Today’s Deals: Internet Tech Media Firms Get Hitched

CNET Networks +
ZDNet
, Conexant Systems + NetPlane Systems, Digital Impact + MineShare,
GetThere +
AllMeetings
, Net2Phone + Aplio, TMP
Worldwide + QD Group
, Turnstone Systems + Paragon
Solutions















































 CNET Networks (CNET) acquires ZDNet
(ZDZ)

 

  
* 
Amount:
         $1.6
billion

 

  
* 
Terms:
           
50 million shares

 

  
* 
Premium:
        n/a

 

  
* 
Industry:
       
Content/Communities

 

  
* 
Scorecard:
      B

 



    SAN FRANCISCO, July 19–CNET Networks and
    ZDNet announced that they have signed a
    definitive merger agreement by which CNET
    will acquire ZDNet to provide technology
    information and related services to businesses and individuals across
    multiple platforms, including online, wireless devices, television, radio
    and print. To effect the acquisition of ZDNet, CNET Networks will acquire
    the outstanding common stock of Ziff-Davis, Inc. .
    Each share of ZD common stock will be converted into 0.3397 shares of CNET
    common stock and each share of ZDNet common stock will be converted into
    0.5932 shares of CNET common stock. CNET expects to issue approximately 50
    million shares of common stock in the transaction, valued at approximately
    $1.6 billion. Read analysis of this deal in Kelly Black’s
    DealTracker.


     

 
































 TMP Worldwide (TMPW) to acquire QD
Group

 

  
* 
Amount:
        
Undisclosed

 

  
* 
Terms:
           
n/a

 

  
* 
Premium:
        n/a

 

  
* 
Industry:
        Internet
services

 

  
* 
Scorecard:
      B+

 



    LONDON, July 19–TMP Worldwide , provider
    of global recruitment solutions, including the Internet career portal, Monster.com, announced plans to acquire
    international legal recruitment specialists, QD Group, establishing
    TMP Worldwide’s Executive Resourcing division as a leading global player in
    the legal recruitment market outside the United States, both in terms of
    fee income and geographical reach. QD Legal has long been established as a
    leading legal recruitment firm in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, and
    additionally operates in mid-market recruitment for the marketing, finance,
    technology and career counselling sectors. Terms of the agreement were not
    disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close in September.


     

 
































 Turnstone Systems (TSTN) acquires Paragon
Solutions

 

  
* 
Amount:
        
Undisclosed

 

  
* 
Terms:
           
n/a

 

  
* 
Premium:
        n/a

 

  
* 
Industry:
       
Speed/Bandwidth

 

  
* 
Scorecard:
      B-

 



    SANTA CLARA, July 19–Turnstone Systems
    announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Paragon
    Solutions Limited
    . New Zealand-based Paragon has a proven track record of
    delivering quality telecom products for leading manufacturers and is well
    suited to bolster Turnstone’s
    ability to deliver new products as a provider of hardware and software
    products that enable local exchange carriers to rapidly deploy and
    efficiently maintain DSL services. Financial terms were not disclosed.


     

 































 Digital Impact (DIGI) to acquire
MineShare

 

  
* 
Amount:
         $34
million

 

  
* 
Terms:
           
2 million shares

 

  
* 
Premium:
        n/a

 

  
* 
Industry:
       
Advertising/Marketing

 

  
* 
Scorecard:
      C+

 



    SAN MATEO, July 19–E-marketing firm Digital Impact announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to
    acquire MineShare, a customer intelligence and analysis company
    based in Santa Monica, Calif. With the acquisition of MineShare, Digital Impact will offer its clients
    analytical tools and reporting capabilities enabling its clients to have an
    integrated program for acquiring, retaining and analyzing their customers.
    Digital Impact will acquire 100% of MineShare in exchange for approximately
    2 million shares of Digital Impact common stock, valued at approximately
    $34 million.


     

 
































 GetThere (GTHR) acquires AllMeetings

 

  
* 
Amount:
         $25
million

 

  
* 
Terms:
           
cash and stock

 

  
* 
Premium:
        n/a

 

  
* 
Industry:
        Internet
services

 

  
* 
Scorecard:
      B-

 



    MENLO PARK, July 19–GetThere , announced
    it has agreed to acquire AllMeetings Corporation of Las Vegas,
    Nevada for approximately $25 million in cash and stock. The AllMeetings acquisition will allow GetThere to deliver the first integrated
    online corporate travel and meeting management system, adding to its
    current system for corporate intranet travel procurement a platform to
    serve

    meeting planners who spend more than $120 billion a year on events
    and meetings.


     

 
































 Net2Phone (NTOP) acquires Aplio

 

  
* 
Amount:
        
Undisclosed

 

  
* 
Terms:
           
cash and stock

 

  
* 
Premium:
        n/a

 

  
* 
Industry:
        Internet
services

 

  
* 
Scorecard:
      B+

 



    HACKENSACK, N.J., July 19–Net2Phone , a
    provider of voice-enhanced communications services, announced that it has
    acquired Aplio, S.A., an integrator of VoIP technologies,
    strengthening Net2Phone’s ability to
    quickly deliver highly integrated, cost-effective voice enabled Internet
    solutions to consumers and businesses worldwide. Aplio uses embedded Linux as its technology
    platform, enabling Net2Phone to benefit from Aplio’s Linux capabilities in
    addition to its own Unix capabilities. Financial terms were not disclosed.


     

 
































 Conexant Systems (CNXT) to acquire NetPlane
Systems

 

  
* 
Amount:
         $140
million

 

  
* 
Terms:
           
2.7 million shares

 

  
* 
Premium:
        n/a

 

  
* 
Industry:
       
Speed/Bandwidth

 

  
* 
Scorecard:
      B

 



    NEWPORT BEACH, July 19–Conexant Systems
    announced that it has agreed to acquire NetPlane Systems of Dedham,
    Mass. in an all-stock transaction. NetPlane’s software offering will
    complement Conexant’s communications
    semiconductor portfolio and accelerate the company’s entry into the network
    switching business. NetPlane will join Conexant’s Network Access Division,
    which provides a broad range of semiconductor system solutions for
    multi-service access, broadband access and wide area network transport
    equipment.


     

 

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