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NEW YORK – Digital Capital Advisors, LLC (“DCA”) is pleased to announce that their European partner, Digital Capital Advisors Europe (“DCA Europe”), has served as financial advisor to smartclip (“the Company”), a Germany-based multiscreen video and brand advertising platform, in its €50MM ($56MM) sale to RTL Group (“RTL”), a publicly traded European entertainment network. RTL acquired smartclip to strengthen its position in the high-growth multiscreen and connected TV video advertising market.
“The transaction is complementary to RTL’s investment in SpotX and represents a convergence of the broadcasting and digital worlds. RTL will be able to further monetize its TV and online user-base through cross-screen video advertising technology,” said Lydia Benkö, Managing Partner at DCA Europe.
Founded in 2008, smartclip has become an innovator and market leader in the rapidly developing online video marketing space. The Company deploys proprietary, custom-developed technology to distribute video advertising across all platforms and devices, including mobile devices, smart TVs, game consoles and set-top boxes. Based in Germany with regional offices across Europe and LATAM, smartclip has local expertise and executes country-specific projects along with international campaigns for major global brands.
“RTL Group is clearly our partner of choice – and we are looking forward to jointly developing the dynamic market for online video advertising sales with our innovative solutions and services,” said Jean-Pierre Fumagalli, CEO of smartclip, who will continue leading the Company.
“The acquisition of smartclip will significantly strengthen our position as a major sales house for video advertising,” said Anke Schäferkordt, CEO of RTL Germany. “In Germany, the reach of our portfolio, and thus our advertising inventory, will grow substantially with this acquisition. At the same time it will strengthen our technological capabilities in Europe and will offer opportunities globally for innovation in cooperation with SpotX.”
RTL Group will acquire smartclip’s businesses in Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Italy. Smartclip’s businesses in Spain and Latin America are not part of the transaction, but will continue to license smartclip’s technology and brand.