woensdag 30 oktober 2013

The Tech and Newmedia focused seed-stage Monarch Tech fund, completed its second round of funding

The fund, which was raised from undisclosed high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs, invests €200,000 to €300,000 in syndicated seed rounds in tech, music, newmedia, consumer and ecommerce sectors, while holding additional funds for follow-on funding. The firm’s first seed-stage fund of just under €8 million was raised almost two years ago and boasts six exits so far. The Monarch Tech Venture Fund will be used to scale the next wave of startups ushering in the future of mobile, music, newmedia and online TV. The Monarch Tech Fund began investing in 2012 in, what was then, seen by many as a relatively niche focus of only newmedia and mobile companies. Since then it has done more early stage newmedia deals than any other fund of its size. “Our knowledge and unparalleled network in tech, newmedia, consumer and the mobile ecosystem is what sets our Tech Fund apart, and we are excited to continue to fuel amazing entrepreneurs who leverage new technology to change the way we live,” says Monarch founding general partner Bonno van der Putten. “Our international presence in both London and Barcelona allows us to find the best up-and-coming startups for us to help scale into the next hot tech and mobile trends.” The Monarch Tech fund is the first independent seed stage venture firm investing exclusively in tech, newmedia and mobile technologies. The Fund was founded on the belief that the greatest technological catalyst of our time is the proliferation of Internet-enabled devices providing constant connectivity to the majority of the world population

Richemont's Lancel: a luxury brand business struggling – Private Equity expected to come in

Richemont's Lancel: a luxury brand business struggling – Private Equity expected to come in Potential buyers of Lancel see reviving the loss-making leather goods maker as a high-risk gamble that could take at least 6-8 years to pay off, sources said. Facing a struggle to offload the business, it is believed that Swiss parent Richemont would be ready to pay for two years of losses - up to an estimated € 20 million- to entice bidders. So far private equity firms Change Capital and Lion Capital have expressed interest while Asian group Swire is looking to team up with a private equity firm to make a bid, sources said. People close to the talks say the bidding process for Lancel, which had already been going on for months, could last several more weeks. Lancel's difficulties come as the luxury sector as a whole remains resilient despite a slowdown in China, continuing to grow, although at a slower pace than in previous years. PRIVATE EQUITY The relationship between private equity and fashion brands can be difficult because the typical 3 to 5-year investment horizon may be too short to turn a label around. Private equity deals are usually financed by debt, which puts pressure on the fashion brand when it needs to invest in marketing and new shops. Lanvin, acquired by Taiwanese media magnate Shaw-Lan Wang from L'Oreal in 2001, took more than seven years to become profitable. TPG struggled for nine years to restructure the leather goods brand Bally before selling it in 2008. Industry executives say Lancel was making margins higher than Louis Vuitton - today's market leader - when Richemont bought it in 1997. Lancel has not expanded internationally or creatively as its rivals did and makes more than 80% of its sales in France. It is estimated that in the year to end June, it had an operating loss of €10 million on revenues of € 135 million, sources close to the matter said. Analysts say Lancel needs to enter the accessible segment of the luxury market, alongside Coach, Michael Kors and Longchamp with handbags costing 200-800 euros. Lancel lost credibility at the high end of the luxury market by offering excessive discounts and putting out staid, old-fashioned designs, such as the Brigitte Bardot bag in 2010 - a 1970s style version of the bucket bag - and the document holder Isabelle Adjani bag in 2008. Lancel clearly thinks it can make it as a luxury brand. A few months ago, it introduced an ostrich leather "L" bag costing 4,500 euros, emulating Gucci and Louis Vuitton's recent efforts to move upmarket. To rebuild its name in the crowded accessories market, experts say Lancel should do some ready-to-wear, as Longchamp did, to stimulate traffic in shops and rejuvenate itself. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/28/richemont-lancel-idUSL5N0IF2HF20131028

zaterdag 26 oktober 2013

Instagram Introduces sample 'Sponsored' ads - Djamila Celina Melcherts DCM Ventures Bonno van der Putten Monarch Capital #Tech #Newmedia #DJ #Bookings

Social photo sharing site Instagram plans to introduce advertising in photo streams and releases a sample version Instagram has released images of sample advertising as a part of the company plans to introduce advertising to its website. The adverts will be integrated into a user's photostream, but it will have a label saying "Sponsored" where the time stamp would normally be. The release will come out on the app in the US the upcoming days to give users "a sense for the look and feel of the ads one will see According to market research, advertisers will spend $9.52 billion on social network ads worldwide this year – about 8.1% of their overall digital ad budgets. These include revenues to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networks. It estimates spending on mobile ads will increase 89% globally this year to reach $8.8 billion, up from $4.02 billion last year. Advertising on Instagram should help Facebook increase its lead in the mobile display advertising category, according to the research. It estimates Facebook will account for a 33.3% market share of US mobile display ad revenues this year, up from a 21.1% share last year Facebook, that rapidly acquired Instagram for $700 million last year after noticing the rapid growth of its competitor, is seeking new ways to drive revenue from mobile devices as users increasingly access digital services from wireless devices. While mobile made up 41% of ad revenue in Q2, up from 30% in the previous period, Facebook remains a at distant number 2 position in a market led by Google according to reports. Users will be able to hide promotions they don’t like, Instagram said. They can also give feedback about what doesn’t “feel right” about the ads. Instagram, the world’s most popular and fastest growing social network ever has more than 150 million users, up from more than 130 million in June. Instagram unveiled tools in July that let members embed photos and videos on outside websites, including blogs and news providers. Videos were added to the photo-sharing app in June Learn More: http://youtu.be/1Lz_DYDyQIc
and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/social-media/10404485/Instagram-launches-sample-Sponsored-ad.html Instagram Introduces sample 'Sponsored' ads - Djamila Celina Melcherts DCM Ventures Bonno van der Putten Monarch Capital #Tech #Newmedia #DJ #Bookings

vrijdag 18 oktober 2013

#ADE - One Week of #Dutch #Finest #Dance #DJ #Festival #EDMlife; DJ Talent Djamila Celina Melcherts

Adam Beyer (SE) Afrojack (NL) Agoria (FR) Alesso (SE) Alle Farben (DE) Âme (DE) Andhim (DE) Andy C (GB) Armin van Buuren (NL) Awanto 3 (NL) Bakermat (NL) Ben Klock (DE) Ben UFO (GB) Benoit & Sergio (FR/US) Bicep (GB) Black Coffee (ZA) BoeBoe (NL) Calvin Harris (GB) Carl Cox (GB) Carl Craig (US) Chris Liebing (DE) Christian Smith (SE) Chuckie (NL) Cristian Varela (ES) Culoe De Song (ZA) Danny Daze (US) Danny Tenaglia (US) DARKSIDE (US) Dave Clarke (GB) David August (DE) David Guetta (FR) Dennis Ferrer (US) Dixon (DE) DJamila Celina (NL) DJ Koze (DE) DJ Shadow (US) Don Diablo (NL) Dosem (ES) Dubfire (US) Fedde Le Grand (NL) Ferry Corsten (NL) Florian Meindl (DE) Goldfish (ZA) Greg Wilson (GB) Gui Boratto (BR) Guy Gerber (IL) Guy J (IL) Henrik Schwarz (DE) Hernan Cattaneo (AR) Hobo (CA) ISIS (NL) Jackmaster (GB) Jackson and his Computer Band (FR) Jamie Jones (GB) Job Jobse (NL) John Digweed (GB) Joost van Bellen (NL) Joran van Pol (NL) Joris Voorn (NL) Joseph Capriati (IT) Joy Orbison (GB) Julio Bashmore (GB) Kaiserdisco (DE) Karenn (GB) Kollektiv Turmstrasse (DE) Kölsch (DK) Kraak & Smaak (NL) Laurent Garnier (FR) Len Faki (DE) Loco Dice (DE) M.A.N.D.Y. (DE) Maceo Plex (US) Magda (PL) Mano Le Tough (DE) Marcel Fengler (DE) Martin Buttrich (DE) Martin Garrix (NL) Martyn (NL) Mathew Jonson (CA) Maya Jane Coles (GB) Michael Mayer (DE) Midland (GB) Moguai (DE) Moodymann (AR) Motor City Drum Ensemble (DE) Nic Fanciulli (GB) Nina Kraviz (RU) Oliver Huntemann (DE) Pachanga Boys (DE) Paco Osuna (ES) Patrice Bäumel (NL) Paul Oakenfold (GB) Pete Tong (GB) Ricardo Villalobos (CL) Richie Hawtin (CA) San Proper (NL) Sander Kleinenberg (NL) Sander van Doorn (NL) Seth Troxler (US) Solomun (DE) Soul Clap (US) Speedy J (NL) Stefano Noferini (IT) Stephan Bodzin (DE) Steve Angello (SE) Steve Bug (DE) Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano (NL) Tale Of Us (IT) The Darkraver (NL)The Martinez Brothers (US) The Partysquad (NL) Tiësto (NL) Tiga (CA) Todd Terje (NO) Tom Trago (NL) Vato Gonzalez (NL) Wolf + Lamb (US) Yellow Claw (NL)

woensdag 16 oktober 2013

General Catalyst Partners Said to Seek $600 Million for New Tech Fund; Bonno van der Putten

General Catalyst Partners Said to Seek $600 Million for New Tech Fund General Catalyst Partners, the venture-capital firm, is said to be targeting $600 million for its next fund that will invest in technology companies General Catalyst Group VII LP is seeking more capital than the firm’s prior vehicle, which raised $500 million in December 2011. The new fund apparently will stick to the same kind of deals, investing in consumer Internet, social media and other technology businesses. The firm will be entering a competitive fundraising market as private-equity investors reduce the number of managers they use in an effort to improve returns. General Catalyst, which makes both early-stage and growth investments, is said to be looking to a December close for the fund. Since its founding in 1999, the firm has raised six funds with a total of $2.2 billion in committed capital. It has invested in companies including ProfitLogic (sold to Oracle), GroupMe (sold to by Skype) and Jumptap, which is being purchased by Millennial Media in a deal announced in August. General Catalyst Partners backed travel website operator Kayak Software, which raised more than it sought in its July 2012 initial public offering and was acquired earlier this year by Priceline.com for about $1.8 billion. Last year, the firm saw some of its companies go public, including Brightcove, a provider of cloud-based video hosting and publishing services, and Demandware, which offers an e-commerce platform.
More: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-16/general-catalyst-said-to-seek-600-million-for-new-fund.html

zaterdag 12 oktober 2013

Amsterdam Dance Event Countdown has begun... time for a detox before 4 days of meetings and mayhem.

Preparation meetings Amsterdam Dance Event DCM Media Productions Djamila Celina Melcherts Bonno van der Putten Monarch Capital Partners #Newmedia #ADE The ADE is the biggest international club festival in the world for the whole spectrum of electronic sub-genres with 300 special events and 2,000 DJ’s over five days in 75 clubs and venues around the city. The festival features the very biggest DJ and artist names on the planet, as well as a selection of the best upcoming talent making Amsterdam one of the best and most inspiring clubbing cities in the world. Each year, the ADE attracts 300,000 festival visitors, including 60,000 tourists DjamilaCelina@ Suite Nicky Romero @ Melkweg Sander van Doorn @ Escape Club ADE Kickoff @ Trouw Carl Cox @ Gashouder David Guetta @ The Sand Riff Raff @ Paradiso

dinsdag 8 oktober 2013

Video startups consolidating; music streaming services expanding; Photography: TV Presenter Djamila Celina Melcherts

Video startups consolidating; music streaming services expanding; Photography: TV Presenter Djamila Celina Melcherts In the US, Break Media and Alloy Digital — two long-time producers of video content outside of the YouTube bubble — are expected to announce a merger. The move is the latest in a long line of video companies in a fragmented market that have decided to consolidate in order to gain more traction from a mass audience. Earlier this year Maker Studios purchased well-known video site Blip, and last year Alloy acquired DBG. And those that aren’t consolidating are raising massive amounts of funding from Private Equity companies and tech funds to build a business that plays nice with YouTube, but ultimately wants to strike out as its own video network — thus cutting out YouTube’s cut of the revenue made on its content. As for the merger, both Break and Alloy produce short video clips that are targeted at a younger audience, which make them a good match for each other. The two companies will be rebranded as Defy Media, with Break and Alloy each holding a 50 percent stake in the new venture. The newly formed Defy Media will now have a combine reach of 30 million YouTube subscribers and about 50 million monthly visitors to both websites . With solid Private Equity funding the message could be further extended beyond the digital space through established media platforms that connect with consumers as they move throughout their day. The brand message reaches the right audience in the right place, at the right time. In Europe companies like Zoomin.TV, 5minutenTV (http://5minuten.tv/), SweetnezzTV (http://www.sweetnezztv.nl/) offers viewers the possibility to watch specific content and news whenever and wherever they want to watch it. These companies with integrated content, distribution, and superb technology offering has proven to be a winning combination for media agencies, advertisers, content providers and distribution partners in the European on-line video industry. Zoomin.TV Together, these companies with Zoomin.TV leading the pack, are the largest producers of online video news in Europe. All of the them are expanding operations in Europe and beyond. Long-awaited music streaming service are next; Beats in the US for example will launch its long-awaited music streaming service, Beats Music, within the next few months in the United States. 5minutenTV and SweetnezzTV are launching the same service in Europe. Bonno van der Putten, Managing Director of Monarch’s Tech fund of Private Equity powerhouse Monarch Capital Partners, says music streaming services for 5minutenTV and SweetnezzTV, will be accessible on the Web, as well as from an iOS or Android device. Support for Windows 8, presumably through a dedicated app, will arrive at a later date. Music streaming is a highly competitive space at the moment, with established brands such as Spotify, Rdio and Deezer fighting for new subscribers. Microsoft and Google are trying to muscle in with similar offerings, while Apple opts for a Pandora-style approach with its recently launched iTunes Radio Monarch ‘s Tech fund team consists of former record label executives with extensive business experience and strategic thinking capacity about the licensing, business models and deals that are necessary for a successful music streaming service, says van der Putten.

maandag 7 oktober 2013

Secret Sales launches industry-first loyalty programme; supported by Private Equity and Family Offices

Secret Sales, the designer fashion flash sale site, has launched its first ever customer loyalty scheme. The scheme, which Secret Sales claims is the first of its type in the flash sale sector, gives customers the opportunity to redeem points against purchases made on the site. Customers will be offered five points for every pound spent and for every 500 points earned, they will be given a £5 voucher which can be redeemed during their next Secret Sales’ purchase. Tech and Newmedia focused seed-stage investor DCM Ventures, backed by Private Equity and Venture Capital firm Monarch Capital Partners completed its second fund of €15 million. The fund, which was raised from undisclosed high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs, invests €200,000 to €300,000 in syndicated seed rounds in tech, music, newmedia, consumer and ecommerce sectors, while holding additional funds for follow-on funding. The firm’s first seed-stage fund of just under €8 million was raised almost two years ago and boasts six exits so far. The DCM Venture Fund will be used to scale the next wave of startups ushering in the future of mobile, music, newmedia and online TV. ‘Since we partnered with Monarch at our seed round, they have been invaluable to our growth and evolution as a company. They’ve been extremely hands on and helpful across a wide variety of areas and their network and expertise is unparalleled.” says Djamila Celina Melcherts, cofounder of DCM Ventures. DCM Ventures began investing in 2012 in, what was then, seen by many as a relatively niche focus of only newmedia and mobile companies. Since then it has done more early stage newmedia deals than any other fund of its size. “Our knowledge and unparalleled network in tech, newmedia, consumer and the mobile ecosystem is what sets DCM Ventures apart, and we are excited to continue to fuel amazing entrepreneurs who leverage new technology to change the way we live,” says Monarch founding general partner Bonno van der Putten. “Our international presence in both London and Barcelona allows DCM to find the best up-and-coming startups for us to help scale into the next hot tech and mobile trends.” DCM Ventures is the first independent seed stage venture firm investing exclusively in tech, newmedia and mobile technologies. DCM Ventures was founded on the belief that the greatest technological catalyst of our time is the proliferation of Internet-enabled devices providing constant connectivity to the majority of the world population. learn more at http://paper.li/thinkspeed/1314829873

zondag 6 oktober 2013

donderdag 3 oktober 2013

Marc Jacobs boosting LVMH upon exit; photography Djamila Celina Melcherts. Paris - New York designer Marc Jacobs’s departure from LVMH to focus on an initial public offering of his own Marc Jacobs brand is set to provide a double boost for the top luxury goods company LVMH. The move will enable Jacobs to concentrate solely on the growth of his own label.

Marc Jacobs boosting LVMH upon exit; photography Djamila Celina Melcherts
Louis Vuitton’s catwalk show, staged in Paris this week, was a tribute to Marc Jacobs, who is leaving LVMH after 16 years of service. The designer, who is credited with turning Louis Vuitton into one of the world’s most successful luxury brands, is planning to taking his own Marc Jacobs brand public. LVMH, the luxury group that owns Louis Vuitton and has had a majority stake in the Marc Jacobs label since 1997, said it has come to an agreement with the designer and his business partners. As this point in time it is unclear whether or not LVMH would retain a stake in Marc Jacobs until it floats, or if the designer will secure private equity backing to buy LVMH out. That would come with a considerable price tag, says Bonno van der Putten, retail expert for Private Equity powerhouse Monarch Capital . “When LVMH and Marc Jacobs started together, Marc Jacobs was a relative tiny business of around €15m of revenue/year. Today the total sales of the fashion label accounts for annual sales of nearly € 7 billion for LVMH and and more than its operating profits. This of course has been a tremendous and successful growth path. LVMH and Kering (formerly known as PPR, and before that Gucci Group), the two major luxury conglomerates, have acquired virtually every historic fashion brand in Europe, as well as some in the United States. Both LVMH and Kering and some other luxury sector focused Private Equity players are once again making investments in young designer labels at a rapid pace, with J. W. Anderson and the shoe designer Nicholas Kirkwood joining LVMH, and Joseph Altuzarra and Christopher Kane now linked with Kering Van der Putten says it is believed that LVMH will continue to invest in expanding Marc Jacobs’ network of stores. Of course, as a own brand, Marc Jacobs will also need to demonstrate its value as a standalone business if it wants to win over would-be shareholders, according to van der Putten who is a serial PE investor in retail and luxury fashion brands. Marc Jacobs, the designer, and his management team will be key in developing the business, but the company needs to avoid becoming overly reliant on a single figure, he added. Few of the fashion brands that have gone public are associated with a single, living designer. The most famous, Donna Karan, offers a cautionary approach as investors fell out of love with the brand as it expanded too fast, and a year later the brand was acquired by LVMH, around the same time LVMH bought into Marc Jacobs. LVMH’s strategy has been one of purchasing other blockbuster brands that would allow the company to reduce its reliance on smaller labels such as Fendi and Celine, while buying it time to burnish Louis Vuitton and develop its other fashion lines. Michael Kors has had more success as a public company . Michael Kors has that buzz factor. The company, which went public in December 2011, is likely double its revenue by next spring to reach $2.9 billion. Michael Kors Q1 sales grew 54%. Revenue at stores open at least a year, a key indicator of a retailer’s health, rose 27%. In North America, that sales growth figure was 25%; in Europe, 56%. After its IPO, the stock traded around $25. After its latest earnings call, shares traded at about $70. Private Equity backers (among others John Idol, investors Silas Chou & Lawrence Stroll ( through their Hong Kong-based PE vehicle Sportswear Holdings), Lance LePere, Brightpoint and Monarch Capital) encouraged Kors to start a lower-priced line, the MICHAEL Michael Kors Collection. And while Kors continues to produce runway collections and offer ultra-luxe items, it’s the other line of accessories and clothes—and accessories in particular—that’s really selling. Small leather goods and handbags are most important to Kors. Shares of Michael Kors have tripled since December 2011, making it one of the most successful offerings in recent years. Mr. Kors made hundreds of millions of dollars taking his company public, and his private equity backers have made billions. Van der Putten says that said that the success of Michael Kors’s IPO and other successful PE fashion I.P.O. stories driving much of the interest in high-fashion stock, reason for a flurry of I.P.O activity nowadays in the fashion industry By pursuing an IPO, Marc Jacobs could follow that Michael Kors path Focusing on his own line will give Jacobs an opportunity to make it more exciting, according to van der Putten.

woensdag 2 oktober 2013

LVMH and Longchamp Stick to Strategy and Value-for-Money Luxury; photo Djamila Celina Melcherts - Louis Vuitton

LVMH and Longchamp Stick to Strategy and Value-for-Money Luxury; photo Djamila Celina Melcherts - Louis Vuitton
Longchamp and LVMH are two companies in their own matter benefiting from slowing growth in luxury demand. While Louis Vuitton seek to combat slowing growth by curbing retail expansion and increasing prices, closely held Longchamp is adding stores and sticking to its smart marketing and more affordable prices. The result: revenue growth that is faster than many of its rivals. Longchamp, which opened its biggest European boutique in London in September, announced sales up 16% to € 454 million in 2012. That compares with sales growth of 14% at LVMH’s fashion and leather-goods division and a 10% overall growth for the luxury industry. LVMH’s strategy has been one of purchasing other blockbuster brands that would allow the company to reduce its reliance on smaller labels such as Fendi and Celine, while buying it time to burnish Louis Vuitton and develop its other fashion lines. After raising prices and including more leather in its handbag collections to increase their appeal, LVMH is focusing on improving existing Louis Vuitton stores and limiting new openings as it seeks to control the label’s growth Bonno van der Putten, retail expert for Private Equity powerhouse Monarch Capital estimates Longchamp’s revenue growth to slow around 10% this year as economic instability hits consumer spending. That’s still double the rate of the estimates for the luxury sector. Sticking to the strategy while others are changing theirs is creating opportunities, not least in finding decent new store locations and refurbishing existing ones Longchamp’s just opened boutique on London’s Regent Street gives the Paris brand more visibility to customers in the big city, where it so far had only 2 smaller shops, and allows it to display in one place the full range of goods, including women’s clothing and shoes. More new boutiques will follow still this year in Rome, Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi and Sao Paulo, whereas Munich and Barcelona are planned for 2014 where Longchamp has spent “years” looking for decent retail locations without finding them, said Bonno van der Putten. More and larger stores, particularly in Europe’s most visited and frequented cities, will help support top line growth as the region attracts travelers from Asia and the Americas, van der Putten said. Luxury business can build their business on two legs, the locals and the tourists, van der Putten said. As we most likely all know, sales to non-Europeans are rising faster than sales to Europeans, who account for a larger share of the total. At the same time, the move by some luxury brands to target the wealthiest clientele with more expensive products is leaving room at a more affordable price point for players like Longchamp. Longchamp’s leather bags, sold through its Le Pliage Cuir bags brand, range from about € 250- € 800, while Louis Vuitton bags can range from about € 1,000 to € 3,000. Luggage and shoes are areas where Longchamp and LVMH aim to grow. Commercial ambitions are more muted in ready-to-wear, which mainly serves as marketing communication tools and a trigger to come and visit the stores.