M-Brain Acquires Global Intelligence Alliance


M-Brain Oy Company Announcement 4.9.2014 12:00 pm

M-Brain Acquires Global Intelligence Alliance

M-Brain Oy has today on 4.9.2014 signed an agreement to purchase the entire
share capital of Global Intelligence Alliance Group Oy (GIA). The sellers are
funds managed by CapMan Oyj, as well as GIA:s management and other individual
shareholders.

The companies will be integrated into each other during the autumn. Following
the acquisition, M-Brain will become a global Market Intelligence provider,
combining M-Brain's content production and SaaS solutions with GIA:s market
intelligence, strategic analysis and related software solutions. The combined
entity will have offices in twelve countries. The 2014 pro forma net sales will
amount to approximately euro 34,5 million and an EBITDA of approximately euro
4,5 million, excluding non-recurring items. The combined staff will amount to
450 employees. The companies complement each other perfectly. The acquisition
will result in cost synergies as well as new innovative business solutions. The
synergies are expected to take effect in 2015.

"Knowledge management and real-time market intelligence is a critical success
factor in an ever globalizing business environment", says M-Brain's Executive
Chairman Kim Nyberg. "Cost efficient solutions allowing both top management and
other functions access to coordinated intelligence have been limited".

"Now we can offer a complete market intelligence solution ranging from
consulting, information systems and intelligence best practices to intelligence
services, content creation and software."

"M-Brain is a market leader in Finland. GIA strengthens our international
position, especially in Asia and the Americas, as well as our European
operations. M-Brain will become a market leader in the Nordics and a significant
international player", Nyberg concludes.

Markko Vaarnas, CEO and co-founder of Global Intelligence Alliance Group
commented, "With CapMan as our investor since 2007, we managed to
internationalize our innovative Market Intelligence partnership concept to
global growth markets. Now we are excited to take the next step forward. With M-
Brain's market monitoring services and related technologies, we are able to
offer our clients an unparalleled spectrum of Market Intelligence content
services, software products and advisory. Together our footprint will be even
more global and we get a fast-track opportunity to bring our concept to the M-
Brain geographies where we have not yet operated. In the consolidating Market
Intelligence industry, we can together become the driving force that shapes the
industry and helps the clients to get more impact from their investments in
Market Intelligence".

M-Brain is a European based information services company with offices in seven
countries. Our services are based on a unique combination of our own proprietary
big data technology and human intelligence. We offer media and business
intelligence solutions, analytics and consultation services, as well as online
intelligence tools and technology to bring true insight into our clients'
business environment. Our solutions and services are tailored to serve varying
business needs regardless of function, industry type or language barriers.

Global Intelligence Alliance (GIA) is a strategic market intelligence and
advisory group. GIA was formed in 1995 when a team of market
intelligence specialists, management consultants, industry analysts and
technology experts came together to build a powerful suite of customized
solutions ranging from outsourced market monitoring services and software, to
strategic analysis and advisory. Today, we are the preferred partner for
organizations seeking to understand, compete and grow in international markets.
Our industry expertise and coverage of over 100 countries enables our customers
to make better informed decisions worldwide.

CapMan Group is one of the leading private equity firms in the Nordic countries
and Russia, with assets under management of approximately €3.1 billion. CapMan
has five investment partnerships - CapMan Buyout, CapMan Russia, CapMan Credit,
CapMan Public Market, and CapMan Real Estate - each of which has its own
dedicated investment team and funds. Altogether, CapMan employs approx. 100
people in Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Moscow and Luxembourg. CapMan was
established in 1989 and has been listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange since
2001.

For more information, please contact:

Kim Nyberg, Executive Chairman, M-Brain
E-mail: kim.nyberg@m-brain.com
Phone: +358 (0)400 430538

Markko Vaarnas, CEO, Global Intelligence Alliance
E-mail: markko.vaarnas@globalintelligence.com
Phone: +358 (0)40 540 3390

Certified Advisor Evli Pankki Oyj/ Petteri Nurminen
Phone: +358 (0)40 509 5665


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