Acquisition

Acquisition

Next Fifteen Communications Plc

Next Fifteen acquires digital agency Bourne

Full-service agency enhances Group’s global, digital offering

Next Fifteen Communications Group plc, a worldwide digital marketing communications group, has announced the acquisition of CMG Worldwide Limited, trading as Bourne, a global, full-service digital agency with offices in Glasgow, London and New York.

Bourne is the latest investment by Next Fifteen in the digital marketing arena. Last year it acquired Type 3 to create Beyond, its first pure digital agency. It also acquired OneXeno in Hong Kong to extend its Bite agency’s capabilities. Bite also recently acquired a small web build and hosting firm, ILS, also based in Hong Kong.

Bourne provides high value, strategic planning services across all digital channels. It is headquartered in Glasgow and has clients that include: Dell, Ricoh, Lumesse and Symantec.

Tim Dyson, Next Fifteen CEO, said: “All Next Fifteen’s agencies are focused on delivering world class digital strategies and campaigns. Bourne significantly extends our digital marketing capabilities, enabling us to expand the services we sell to our current clients.”

“Marketing directors are rapidly shifting spend from areas such as traditional advertising and direct mail to digital channels. Through the services that Bourne offers – ranging from strategic planning and creative services through to content development, optimisation and demand generation – we have an opportunity to benefit from this transition,” added Dyson.

The move gives Next Fifteen an 80% shareholding in Bourne, a business with £2.5m of revenue in calendar 2010 delivering adjusted profits before interest and tax of £750,000. The initial consideration for the share purchase is £1.95m satisfied in cash with further payments, at multiples of PBIT ranging between 5 and 7, dependent on the PBIT and margin levels achieved by Bourne over the period to 31 July 2014. There will be an interim cash payment made in October 2012 and a final payment in October 2014, satisfied by a mixture of cash and shares in Next Fifteen at the Company’s discretion. The remaining 20% holding in Bourne is the subject of put and call options and it is anticipated that these shares will be acquired by October 2018.

Dan Kersh, CEO, Bourne, added, “We began our business with a clear focus on delivering digital strategies and campaigns on a global basis. Underpinning this was the fundamental importance of developing fully integrated digital content and social strategies. Therefore it was unquestionable that Next Fifteen would be a perfect partner for Bourne, not just by giving us greater breadth for our existing global clients, but also to add strength to our long-term vision.

With all of this in mind we are enthused about joining the Next Fifteen Group and look forward to building on the outstanding work that has been done thus far by the Bourne team.”

Name of contacts and telephone number for queries:

Next Fifteen Communications Group plc
Tim Dyson, CEO 001 415 350 2801Tim Dyson, CEO 001 415 350 2801
David Dewhurst, Finance Director 0208 846 0771David Dewhurst, Finance Director 0208 846 0771

Bite Communications Limited
Elijah Lawal 0787 574 2995Elijah Lawal 0787 574 2995
Will Hill 07970 404917Will Hill 07970 404917
Paul Mackender 07764 687366Paul Mackender 07764 687366

Canaccord Genuity Limited
Mark WilliamsMark Williams
Henry Fitzgerald-O`Connor 020 7050 6500 Henry Fitzgerald-O`Connor 020 7050 6500