Integral Advert Science, or IAS, an adtech agency specializing in advert verification and measurement, has been acquired by Canadian non-public fairness group Novacap in a deal price $1.9 billion, the businesses introduced at the moment.
IAS operates cloud- and AI-based know-how that gives impartial verification and measurement of digital advert campaigns throughout channels and units. The corporate has exhibited robust monetary efficiency lately, tallying a income progress charge of greater than 12% over the previous three years.
The brand new association will take IAS non-public. It had beforehand been listed on the Nasdaq, buying and selling underneath the ticker IAS since June 2021.
As a part of the settlement, Novacap will purchase all the excellent shares of IAS for $10.30 in money every, representing a premium of about 22% on the corporate’s Sept. 23 closing share worth.
IAS management signaled pleasure for the backing. Underneath the possession of Novacap, CEO Lisa Utzschneider stated in a press release, the adtech agency “may have entry to new assets to attain our strategic targets and additional construct upon the differentiated worth,” which she believes will assist speed up the “mission to be the worldwide benchmark for belief and transparency in digital media high quality.”
Amid acquisition rumors late final 12 months, IAS raised charges, as ADWEEK beforehand reported.
Novacap accomplice Samuel Nasso stated in a press release: “We’ve got lengthy admired IAS as an innovator and chief in its trade, with a stellar management workforce and sturdy AI-first platform for Fortune 500 manufacturers and publishers. We sit up for partnering carefully with IAS to speed up its tempo of innovation to ship much more highly effective promoting options for patrons around the globe.”
Novacap primarily focuses on middle-market buyouts of firms throughout tech, digital, and monetary companies. Earlier this 12 months, it raised about $1 billion for a fund designated for investments in digital infrastructure.
Now, Vista Fairness Companions — which acquired a majority stake in IAS in 2018 — will again out of its funding. The agency’s senior managing director and chair of the IAS board Michael Fosnaugh expressed his help for the change, saying in a press release: “By means of our partnership, IAS expanded its AI-powered platform, deepened buyer relationships, and scaled into a real class chief. We’re excited for Lisa and her workforce as they proceed that journey with Novacap.”
The acquisition, unanimously accepted by the IAS board of administrators, is anticipated to shut later this 12 months, pending regulatory approval. The transaction isn’t contingent on any particular financing circumstances.
