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FeedRoom Acquired By KIT Digital For Mere $10 Million in Stock; After $61 Million Funding

TheFeedRoom, the grandaddy of online video and streaming services companies, has been acquired by international video tech provider KIT Digital, for about $10 million, all in stock. FeedRoom has been around since 1999, and has raised at least $61 million since launching. Also, KIT is announcing another acquisition: German video provider Nunet AG, which it bought by international talent agency and production company IMG, for about $11.1 million. Nunet is primarily focused on mobile video delivery, and has clients such as SFR, Vodafone (NYSE: VOD), Discovery Channel, and MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA), among others. The total price paid for the two companies was about $20.9 million, of which $9.8 million was paid in stock, $7.9 million was paid in cash and $3.3 million of debt was assumed in the form of a convertible promissory note. Release.

As part of the FeedRoom deal, the company’s controlling shareholders-NewSpring Ventures, BEV Capital and Velocity Equity Partners - invested $4.0 million in KIT Digital common shares, at a price of $11 per share, through the conversion of The FeedRoom Series F Preferred Shares purchased at closing.

KIT says the two acquisitions are expected to add $17.5 million of current, annualized revenues, and more than $4.5 million in annualized EBITDA. In Jan, KIT’s management said they expected to generate at least $40 million in revenue with approximately 10 percent operating margin for the year. Nunet has 56 employees, who will remain based in Cologne under the new ownership. Many of The FeedRoom’s 53 employees will join KIT digital’s operations in NYC, while The FeedRoom’s offices in Seattle and Boston will remain.

KIT was formerly known as Roo and based in NYC, but after a bunch of exec scandals and management changes, it moved shop to Dubai and changed its name.

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Oct 5, 2009 1:10 PM ET

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Posted In: Money, M&A & Venture Capital, Mergers & Acquisitions, Countries, Europe, Germany, kit digital, thefeedroom

  • Mike Mora

    In December 2008 the current management team took over the company from the ROO people who had very little knowledge about the future of online video.
    Any "scandal" was not of their doing as the the principals of a company they had bought brought unforeseen issues with them. KITD disposed of them and that entity as soon as they took over the company.
    Current management had relocated to Dubai as 90% of their client base was EU/MENA based.
    They moved their headquarters to Prague last month.
    The acquisition FeedRoom NunetAG really is a "coup", allowing them to reenter the US as a direct competitor to Brightcove on their home turf.
    KIT Digital was already the sector leader in Europe and the Middle East.

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