December 2008

Firms merge to form bilingual ad network

Two Internet advertising networks will be joining forces to form a bilingual ad network. Branchez-Vous Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire NetWorldMedia Inc. in a stock transaction valued at more than $4.6 million. Branchez-Vous will acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of 4306112 Canada Inc., which owns NetWorldMedia and minority stakes in several Quebec-based Web sites.

Expected to close by the end of this year, the arrangement will create a bilingual online ad network representing nearly 500 Web sites, including 300 exclusively, which reach 12 million unique online visitors each month.

“This acquisition will establish Branchez-Vous as the dominant advertising network in French Canada and places us in a strong position to profit from the explosive growth of the Internet advertising market across Canada,” said Patrick Pierra, CEO of Branchez-Vous, in a statement.

The firm sells Internet advertising space for more than 200 French-language Web sites, including 50 Web sites on an exclusive basis. Its network reaches more than three million French Canadians each month. The Montreal-based Internet media company reported sales in excess of $4.3 million for the fiscal year that ended Dec. 31, 2007.

In its own right, NetWorldMedia represents approximately 250 Web sites exclusively, which reach more than nine million unique visitors per month— including 5.5 million in Quebec. It reported sales of $4.5 million for its fiscal year that ended April 30.