Private Equity Services  >  Transactions  >  2008

Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) (www.forrester.com) has acquired JupiterResearch, LLC (www.jupiterresearch.com) and its parent company, JUPR Holdings, Inc., from MCG Capital Corporation (www.mcgcapital.com), for $23 million in cash plus assumed liabilities, subject to post-closing adjustments.

JupiterResearch has 82 employees and 2007 revenues of approximately $14 million. Forrester, with 2007 revenues of $212 million, now has more than 1,000 employees. This strategic purchase complements Forrester’s syndicated business model, as JupiterResearch joins Forrester’s Marketing & Strategy Client Group, which contributed $46.4 million to Forrester’s total revenue in 2007.

The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Forrester Research in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.

dmg world media (www.dmgworldmedia.com), a division of Daily Mail & General Trust plc (DMGT), has sold its portfolio of 38 North American consumer home shows to Marketplace Events LLC.

Marketplace Events is a portfolio company of Stephens Capital Partners LLC, an affiliate of Stephens Inc. (www.stephens.com), a privately held investment bank in Little Rock, Arkansas. This portfolio is comprised of consumer home shows in 27 cities across the US and Canada. The deal is valued at $53 million.

The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented dmg world media in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.

University Health Publishing Group (UHPG), a leading provider of consumer health information and education in collaboration with two of the most esteemed universities in the country – Johns Hopkins University and the University of California, Berkeley, has been acquired by MediZine, a leading consumer health education company and a portfolio company of Veronis Suhler Stevenson private equity firm.

Undertone Networks (www.undertone-inc.com), a premium online advertising network, has received a strategic investment from JMI Equity (www.jmiequity.com), a private equity firm exclusively focused on investments in growing software and business services companies. JMI will work closely with Undertone’s management team to help the company continue to grow, deliver innovative services to its clients and create opportunities for its employees.

Working with leading traditional and digital advertising agencies and their clients, Undertone executes and strategically manages online advertising campaigns that allow clients to maximize their return on investment. The funding from JMI will enable Undertone to accelerate new product development and research, and further expand its presence in both U.S. and international markets.

The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Intercept Interactive, the parent company of Undertone, in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.

Hallmark Data Systems (www.halldata.com), a leading information services and technology provider of fulfillment and customer relationship management solutions, and a portfolio company of Tinicum Capital Partners (www.tinicum.com), has been sold to EBSCO Industries (www.ebscoind.com).

EBSCO is a diversified business that provides subscriptions for more than 300,000 title listings from more than 78,000 publishers worldwide.

The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Hallmark Data Systems in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor.

FierceMarkets, a leading online B2B media company, has been acquired by Questex Media Group, Inc., a global, diversified business-to-business integrated media and information provider.

Based in Washington, DC, FierceMarkets helps business marketers reach targeted decision-makers through its portfolio of e-mail newsletters, web sites, webinars and live events focusing on the Telecommunications, Life Sciences, Healthcare, IT, and Finance industries.  With 45% compound annual revenue growth over five years, more than 300 repeat advertisers, and triple-digit annual audience growth, FierceMarkets has established itself as a leader in the new generation of fast-growth media companies taking traditional trade publishing into the digital age.

The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented FierceMarkets in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.

The Becker Group, Ltd., a portfolio company of Sterling Capital Partners and a leading experiential marketing company, has been acquired by Viad Corp. (NYSE: VVI), a leading provider of services for exhibition organizers and exhibitors.  The Becker Group of Baltimore specializes in creating immersive, entertaining attractions and brand-based experiences for clients and venues, including retail centers, movie studios, museums, leading consumer brands and casinos.  With more than 50 years of experience, Becker Group is the leading provider of large-scale events and experiences for retail real estate developers in North America.

This acquisition extends Viad’s experiential marketing services beyond the tradeshow environment and provides excellent opportunities to leverage the capabilities and client relationships of Becker Group, GES and Exhibitgroup/Giltspur to accelerate growth in all three of these businesses. 

The Jordan, Edmiston Group represented Becker Group in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor. For more information, click here.