Gannett Acquires All of ShopLocal LLC
McLEAN, VA – Gannett said today it had acquired, in separate transactions, the ownership stakes of partners Tribune Company and The McClatchy Company in ShopLocal LLC, the top marketing and database services company for most major retailers in the USA.
ShopLocal will work in conjunction with PointRoll, also owned by Gannett, to create ads that dynamically connect retail advertisers and consumers, online and in the store. PointRoll is the Web’s leading rich media company.
“Only Gannett can combine the tools and innovation of ShopLocal with the marketing and creative acumen of PointRoll. This unique synergy will allow us to supercharge our ad services business and deliver more value to our customers,” said Jack Williams, president of Gannett Digital Ventures. “The end result will be a deeper, richer customer database, marketing and sales strategies that connect with advertisers’ needs and access to broader ad networks. This is a strategic win for everyone involved.”
Said Chris Saridakis, senior vice president and chief digital officer for Gannett: “ShopLocal and PointRoll have always been focused on innovation, client service and loyal customers. Together, they can drive those skills to new heights, develop great products, broaden their distribution and better serve their customers.”
Tribune owned 42.5% of ShopLocal and McClatchy owned 15%. The companies remain partners with Gannett in a number of ventures, including CareerBuilder, Classified Ventures and Topix.net. Tribune and Gannett also jointly own Metromix, a national network of local entertainment Web sites, and are partners in quadrantOne, an online advertising venture.
About ShopLocal
ShopLocal, the leader in multi-channel shopping and advertising services, offers a complete suite of innovative solutions that connect advertisers and consumers — online and in-store. ShopLocal’s industry-leading SmartProduct business solutions (SmartCircular, SmartMedia, SmartDelivery and SmartCatalog) enable more than 100 of the nation’s top retailers, including Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, CVS, Albertsons and Sears, to deliver highly interactive, targeted and localized promotions to shoppers via the Internet, mobile phones and any other digital environment.
About PointRoll
PointRoll offers a solution to the limited performance of standard banner ads by effectively bringing a mini Web site to the user without requiring a click. PointRoll’s superior rich media technology and service enable advertisers to connect with consumers by creating an interactive online environment that generates conversion. With interactive features such as streaming video, polling, instant e-mail, data collection and more, marketers can easily create and deliver ads that build brand awareness and drive sales. The result: great creative controlled by the user and improved ad effectiveness-without the negative experience associated with intrusive technologies. Additionally, PointRoll delivers comprehensive, real-time reporting that definitively illustrates return on investment.
About Gannett
Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE: GCI) is a leading international news and information company that publishes 85 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation’s largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns nearly 900 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom’s second-largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes nearly 300 titles, including 17 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett also operates 23 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.
For media inquiries:
Tara Connell
Vice President of Corporate Communications
(703) 854-6049
tjconnel@gannett.com