Blinkx Plc : ACQUISITION OF PRIME VISIBILITY MEDIA GROUP, INC. BY BLINKX PLC AND TRADING STATEMENT
11/09/2011| 02:35am US/Eastern

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Integrating the world's largest video search engine with
a leading text search platform
The Boards of blinkx plc (AIM:BLNX), the world's largest
video search engine ("blinkx" or the
"Company") and Prime Visibility Media Group, Inc.,
a leading online performance advertising network and digital
marketing agency ("PVMG") are pleased to announce
today that they have entered into a definitive stock purchase
agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") pursuant to
which blinkx has acquired the entire issued and to be issued
shares of common stock and the entire issued and to be issued
shares of preferred stock of PVMG (the "PVMG
Shares") for an aggregate consideration of US$36 million
(£22.4 million), to be satisfied in cash (the
"Acquisition").
The Acquisition consideration of US$36 million (£22.4
million) will be funded through blinkx's existing cash
balances and the proceeds from a proposed placing of new
ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the
"Placing") announced separately today. A separate
announcement is being issued by the Company this morning
which will contain details of the Placing.
In the event that the Placing does not complete for any
reason, the Acquisition will be funded entirely from the
Company's existing cash balances.
Further details of the Acquisition are set out in the
Appendix to this document.
Transaction Highlights
-
PVMG's network averages over 600 advertisers (measured over
the 6 month period to 30 September 2011) and 350
publishers. Processing 1.5 billion queries, and generating
14 million ad interactions every day, PVMG has the reach
and volume to meet the demands of metric-driven advertisers
and enables publishers to monetise their traffic from
multiple forms of advertising.
-
Following the Acquisition, blinkx expects to integrate
PVMG's platform with blinkx's so as to enable the
blinkx video search engine to respond to a portion of
PVMG's 1.5 billion daily queries with relevant video
results. Where available these videos can be paired with
rich media video ads that typically monetise at a higher
rate.
-
In September 2011, the average effective cost per mille
(eCPM) of PVMG's sponsored text advertisements was
approximately US$5.00, while blinkx's standard untargeted
sponsored video advertisements were priced at US$13.00.
blinkx believes that the combined group will be able to
realise some of the differential between these two rates to
generate incremental revenue.
-
PVMG also operates a digital marketing agency which offers
consulting services to assist customers in developing
Internet marketing strategies to establish and enhance
their digital presence, through Search Engine Optimisation
(SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), social media, email
and mobile marketing services.
-
Following the Acquisition, blinkx expects that the agency
business will provide useful insights into its brands'
Internet marketing strategies, which will enable blinkx to
offer more compelling advertising solutions.
-
PVMG is led by a team of seasoned executives with deep and
diverse expertise in the search, rich media, mobile and
agency sectors of the digital marketing industry. blinkx
expects to benefit from the strategic addition of PVMG's
senior leadership in key areas across its business. PVMG
CEO, S. Brian Mukherjee, will be joining blinkx as EVP and
GM for Search and Mobile.
-
PVMG's consolidated audited financial statements for
its financial year ending 31 December 2010 show gross
assets of US$22.4 million, and gross revenues of US$29.9
million, and a net loss for the period of US$389,511.
-
The integration is expected to begin immediately, and by
the end of the financial year ending 31 March 2013 the
Acquisition is expected to have an annual revenue run-rate
of between US$35 million and US$40 million.
Commenting on the Acquisition, Suranga Chandratillake, CEO of
blinkx, said:
"Online video advertising continues to be the fastest
growing format by a significant margin, and is forecast to
reach $3.5 billion over the next three years. Brands continue
to move an increasing amount of their TV advertising budgets
to online video, but need to be able to reach an audience of
equivalent size on the Web. We're extremely excited about the
Acquisition because the integration of our video search
engine with PVMG's text search platform will enable us to tap
into a new audience of intent-driven consumers and deliver
TV-style brand advertising to them, which gives us the
opportunity to expand our customer reach and increase PVMG's
margins over time."
"As a close knit team with the shared sense of optimism
to lead the next revolution of digital advertising, we are
proud of our accomplishments at PVMG. We believe that the
Acquisition puts us at the very heart of one of the most
dynamic sectors of the digital advertising industry - online
video. The combination of our powerful, proven high frequency
transaction engine and audience reach with blinkx's
unrivalled video search technology and vast content index
unlocks a tremendous opportunity for us to develop high value
online video advertising solutions."
blinkx Current Trading
Trading for the first half of the financial year ending 31
March 2012 has been strong. For the half year period to 30
September 2011, the Company expects to report revenues of
approximately US$44.6 million, an increase of over 60% from
the corresponding period ended 30 September 2010, and to
report EBITDA for the half year of approximately US$5.7
million and an operating profit for the half year of
approximately US$4.9 million , an increase of approximately
95% over the corresponding period ended 30 September 2010.
For the half year period to 30 September 2011, blinkx expects
to report cash and cash equivalents of approximately US$52.9
million. blinkx is pleased to report that the integration of
Burst Media Corporation is proceeding very well. blinkx
expects that the cost of restructuring will be approximately
US$2.5 million; less than the market predicted US$4.5
million. The Company has also seen continued growth of the
AdHoc advertising platform with new brands, including
Kelloggs, Disney, Pimms and Nivea. blinkx expects to announce
its half year results on 11 November 2011.
PVMG Overview
Established in December 2007, and headquartered in New York,
NY, Prime Visibility Media Group, Inc., is a digital
marketing holding company with three operating units: Prime
Visibility, LLC an award winning search marketing agency;
AdOn Network, Inc., a long tail performance, cost-per-click
advertising network; and Predic.tv, LLC, an early stage rich
media advertising company, which intends to target premium
online advertisers and publishers.
Enquiries
blinkx plc +44 (0)1223 488 500
Suranga Chandratillake, Founder and CEO +1 (415) 655 1450
Frances Smith, Company Secretary
Citigroup Global Markets Limited +44 (0)20 7986 4000
(NOMAD and broker to blinkx plc)
Charles Lytle
Christopher Wren
Rowland Bourne
FTI Consulting (formerly Financial Dynamics) +44 (0)20 7831
3113
Edward Bridges
blinkx Overview
blinkx is the world's largest and most advanced video
search engine. Today, blinkx has indexed more than 35 million
hours of audio, video, viral and TV content, and made it
fully searchable and available on demand. blinkx's
founders set out to solve a significant challenge - as TV and
user-generated content on the Web explode, keyword-based
search technologies only scratch the surface. blinkx's
patented search technologies listen to - and even see - the
Web, helping users enjoy a breadth and accuracy of search
results not available elsewhere. In addition, blinkx powers
the video search for many of the world's most frequented
sites.
blinkx is based in San Francisco, USA. and Cambridge, UK.
Additional Information
This announcement is for information only and, save as
expressly set out herein, does not constitute an offer or
invitation to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire
or dispose of any securities or investment advice in any
jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is
unlawful, including without limitation, the United Kingdom,
the United States, Australia, Canada or Japan. Persons
needing advice should consult an independent financial
adviser.
This announcement has been issued by and is the sole
responsibility of blinkx plc (the "Company"). No
representation or warranty, express or implied, is or will be
made as to, or in relation to, and no responsibility or
liability is or will be accepted by Citigroup Global Markets
U.K. Equity Limited or by any of its affiliates or agents as
to or in relation to, the accuracy or completeness of this
announcement or any other written or oral information made
available to or publicly available to any interested party or
its advisers, and any liability therefore is expressly
disclaimed.
Citigroup Global Markets U.K. Equity Limited
("Citi"), which is authorised and regulated in the
United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting
for the Company and for no-one else, and will not be
responsible to any other person for providing the protections
afforded to the customers of Citi or in relation to the
contents of this announcement or any other transaction,
arrangement or matter referred to herein.
This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in
the United States. The securities referred to herein may not
be offered, sold or transferred, directly or indirectly,
within the United States absent registration under the US
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") or an
exemption therefrom. The Company has not registered and does
not intend to register any of the securities under the US
Securities Act. There will be no public offer of any
securities of the Company in the United States.
The price of shares and the income from them may go down as
well as up and investors may not get back the full amount
invested on disposal of the shares.
Neither the content of blinkx's website (or any other
website) nor the content of any website accessible from
hyperlinks on blinkx's website (or any other website) is
incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
Forward-looking Statements
This announcement contains (or may contain) certain
forward-looking statements with respect to blinkx's plans
and its current goals and expectations relating to its future
financial condition and performance and which involve a
number of risks and uncertainties. blinkx cautions readers
that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future
performance and that actual results could differ materially
from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that
they do not relate only to historical or current facts.
Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as
'aim', 'anticipate', 'target',
'expect', 'estimate', 'intend',
'plan', 'goal', 'believe', or other
words of similar meaning. Examples of forward-looking
statements include, among others, statements regarding
blinkx's future financial position, income growth,
impairment charges, business strategy, projected levels of
growth in its markets, projected costs, estimates of capital
expenditure, and plans and objectives for future operations
of blinkx and other statements that are not historical fact.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and
uncertainty because they relate to future events and
circumstances, including, but not limited to, UK domestic and
global economic and business conditions, the effects of
continued volatility in credit markets, market-related risks
such as changes in interest rates and exchange rates, the
policies and actions of governmental and regulatory
authorities, changes in legislation, the further development
of standards and interpretations under International
Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") applicable
to past, current and future periods, evolving practices with
regard to the interpretation and application of standards
under IFRS, the outcome of pending and future litigation, the
success of future acquisitions and other strategic
transactions and the impact of competition - a number of
which factors are beyond blinkx's control. As a result,
blinkx's actual future results may differ materially from
the plans, goals, and expectations set forth in blinkx's
forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements
made herein by or on behalf of blinkx speak only as of the
date they are made. Except as required by the FSA, AIM or
applicable law, blinkx expressly disclaims any obligation or
undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to
any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement
to reflect any changes in blinkx's expectations with
regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Exchange Rates
US$ amounts in this announcement have been converted into £
Sterling at an exchange rate of US$1.6082 = £1, the rate
prevailing at close of business in London on 8 November 2011,
the latest practicable time and date prior to this
announcement.
APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT
1. Introduction
The Acquisition has taken place today (being
"Closing") on the terms, and subject to the
conditions, set out in the definitive stock purchase
agreement (the "Acquisition Agreement") entered
into between the Company, PVMG, the holders of all of the
issued ordinary and preferred stock (the "PVMG
Shares") in the capital of PVMG (together, the
"Sellers") and the Sellers' Representative. The
principal terms of the Acquisition Agreement are set out
below.
2. Consideration
The Company has paid US$36 million (£22.4 million) (the
"Purchase Price") in cash to the Sellers, in
consideration for the acquisition of all of the PVMG Shares,
from which the following amounts have been deducted:
(i) US$921,380, being the aggregate of the MIU Payments, as
defined in this paragraph. Participants in PVMG's
management incentive unit plan ("MIU Participants")
were entitled to a payment for vested management incentive
units held by each such MIU Participant at the date of
Closing pursuant to the terms of that plan (an "MIU
Payment"). The Company has agreed to pay to each MIU
Participant his or her MIU Payment on Closing (or on the next
payroll date of PVMG following Closing). The MIU Payment
actually received by a MIU Participant is subject to the
deduction of any applicable taxes and deductions;
(ii) US$1,128,507, being the Unvested MIU Amount, as defined
in this paragraph. The "Unvested MIU Amount" is
equal to the amount of consideration that MIU Participants
would have received for unvested management incentive units
if such units had been vested at the date of Closing. The
Company has agreed to pay a portion of the Unvested MIU
Amount to certain of the PVMG employees one year after the
date of Closing provided that each such employee remains in
service with PVMG through such payment date;
(iii) US$435,152.78, being the aggregate amount of the
Specified Payments, as defined in this paragraph. Two former
employees of PVMG agreed at the time of their respective
terminations to defer payment of an amount of their
compensation until the time PVMG underwent a liquidity event
or change of control. The Acquisition triggers the payment of
the deferred compensation (the "Specified
Payments"), and the Company has agreed to pay the
Specified Payments directly to the former employees on
Closing (or on the next payroll date of PVMG following
Closing, if the Specified Payments are subject to the
deduction of applicable taxes and deductions);
(iv) US$5,206,248.30, being the Indebtedness of PVMG being
paid at Closing, defined as: (a) any indebtedness for
borrowed money; (b) any obligations evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments; (c) any
obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services or deferred management fees, except trade accounts
payable and other current liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business; (d) any obligations as lessee under
capitalised leases; (e) any indebtedness created or arising
under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement
with respect to acquired property; (f) any obligations;
contingent or otherwise, under acceptance credit, letters of
credit or similar facilities, and (g) any guarantee of any of
the foregoing. The Company paid an amount equal to the
Indebtedness to PVMG (or to the relevant creditor on its
behalf) at Closing;
(v) US$3,600,000, being the Indemnity Escrow Funds (as more
particularly described below);
(vi) US$200,000, being the Working Capital Escrow Amount (as
more particularly described below);
and
(vii) US$497,595, being the transaction expenses, which were
paid by the Company on Closing.
3. Escrow
The Indemnity Escrow Funds, the Working Capital Escrow Amount
and the Unvested MIU Amount have each been paid into an
escrow account (the "Escrow Account") operated by
U.S. Bank (the "Escrow Agent"), and are held by the
Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of an escrow agreement
entered into between the Company, the Sellers, the
Sellers' Representative and the Escrow Agent.
The Indemnity Escrow Funds will be used to satisfy claims by
the Company under the representations and warranties
described below. Within 30 days of the completion of the
annual audit of the financial statements of the Company for
the year ending on 31 March 2012 (and in any event no later
than 30 June 2012), an amount in cash equal to 50% of the
Indemnity Escrow Funds (after having first deducted all
amounts released from the Indemnity Escrow Funds prior to
such date and the aggregate amount of all claims outstanding
under any notice of claim for breach of the representations
or warranties described below delivered on or prior to such
date and which remain pending on such date) shall be released
to the Sellers from the Escrow Account. Within 30 days of the
completion of the annual audit of the financial statements of
the Company for the year ending on 31 March 2013 (and in any
event no later than 30 June 2013) (the "Second Release
Date"), the balance of the Indemnity Escrow Funds (after
having first deducted the aggregate amount of all claims
outstanding under any notice of claim for breach of the
representations or warranties described below delivered on or
prior to such date and which remain pending on such date)
shall be released to the Sellers from the Escrow Account.
The Working Capital Escrow Amount will be used to satisfy any
amount by which PVMG's working capital at Closing is
calculated (on the terms set out in the Acquisition
Agreement) to be less than negative US$75,040, in which event
the Company shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to
the shortfall from the Working Capital Escrow Amount and (if
the shortfall exceeds the Working Capital Escrow Amount) the
Indemnity Escrow Funds. Following such event, any amount of
the Working Capital Escrow Amount remaining in the Escrow
Account shall be released to the Sellers' Representative
in accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement, for
further distribution to the Sellers. In the event that the
working capital at Closing exceeds negative US$75,040, the
Working Capital Escrow Amount will be released from the
Escrow Account to the Sellers' Representative for further
distribution to the Sellers, and the Company shall pay to the
Sellers an amount equal to the amount by which the working
capital at Closing exceeds negative US$75,040.
The Sellers' Representative is entitled to reimbursement for
costs, and indemnified for losses, incurred while performing
its responsibilities under the Escrow Agreement. The Sellers'
Representative may recover its costs and losses by submitting
a claim against the Indemnity Escrow Account or the Working
Capital Escrow Account, and all amounts to be released to the
Sellers from such Account will be reduced by the amount of
any such pending or paid claim.
The Unvested MIU Amount will be released by the Escrow Agent
to the Company on the first anniversary of Closing for
payment by the Company to the employees entitled to their
respective portions of the Unvested MIU Amount in accordance
with terms provided to such employee effective upon the
Closing.
4. Representations and Warranties
PVMG has made extensive representations and warranties to the
Company with respect to the PVMG and its subsidiaries. These
include representations and warranties relating to PVMG's
and its subsidiaries' organisation, good standing,
capitalisation, authority, due authorisation, financial
statements, indebtedness, accounts receivable, taxes,
compliance with laws, title to property, condition of assets,
contracts, the absence of certain adverse events, permits, no
conflicts, consents, litigation, absence of certain changes
or events, employee benefit plans, employment matters,
environmental matters, intellectual property, insurance, the
absence of brokers or finders, bank accounts, books and
records, suppliers and product warranties. The
representations and warranties are subject to certain
exceptions as set out in the disclosure schedule attached to
the Acquisition Agreement.
In addition, the Sellers have severally, but not jointly,
made certain representations and warranties to the Company,
including with respect to their title to the PVMG Shares,
authority, due authorisation and no litigation.
The Company is also making certain representations and
warranties to the Sellers, including in relation to corporate
organisation, good standing, authority, due authorisation and
the absence of brokers or finders.
5. Covenants
The Sellers have agreed that for the 5 years following
Closing they shall keep confidential all information
concerning PVMG and its subsidiaries, subject to certain
exceptions, and that for the 3 year period following Closing
they shall not solicit the employment or engagement for
services of any employees of, or contractors or consultants
to PVMG or its subsidiaries. The Company and the Sellers have
covenanted to the effect that the Company shall make such tax
filings as may be necessary following Closing in respect of
PVMG, and the Sellers shall cooperate with the Company
insofar as is necessary to allow the Company to make such
returns, and shall retain relevant books and records for that
purpose.
6. Warranty Claims and Claims under the Covenants
Each Seller has agreed, severally, but not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its affiliates,
and their respective stockholders, members, managers,
officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and
assigns (together, the "Buyer Indemnitees") from
and against all losses arising from any breach of the
representations, warranties or covenants given by the
Sellers. The representations and warranties are referred to
in paragraph 4 above. The covenants are summarised in
paragraph 5 above.
In addition, each Seller has agreed, severally, but not
jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Buyer Indemnitees
from and against all losses caused by: (i) any breach of the
warranties and representations given by PVMG, which are
referred to in paragraph 4 above; (ii) the failure to
correctly calculate the MIU Payments, Indebtedness, Unvested
MIU Amount, and Specified Payments (in each case, referred to
in paragraph 2 above); (iii) claims arising from certain
pending litigation in which PVMG is involved, and which is
described in the disclosure schedule; (iv) claims from
persons who were officers, directors, employees or agents of
PVMG or one of its subsidiaries related to the right to
indemnification for actions taken or events which occurred
prior to Closing, and (iv) any fees, expenses or other
payments incurred or owed by a Seller, PVMG or and of its
subsidiaries to any agent, broker or investment banker etc.
in connection with the transactions contemplated by the
Acquisition Agreement.
The liability of the Sellers described above is limited to
the amount of the Indemnity Escrow Funds, other than for
claims for losses arising out of a breach of certain key
representations and warranties (such as the warranty relating
to the capitalisation of PVMG) (the "Specified
Representations") and breaches of the covenants referred
to in paragraph 5 above. In respect of the Specified
Representations and such covenants, the liability of a Seller
is limited to the amount of the Purchase Price actually
received by that Seller. In addition, the Acquisition
Agreement provides that the Sellers shall not be liable for
losses arising out of breach of representations, warranties
or covenants (other than the Specified Representations and
breaches of the covenants referred to in paragraph 5 above)
unless the aggregate of such losses exceeds US$50,000 (or
US$360,000 in the case of the representation regarding the
absence of undisclosed liabilities).
The Company has agreed to indemnify and hold harmless the
Sellers and their affiliates, and their respective
stockholders, members, managers, officers, directors,
employees, agents, successors and assigns (together, the
"Seller Indemnitees") from and against all losses
arising from any breach of the representations, warranties
and covenants given by the Company, which are referred to in
paragraphs 4 and 5 above, and any losses incurred by any
Seller Indemnitee in connection with any contract between the
Company and PVMG (or its subsidiaries).
The representations and warranties referred to above will
cease to be of further force and effect on the Second Release
Date. The liabilities of the Sellers to the Buyer Indemnitees
and the Company to the Seller Indemnitees will fall away at
that date, unless notice of a claim has been given to the
indemnifying party by the indemnified party prior to the
Second Release Date and such claim is pending on the Second
Release Date.
7. Governing Law
The Acquisition Agreement is governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware.
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