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Outbrain, a technology platform that drives business outcomes through engagement, agreed to merge with Teads, an omnichannel video platform, in a $1bn deal. “This is a transformative transaction to establish a true end-to-end, full-funnel platform for the open internet. The combination of our highly-complementary offerings accelerates our vision to become the preferred partner to deliver meaningful brand outcomes across premium, quality media environments — while scaling the industry-leading offerings Teads is known for. I’m incredibly proud of what our team at Outbrain has created, and strongly believe that with Teads we will build tremendous value for our customers, employees, and partners. I believe this combination and the transaction’s financial structure position Outbrain to deliver significant shareholder value in the years to come," David Kostman, Outbrain CEO. Teads (led by Bertrand Quesada, Jeremy Arditi and Caroline Barbery-Mebrouk) is advised by Morgan Stanley. Altice Group is advised by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates (led by Thomas Greenberg, Armand W. Grumberg and Dohyun Kim). Outbrain (led by Yaron Galai, Ori Lahav, David Kostman, Jason Kiviat and Veronica Gonzalez) is advised by Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, Mizuho, Bryan Cave LLP, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (led by Nick Dorsey and Joe Zavaglia), Meitar | Law Offices and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Deft financing is provided by Goldman Sachs, Jefferies and Mizuho. #MergersAcquisitionsDivestitures #Technology #Software

Exciting news: Verve has announced the acquisition of Jun Group. Together, we’re connecting advertisers with premium mobile ads and connected TV inventory at scale. Jun Group’s trusted relationships with Fortune 500 advertisers, cutting-edge AI technology, and innovations on emerging channels are a powerful complement to Verve’s supply-side strengths. “Over the past few years, we have built Verve into a strong, organically growing media company with a primary focus on the advertising supply side. With Jun Group, we are now significantly strengthening the demand side, which will enable us to achieve significant synergies. With a better balance between supply and demand, we can further increase transparency and efficiency for our clients, both publishers and advertisers, in line with our mission: Let's make media better.” says Remco Westermann, CEO of Verve. Key highlights: 🔹 Direct access to 230+ Fortune 500 advertisers and agencies 🔹 Combined 2024 pro forma revenues of €447 million and adj. EBITDA of €151 million 🔹 Improved financial targets with an EBITDA margin of 30-35% and a net leverage of 1.5-2.5x Join us for an investor call on June 19, 2024, at 09:30 am CEST to discuss this exciting acquisition. 🔗 Full press release: https://hubs.la/Q02CknDW0 📞 Register for the investor call: https://hubs.la/Q02CkFlT0 #Verve #JunGroup #LetsMakeMediaBetter #adtech #acquisition #advertising Media and Games Invest (MGI)

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Adtech M&A: More Deals, Fewer Buyers, Lower Valuations—What’s Driving the Shift? Deal flow is up, but it's not a free-for-all. Fewer buyers, tighter wallets. Companies are playing Tetris with their portfolios. Buy here, sell there, create a story that fits. Gone are the days of "growth at all costs." It's all about strategic fit and realistic valuations now. Innovation isn't just about tech—it's about solving real problems for advertisers and publishers. In this new landscape, the winners will be those who can articulate their unique value proposition clearly and back it up with rock-solid performance. What's your take on the current M&A landscape? Catherine Perloff | ADWEEK #AdTech

“As someone deeply invested in media and brand strategy at GrowthOps Asia, I've witnessed first-hand the critical need for transparency to evolve from a buzzword to a foundational business practice. This article sheds light on the complex layers and what it will genuinely take to cultivate an environment of trust and openness in our industry.” - Arshad Ahamed, Regional Director of Media and Brand Strategy Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gvkz9eNn #AdTech #TransparencyInAdvertising #DigitalMarketing #MediaStrategy #Innovation #BrandStrategy

New year, new me! Marketing production service company Framme and promotional product and gifting platform Sam and the Brand join forces. After careful consideration and strategic planning, we're thrilled to announce that Sam and the Brand will merge with Framme. As of January 10th 2024, we will operate under one name and brand, Framme, and more importantly, we can offer even better services and experiences to our lovely customers and kickass partners. Key benefits of the merger: 🌎 Global reach: As many of Sam and the Brand's and Framme's customers operate globally, merger allows us to serve you more efficiently and effectively across different regions. 🙋♀️ Dedicated account teams: Each of our customers will have a dedicated account manager across our services: digital ordering, Magic Link campaigns and marketing and merchandise production 🚀 Streamlined processes: We continue to optimise our order and delivery processes, overall customer and partner experience, and APIs to ensure seamless interactions. Over the coming weeks and months, you can expect more detailed communications about changes and improvements resulting from this merger. Additionally, our account management teams and customer support are available to address any questions you may have. We are excited about the opportunities this merger brings. Best regards, Marko Heino CEO of Framme Jani Modig CEO of Sam and the Brand #marketing #merchandise #brand #gifting #saas

Great insights from Jack Murphy on Waystar's S-1 filing! As the IPO market heats up with Waystar following #Rurik, #Reddit, and #AsteraLabs, it's essential for comms teams to understand the strategic elements in these filings. Check out how Waystar uses various levers like customer testimonials, AI integration, and its diverse client base to help build investor confidence. A must-read for anyone navigating the path to public markets. If you have an IPO on the horizon, check out our IPO Playbook: https://lnkd.in/gc-VvN5h ....or get in touch with the Brands2Life team. #IPO #CommsStrategy #Waystar #AI #CustomerSuccess #InvestorRelations

Shift Paradigm's acquisition of Principle Studios marks a pivotal moment in digital marketing, promising to revolutionize brand experiences with a fusion of creativity and tech. This synergy is set to redefine customer engagement in the digital age. I'm excited to see how this merger will elevate martech solutions. What are your thoughts on such industry-shaping moves? #DigitalMarketing #BrandExperience #Innovation Original article: https://lnkd.in/eKDhBhTK

Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking at the AdTech Economic Forum alongside key figures in the AdTech space. First, I sat down with Brian Wieser of Madison and Wall to discuss the growing importance of CMO/CFO collaboration and the current struggles to achieve mutual understanding between the two roles. Only about a fifth of CMO-CFO relationships are considered truly collaborative, whether due to differing priorities or organizational silos. It's a difficult situation that can only be overcome by a concerted effort to build trust, communicate transparently, and align on shared goals and metrics. By taking the time to understand each other's language, priorities, and constraints, these teams can find ways to optimize both cost and value, driving widespread business improvements in the process. Later on, Brian and I were joined by Adam Berkowitz of Publicis Groupe. We discussed new perspectives surrounding agency M&As, with a focus on what investment-driven growth strategies look like for investors at the moment. This included thoughts on e-commerce, automation technology, and country-specific investments. All in all, it was a very enlightening experience and I would love to do it again! #AdTech #CMOs #CFOs #MergersAndAcquisitions

**Strategic Growth Through Acquisition: Ingenuity Group's Bold Move with MAD//FEST** Max Fellows, Founder of allpoints, shares his insights on this momentous acquisition. - Ingenuity, recognised as a business development player for agencies, has been strategically redefining its identity. By moving beyond its 'lead gen, phone basher' roots through astute acquisitions and a refined positioning, since its launch in 2018, Ingenuity has evolved into a comprehensive service provider with a robust ‘eco-system’ focused on growth. This transformation comes at a critical juncture. The agency sector is under significant strain—new business is down 23% year-on-year, while sales cycles have doubled, with the number of touchpoints and engagements skyrocketing. In this environment, Ingenuity's recent acquisition of MAD//Fest is not just timely; it’s a calculated step that aligns perfectly with their broader strategy. While the financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic value of this acquisition is clear. By integrating MAD//Fest into its portfolio, Ingenuity gains access to a vibrant marketing ecosystem that will enhance its service offerings across all business units. This move follows the group’s acquisitions of Future Factory in 2023 and Reg&Co. earlier this year, further solidifying its position in the market. The success of this acquisition will hinge on the careful nurturing of MAD//Fest's intellectual property and emerging brand identity. The challenge lies in maintaining the festival's distinct appeal without diluting it within the larger Ingenuity framework—an essential balance to strike to avoid alienating its core audience. There is also significant pressure to sustain and build on the momentum of the MAD//Fest brand, particularly given its relatively short history, marked by just two major show years. However, with calculated risk comes the potential for substantial reward. If Ingenuity can leverage MAD//Fest’s unique assets while maintaining its autonomy, the benefits could be immense—both in reinforcing its domestic market presence and in expanding its influence internationally. As the M&A landscape within the agency sector remains dynamic, this acquisition exemplifies how growth through intellectual property and strategic alignment can create a self-sustaining ecosystem. Ingenuity’s ability to execute on these key pillars could be the catalyst for its next phase of success. #madfest #advertising #advertisingagency