFL‘s professional divisions below the Premier League. Games from the Sky Bet play-offs, Carabao Cup and Checkatrade trophy are also included. The EFL said the deal represented a year-on-year increase of 36 per cent on its current broadcasting deal with Sky.

Amazon.com Inc will live-stream games for the NFL this year, a company spokeswoman said on Tuesday, marking a high-profile push by the online retailer to attract fans to its Prime shopping and video-playback club

A total of 24 bidders bought the bid document, including Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, Yahoo, Reliance Jio, Star India, Sony Pictures, Discovery, Sky, British Telecom, and ESPN Digital Media, according to a ESPNcricinfo report.

Press Release: Tarsus Group plc (LSE:TRS), the international business-to-business media group, announces that it has agreed terms with E.J. Krause & Associates, Inc. (“EJK”) to expand its 50% owned joint venture (the “JV”) in Mexico, resulting in the JV now owning all EJK Mexico’s event portfolio

Press release: Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, the international business information and events group, today announces that it is considering strategic options for its Global Markets Intelligence Division, consisting of CEIC and EMIS

The Receivers and Managers (Christopher Hill, Phil Carter and David McEvoy of PPB Advisory) and the Voluntary Administrators (Mark Korda, Jarrod Villani and Jenny Nettleton of KordaMentha Restructuring) of Ten Network Holdings Limited have announced that wholly owned entities of the New York Stock Exchange-listed CBS Corporation have entered into a binding transaction document to acquire the business and assets of Network Ten.

Comexposium announces today the acquisition of a 60% stake in the UK holding company Converse Media. Through this operation, Comexposium reinforces its position in Europe and particularly in the Nordics as well and expands its growth opportunities within the Building sector.

Press Release: WPP announces that it has acquired Design Bridge Limited (“Design Bridge”), a leading independent and highly-awarded brand design agency. Design Bridge combines strategic thinking, intuition and creative excellence to bring brands to life through great ideas that connect with people

Digital performance marketing company XLMedia continued its buying spree today with a swoop on a US comparison website. The Aim-listed firm has added young adult personal finance site Moneyunder30.com to its portfolio for $7m (£5.4m). XLMedia is targeting further US expansion, following its acquisition of Canadian credit card comparison site Greedyrates.

DMGT, which is ultimately controlled by Viscount Rothermere, has appointed boutique advisory firm Cardean Bell to work on a strategic review of the free newspaper, City sources said. Metro, the freesheet that was set up in 1999 and within five years drew a readership of 1m, could change hands for between £25m and £35m

MCI has announced the acquisition of Dallas, Texas-based Wyndham Jade, an event and travel management company specializing in integrated convention housing and registration, site selection, meeting management, incentive programs and business travel management, serving both associations and corporations

Reed Business Information (RBI) has announced today that it has agreed to divest personneltoday.com, personneltodayjobs.com, Occupational Health & Wellbeing, whatmedia.co.uk and the Recruitment Advertising Awards, and their associated products, services and events, to DVV Media International Limited, the UK professional publishing division of Rheinishe Post. Terms were not disclosed.

This decision reflects RBI’s continuing strategic priority of focusing on its data and analytics business.

Relx, the UK-listed information and analytics group, is buying California-based academic publisher Bepress — its third acquisition in the San Francisco Bay area in the past 18 months. Although Relx did not disclose the amount its science and health business Elsevier had paid for the company, which was founded in 1999 by three academics at the University of California, Berkeley, one person briefed on the deal valued the transaction at £100m.

Time Inc. is exploring the sale of three of its titles: Coastal Living, Sunset and Golf.

Time Inc. CEO Rich Battista told Bloomberg the focus is on “the key biggest growth drivers of this company that will move the needle the most. These are wonderful titles and wonderful brands.”

Time Inc. has sold its experiential business INVNT, ending a week of announcements from the publisher of plans to sell off multiple titles to focus on its core assets

A Saudi investor has taken a significant stake in the Independent, potentially pumping millions of pounds into the liberal news website but may spark a controversy about the human rights record of the Middle Eastern country. The deal, which was first report by Middle East Eye, could value the Independent at more than £100m

London: Informa (LSE: INF.L), the International Exhibitions, Events, Business Intelligence and Academic Publishing Group, today announces the majority acquisition of its German/Swiss domestic conference business Euroforum by leading German media group, Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt GmbH. The transaction continues the strategy of portfolio focus within the Knowledge & Networking Division, following on from a number of other portfolio changes over recent years in Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Brazil. It leaves the Division focused on specialist communities in its core end markets of Global Finance, Life Sciences and TMT.

City A.M. understands that US private equity firm Blackstone, which owns stakes in businesses such as fashion house Versace and camera brand Leica, is set to buy Clarion Events for around £600m.

Blackstone Press Release: London, July 24, 2017  – Private equity funds managed by Blackstone (“Blackstone”) announce the acquisition of Clarion Events, one of the world’s leading independent events organisers, from private equity funds managed by Providence Equity Partners (“Providence”).