Mobile Streams Regulatory News (MOS)

7 Aug 2006 07:01

Mobile Streams plc07 August 2006 Mobile Streams strengthens US presence with acquisition of The Nickels Group Mobile Streams, the global mobile music and media specialist, is pleased toannounce the acquisition of The Nickels Group, the California-based mobileproduction company. The Nickels Group specialises in the licensing anddistribution of urban music, currently the highest selling genre of music in theUS. The deal will significantly strengthen Mobile Streams' content generationand distribution business as well as providing a strategic foothold on the Westcoast of America. Mobile Streams and The Nickels Group already operate a number of successfulstrategic partnerships, jointly developing and distributing mobile contentchannels including Reggaeton Nation The Hyphy Movement, and the latest brandoffering from Nexxt Mobile and Paul Wall's G.R.I.T. Boys, the first mobilereality series. The acquisition of The Nickels Group will allow Mobile Streams to build on itsfast-growing range of made-for-mobile music and media content, both throughorganic development and the integration of The Nickels Group's contentportfolio, which includes artists such as Paul Wall's G.R.I.T. Boys, TegoCalderon, Voltio, and other top Hip Hop artists. In addition, Mobile Streamswill own and control original content IP, such as the Nexxt Mobile series, whichcan be leveraged across other channels such at IPTV, VOD and broadband. A presence on the US West coast will also allow Mobile Streams to manage moreclosely key customer relationships and build on existing contacts. Founders Jonas Hudson and Daryl Young will join Mobile Streams as Senior VicePresidents. Mobile Streams will fund the deal from existing cash flow, for an initialconsideration of $450,000, of which The Nickels Group will use $100,000 to buyMobile Streams shares. Deferred consideration of $240,000 will be payable overthe next two years. Simon Buckingham, CEO of Mobile Streams, said: "This deal will significantlystrengthen our position in the large and attractive US market as well as broadenour content offering in the popular urban music and media arena. The NickelsGroup is an innovative company that can acquire & produce exclusive urbancontent". Jonas Hudson from The Nickels Group said: "Mobile Streams' extensivedistribution combined with The Nickels Group's content acquisition andproduction skills provides considerable potential. We already know the MobileStreams team well and are delighted to be part of a company that can leverageour skills": Ends Enquiries Mobile Streams Victoria Tayler +44 207 1934766 Brunswick Group Laura Cummings +44 207 404 5959 Notes to Editors About Mobile Streams Mobile Streams is a leading provider of music, comedy, sport and entertainmentcontent to handsets and other wireless devices, whose mobile expertise anddistribution platform, "Vuesia," is used globally by some of the world's largestmedia groups and mobile phone networks including Vodafone, and 3 in the UK,America Movil, Movistar & TIM in Latin America, Fido & Rogers in Canada andDobson in the US. "Vuesia" is Mobile Streams' full service enterprise mobile media managementsolution. "Vuesia" facilitates content ingestion, management, delivery, billingand reporting. The Company creates, licenses and delivers quality content to Mobile NetworkOperators (MNOs) and consumers in the form of ringtones, graphics, video clipsand other products. It has developed relationships with both content owners andMNOs which enable it to act as an intermediary, providing an end-to-end serviceencompassing a broad range of elements from content licensing to contentproduction, account management and channel management. Mobile Streams has subsidiaries in Germany, the US, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico,Chile Colombia, Hong Kong and Sydney and has approximately 100 employees. For more information please go to www.mobilestreams.com About The Nickels Group The Nickels Group is a consortium of film, music and event producers who produceand acquire traditional and mobile/online content. Founded by Daryl Young andJonas Hudson, The Nickels Group has created alliances with celebrities,filmmakers, musicians and athletes to provide unique and entertaining contentfor all global mediums from digital distribution to major theatrical filmreleases. The Nickels Group mobile distribution reaches nearly 850 million usersworldwide. Current The Nickels Group projects include the feature documentary film"Reggaeton Nation: Volume 1 - Cuba" and the first Reggaeton based featurenarrative "Spin" (currently in Post-Production). Plus, the hottest Reggaetoncompilation entitled "Reggaeton Nation compilation CD - Stars of 2006 Vol.1". http://www.thenickelsgroup.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange