Livingstone targets Communisis for Ai Data Intelligence

December 2008

Livingstone Partners, has advised independent data and analysis services company, Ai Data Intelligence on its sale to Communisis, the leading provider of print & marketing communications services. Livingstone Partners’ media:tech team advised the shareholders of Ai on the deal.

Ai helps its clients use data more effectively in the acquisition, development and retention of profitable customers. Its clients include RBS, BT, Lloyds TSB, Barclays and Vodafone. Ai’s senior management team of John Regan, CEO, Jason Batten, COO and Jon Cano-Lopez, MD will continue to head up the new division within Communisis.

Communisis acquired Ai for £12.6m in cash. In the year to August 2008, Ai reported revenue of £6.7m, EBITDA of £0.9m and EBT of £0.75m. The Livingstone Partners’ media:tech team advised the shareholders of Ai on the sale. Ai’s senior management team of John Regan, CEO, Jason Batten, COO and Jon Cano-Lopez, MD will continue to head up the new division within Communisis.

“We are delighted to be acquiring Ai” says Steve Vaughan, CEO of Communisis, “It is an attractive and high quality business, with strong management that has a track record of building long-term contractual relationships with clients. The team at Ai is excellent at providing high quality analysis and segmentation to drive smarter campaigns. It is a perfect fit with our strategy.”

“Not only are we proud to have worked with a company with the calibre and reputation of Ai but we’re also delighted to be able to demonstrate that there are still deals to be done in this sector, despite the current market conditions”, says Daniel Domberger, Director at Livingstone Partners.

Michelle Holford, Deal Originator at Livingstone Partners added, “The strategic fit between Ai and Communisis was crucial. We are confident that the acquisition will provide a significant enhancement to the Communisis offering, which can only be good news for the industry.”

“We were very impressed with the Livingstone team’s tenacity throughout the entire process”, says John Regan, CEO of Ai Data Intelligence. “They showed considerable depth of knowledge of the marketing services industry and were quickly able to identify a strategic partner. Joining the Communisis group will give Ai the resources and complementary services we need to move the business forward."

For further information contact:
Michelle Holford
T: 020 7484 4715
E: mholford@livingstonepartners.co.uk

Daniel Domberger:
T: 020 7484 4731
E: ddomberber@livingstonepartners.co.uk

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