New York City-based 24/7 Media Inc.is taking a $4 million
majority stake in London-based InterAd Holdings Ltd. and launching a European
ad network called 24/7 Media Europe.
Separately, 24/7 said it plans an additional public offering of 4 million
shares of common stock (see story below).
Under the terms of the deal, 24/7 Media will own 60 percent of InterAd
Holdings, which will be renamed 24/7 Media Europe Ltd., and its regionally
incorporated offices throughout Europe, effectively making it a subsidiary of
the publicly traded company.
24/7 Media said it purchased the interest of a selling stockholder and
provided the European operation with a significant investment that will
enable it to continue expanding its operations throughout Europe and beyond.
The deal in total is valued at approximately $4 million. Together, the
companies will sell advertising, sponsorship and e-commerce solutions in their
respective territories from both the 24/7 Network and the 24/7 Media Europe
Network site portfolios.
The 24/7 Media Europe Network will be comprised of Web sites in demand by
European-national and pan-European advertisers, as well as by global
advertisers seeking targeted, language-specific advertising.
The European network currently represents 238 million impressions per month on
64 individual sites. 24/7 Media Europe will feature eight sales offices in
seven European countries, and will offer pan-European online advertising
solutions available on a local national basis. 24/7 launched 24/7 Media Asia in September of 1998.
“We’ve spent the past year firmly establishing 24/7 as a leading online
advertising and direct marketing company in the U.S.,” said David J. Moore,
CEO of 24/7 Media. “As a result, we are now in a better position than ever to
expand into Europe. InterAd is one of
Europe’s most effective and highly-respected sales groups, and our agreement
with them clearly adds a formidable global dimension to our business.”
“We’re pleased to collaborate with 24/7 Media and its team of creative media
experts,” said Gordon Simpson, CEO of InterAd Holdings Ltd. “With our shared
strengths in providing strategic media and marketing-based solutions, we’re
convinced that this partnership will contribute significantly to the future
success of both our companies.”
InterAd Holdings Ltd. was formed by the European staff of Softbank Interactive
Marketing about the time the latter was taken over by Zulu-tek.. InterAd’s regional offices are
located in Barcelona, Brussels, Hamburg, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, and Paris..
24/7 Media, which says it reaches about half of all online users in the U.S.,
operates The 24/7 Network comprised of more than 125 name-brand Web sites
organized into content channels, as well as The ContentZone, a network of more
than 2,500 small to medium
sites. In addition, the company owns and operates 24/7 Profilz, an online co-op database of Web user profiles that can be deployed with 24/7’s Adfinity adserving system.
