R.H. Donnelley Broadens Local Online Search Marketing Capabilities with LocalLaunch! Acquisition
Monday, 11 September 2006
In a move designed to significantly bolster its local online search marketing capabilities, R.H. Donnelley Corporation announced that it has purchased LocalLaunch!, a Chicago-based company that specializes in providing Internet search products, platforms and fulfillment solutions to local advertising providers.
R.H. Donnelley's acquisition of LocalLaunch! adds approximately 40 Internet marketing professionals who are highly skilled in developing innovative search engine marketing and optimization products that help connect businesses with consumers who are searching for goods and services online.
LocalLaunch!'s products comprise one of the most comprehensive sets of marketing solutions in the local online search category. Their offerings target prospective local search advertisers through a unique approach to web publishing, distribution, paid search, organic-based advertising and tracking solutions.
By combining these core capabilities with RHD's existing print and local online search offerings, including the top-performing DexOnline.com site, the company is well-positioned to generate additional leads and deliver an expanded level of service to advertisers.
"This transaction accomplishes two objectives; it supports the expansion of our current local online search offerings which help businesses reach ready-to-buy consumers and it also gives us new, innovative solutions that we believe will appeal to an even broader range of businesses that might not currently employ our online and print yellow pages products," said David C. Swanson, R.H. Donnelley's chairman and CEO. "With the addition of LocalLaunch!'s Internet product development and search engine marketing expertise, we are immediately positioned as a recognized leader in this space and have the potential to drive the expansion of this segment over the longer term.
LocalLaunch! will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of R.H. Donnelley Corporation and will be based in Chicago. Justin Sanger, founder and president of LocalLaunch!, will remain as its president, and the company will continue to power resellers worldwide with private-labeled platform solutions and local search marketing products.
"LocalLaunch! has built a reputation for innovation, performance and thought leadership," said Sanger. "Our core competencies are an ideal fit with RHD. Together, we expect to accelerate the expansion of our local online search offerings."
Local Launch! is a privately held company and terms of the transaction were not disclosed. R.H. Donnelley does not expect this acquisition to affect the current guidance for full-year 2006 revenue, EBITDA, free cash flow or debt at year-end.