Acquires Top 50 Web Property in the U.S
and a Leading Platform for News
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES/
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 25, 2015 /CNW/ - Frankly Inc. (the "Company" or "Frankly") (TSX-V: TLK), a next-generation chat technology platform that brings dynamic conversation and direct consumer engagement to digital properties, today announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of all of the units of Gannaway Web Holdings, LLC, d/b/a WorldNow ("WorldNow"), for total consideration of US$45 million.
"We are very excited to close this transaction and accelerate Frankly's strategic plans," said Steve Chung, Chairman and CEO of Frankly. "With the integration of WorldNow's platform for local news content and Frankly's chat platform, we have effectively combined two of the most powerful social engagement categories in mobile today, and now reach over 100 million monthly active users across 450 properties. Together, the combined company will be able to provide enterprises, brands and media companies a one stop shop to grow their audience, build engagement, and increase revenue generation across mobile and web platforms with first-in-class data capabilities."
WorldNow's revenue and EBITDA have grown steadily in the past five years, reporting over US$26 million in revenue and US$6.5 million in EBITDA in 2014, and the company currently serves 4 billion ad impressions per month.
"This combination will allow us to rapidly elevate the native mobile services our customers are seeking as they look for one vendor to address multiple friction points in the management and delivery of content to desktop, mobile and other IP connected screens," said Lou Schwartz, President of Media at Frankly. "The WorldNow strategy has always been to enable local broadcasters and TV stations to connect to viewers digitally. WorldNow accomplished this by providing the leading platform to centrally manage digital workflows. With the combination of the Frankly platform and the WorldNow technology, we will now enable our customers to better engage with their users by leveraging Frankly's unique mobile expertise and messaging technology, from one centrally managed location, to drive higher personalization, targeting and revenue."
WorldNow's network is one of the top 50 most visited digital sites in the United States, and powers one of the largest networks of local news content on mobile and web platforms in the United States, according to comScore, Inc.
Frankly has appointed Joseph G. Fiveash, III, Vice President, Digital Media, Strategy and Business Development of Raycom Media, Inc., as a member of Frankly's board of directors, Lou Schwartz as President of the Media Division of Frankly, Harrison Shih as President of the Platform Division of Frankly and Inna Vartelsky as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Global Controller of Frankly, replacing Lena Masters. In addition, Mr. Jung Woo Sung has stepped down as a director of Frankly.
Conference Call Information
Frankly will host a conference call on August 26, 2015 at 8:30am ET to discuss the closing of the transaction and address questions. To access the conference call, dial:
Dial-In Number: |
647-427-7450 or 1-888-231-8191 |
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Conference Id: |
17834271 |
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Taped Replay: |
416-849-0833 or 1-855-859-2056 Reference Number 17834271 Available until Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at midnight |
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Live Webcast: |
Webcast will be archived for 90 Days |
About Frankly
Frankly provides a platform and first-in-class data capabilities for enterprises, brands, and media companies to grow their audience, build engagement, and generate revenue at scale across their digital properties. Frankly's Chat Service is a white-labeled messaging platform that gives top brands and influencers access to unique customer interactions and insights. In addition, Frankly builds publishing, content management, and video workflow management tools for local news broadcasters across the United States. Founded in 2013, Frankly is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with offices in New York City. The Company is publicly traded under ticker TLK on Canada's TSX Venture Exchange. To learn more, please visit www.franklyinc.com or email [email protected].
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information
This release includes forward-looking statements, including with respect to: the integration of WorldNow into Frankly's business; the business plan and strategies of Frankly; the combined company's financial position and growth prospects; the ability to generate increased revenue as a result of the business combination; and Frankly's anticipated future results. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "foresee", "could", "estimate", "goal", "intend", "plan", "seek", "strive", "will", "may" and "should" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements reflect current estimates, beliefs and assumptions, which are based on Frankly's perception and interpretation of trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Frankly's estimates, beliefs and assumptions are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and other uncertainties and contingencies regarding future events and as such, are subject to change. Frankly can give no assurance that such estimates, beliefs and assumptions will prove to be correct, and there can be no assurance that the anticipated strategic benefits and operational, competitive and cost synergies of the transaction will be realized.
Numerous risks and uncertainties could cause the combined company's actual results to differ materially from the estimates, beliefs and assumptions expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: failure to realize anticipated results; failure to realize benefits from the combined company's IT systems or their implementation; unanticipated results from these initiatives; the inability of the combined company's IT infrastructure to support the requirements of the combined company's business; heightened competition; changes in economic conditions; damage to the reputation of brands promoted by the combined company; changes in the combined company's income, commodity, other tax and regulatory liabilities including changes in tax laws, as well as but not limited to, the risks described in the Company's management's discussions and analysis and the annual information form of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2014, under the heading "Risk Factors", available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect Frankly's expectations only as of the date of this news release. Frankly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
To learn more about Frankly, please visit www.franklyinc.com.
SOURCE Frankly Inc.
For further information: Conrad Seguin, NATIONAL | Equicom, 416.815.0700 x251, [email protected]; or Frankly Inc., Steve Chung, Chief Executive Officer, 415.861.9797
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