Acquisitions
AND's acquisition philosphy is to acquire successful businesses, working with entrepreneurial management teams ready to take their business to the next stage
The key for AND in the quality of the management team.
Usually businesses are acquired outright, with management retained and fully incentivised through attractive earn out mechanisms designed to deliver long term value to both AND and management.
AND are activley acquiring a broad range of digital businesses - from early stage to mature - across all digital platforms.
If you are looking for investment to maximse the potential of your company through leveraging the entreprenurial expertise of our talented management team and the synergies afforded by the extensive media assets and relationships of the wider DMGT Group, please call Dan Martin on +44 (0) 20 7752 8772.
All of our acquisitions are funded through internal Group resources.
Acquisition activity to date:
2007
December 07 - Oilcareers.com
August 07 - JobsGroup
2006
October 06 - Complete Automotive Solutions
August 06 - Simplyswitch.com
June 06 -Autoexposure
June 06 - InRetail
May 06 - Production Base
March 06 - Allegran
February 06 - Data Media and Retail Ltd.
January 06 - Primelocation.com
2005
August 05 - Top-Consultant
August 05 - Office Recruit
2004
Nov 04 - Findaproperty.com
March 04 - Jobsite UK Worldwide Ltd
Strategic investments:
To date AND has been focussed on acquiring a controlling interest in relevant digital businesses. It is the intention of AND going forward to also make strategic investments in businesses where an outright sale of the company may not best achieve the goals of the management team.
Strategic partnerships / Joint Ventures
AND is keen to develop strategic partnerships and joint ventures with “best of breed” partners. We have an open mind as to the key attributes (for example, technology, marketing, relationships) which each party will bring to such deals; however, we envisage the combined entity will deliver a compelling business proposition.
Market sectors:
The digital marketplace is constantly evolving, and so are we. To date the majority of our acquisition activity has been focussed on areas where the wider DMGT Group has traditional offline strength. This has predominantly meant a focus on the key UK online classified markets: Recruitment; Property; Automotive; Dating; and Personal Finance.
Whilst we remain keen to acquire high quality assets in these areas, our focus is expanding both operationally and geographically.
Areas of specific interest include:
- New/emerging enabling technologies (e.g., mobile, IPTV)
- New business models in existing market verticals
- Existing digital market places to which we have limited current exposure (e.g., gaming and social networking)
- Key overseas territories (Asia, Europe, and North America)
Key Personnel:
Dan Martin – Business Development Director
Dan has managed AND’s Business Development team since 2005, during which time the team has acquired eight digital businesses.
Prior to joining AND, Dan worked in the M&A Advisory field, initially for US investment bank Morgan Stanley, and subsequently for Ernst & Young and Deloitte & Touche.
Email: dan.martin@and.co.uk; Tel: +44 (0) 20 7752 8772
Lesley Curr – Business Development Manager
Lesley has been part of the Business Development team since February 2006.
Lesley qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG and more latterly worked in the Transaction Services department, project managing due diligence for corporate and private equity clients in the UK and overseas. Since joining AND she has helped to complete six transactions.
Email: Lesley.curr@and.co.uk; Tel: +44 (0)20 7752 8951
Phill Jones – Business Development Manager
Phill joined the Business Development team in February 2008 from Ingenious Corporate Finance where he was an adviser to companies in the media industry. Phill is a chartered accountant and has worked in the corporate finance departments of Deloitte and Andersen with a focus on the technology, media and telecoms industries.
Email: phill.jones@and.co.uk ; Tel: +44 (0)20 7752 8407