VCT News
Beringea Backs Optima in WDIS Acquisition
15 May 2007 - London - Beringea, manager of the top-performing ProVen VCTs has been the lead investor in the acquisition of WDIS Ltd, a specialist business-to-business data management company, by Optima Data Intelligence Limited ("Optima").
Optima, a data management and business generation company, provides on-going marketing support to organisations, through a web-based technology platform including data hosting, on-going verification, data cleaning, telemarketing, lead management, direct mail and bespoke areas. The company acquired WDIS Limited from Wilmington Media Limited.
WDIS is a leading data intelligence company providing database and circulation management services to media owners of business-to-business and specialist consumer titles and is highly regarded for the quality of its services.
The acquisition of WDIS is the initial phase of an overall strategy which will see Optima provide powerful end-to-end and integrated data intelligence solutions for media owners. Commenting on the purchase, Optima Chief Executive, Roger Patey, said "Increasingly, media owners are looking to unlock the value of the data they hold to exploit emerging opportunities across a multi-channel environment, especially but not exclusively within their core business communities. Combined with Optima's existing business generation, telemarketing and data services solutions, this extends its growing online & traditional portfolio to the media sector."
Trevor Hope of Beringea Ltd, commented: "During the last nine months we have worked closely with Roger and his team in identifying key data intelligence assets. The acquisition of WDIS, a carve out from the quoted Wilmington Plc, is the first stage in an exciting buy and build strategy."
Beringea has backed the acquisition through its ProVen and ProVen Growth & Income VCTs, and is supported in the transaction by Chasophie Ltd and Chrysalis VCT.
About Optima
Optima is a data management and business generation company specialising in providing data intelligence services to Media owners and their client companies. Optima uses web-based technology platforms providing circulation and subscription management services, audience research, verification, data cleaning, telemarketing, lead management, web and email services, marketing support, direct mail and bespoke areas.
About Beringea Ltd
Beringea Ltd. is an international private equity and investment banking firm with offices in London, Detroit, Los Angeles and Shanghai. Beringea is the manager of funds including Proven VCT, ProVen Growth & Income VCT, and Global Rights Fund II, amongst others.
Beringea launched its first VCT in 1996, making it one of the most experienced VCT managers in the UK. ProVen VCT and ProVen Growth & Income are the highest performing VCTs of their launch years, according to www.taxefficientreview.com. In 2006 the Association of Investment Companies named ProVen Growth & Income as its highest performing VCT member.
www.beringea.com / www.provenvcts.com
Beringea Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
FSA FRN: 138888