TMP Worldwide Inc., a provider of recruitment
solutions including Monster.com and operator of a Yellow Pages
advertising agency acquired online marketing agency IN2 Inc., also in New York.
IN2 Inc., which TMP said is central to its growth in the online advertising
market, was acquired on May 28, by issuing approximately 289,000 common
shares; the transaction was accounted for as a pooling of interests. TMP
stock closed Thursday at 55 5/8.
IN2 clients include iVillage, StarMedia, About.com, Columbia House, CMP Media
and Furniture.com. As many of TMP’s Yellow Page clients migrate their key
businesses to the Web, IN2 will provide them with online marketing solutions
and will continue to expand its own interactive client base and develop
technology solutions, TMP said.
For TMP Worldwide, this acquisition marks the establishment of two new
business units within the company — Interactive Direct Marketing and
Interactive Technologies.
Interactive Direct Marketing will consist of a national and, eventually, an
international network of online marketing agencies. Interactive Technologies
will focus on building and integrating interactive marketing technologies.
“TMP greatly believes in the Internet’s efficiency as a powerful one-to-one marketing
vehicle,” said Andrew J. McKelvey, chairman and CEO of TMP Worldwide. “With the creation of these groups and a determined commitment to the
further development of these services, TMP will look to increase its presence
in marketing technologies, advertising networks and data mining capabilities.”
Interactive Technologies’ first product, ClickMaps, is an advertising tool
that measures return on investment (ROI) and provides behavioral analysis. It
is currently measuring over two million advertising interactions per day, the
company said.
Adding to its Yellow Page operations, TMP also acquired LIDA Advertising
Inc., based in Indianapolis, and Yellow Pages Unlimited, based in St. Louis.