October 2010. Leading service provider for interactive life advice, Questico AG (Berlin), joins forces with the market’s number two viversum GmbH (Nuremberg). The combined group aims at further internationalization and strengthening of existing business in German-speaking countries.
Questico AG and viversum GmbH announce their merger as of November 1, 2010. The transaction enables the combined group to further optimize client services, strengthen the market position in Germany and abroad and continue the successful growth strategy of the past years. The companies’ platforms will connect approx. 3,000 experts with approx. 1.7 million registered users per phone, chat and e-mail to discuss central issues in life, such as love, partnership, career and well-being.
Sylvius Bardt, CEO of Questico AG, is highly pleased about the merger: “We are very happy about the successful closing of this transaction and are looking forward to working together with viversum’s team. The combination of unique know-how and expertise in this dynamic market opens up promising growth perspectives for the joint group.” Co-founder and managing director of viversum, Dr. Stefan Morschheuser, adds: “As a combined entity, we provide the largest platform for interactive life advice in Europe and will be able to service our clients in an improved and more comprehensive way.” As part of the transaction, Dr. Morschheuser will join the Executive Board of Questico AG.
The combined group is active in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the UK, Poland, Hungary and France and will employ more than 200 people at its locations in Berlin, Nuremberg and abroad. Besides joint development of new markets and establishment of new business units, both entities will continue to operate its well established brands such as Questico, viversum, AstroTV, Noé Astro, and TheCircle separately.
Corporate Finance Partners – now ACXIT Capital Partners – acted as the exclusive M&A adviser, TaylorWessing as legal counsel to the shareholders of viversum.
Questico AG, Berlin, is Germany‘s leading provider of services, content management and life advice with regards to astrology, horoscope, tarot and other card readings. The Questico group includes the monthly periodical “Zukunftsblick“, referring to topics such as astrology, horoscopes and tarot, the leading online portal for astrology www.noeastro.de, the largest life advice portal in the UK www.thecircle.com, and the TV channel AstroTV (Internet live stream www.astrotv.de), where astrologists and card readers provide real-time life advice for viewers 20 hours a day. (www.questico.com)
viversum GmbH, Nuremberg was founded in 2003 by the current management team. The company operates a member-based marketplace for interactive, one-to-one life advice via phone, live-chat and e-mail, connecting advice seekers and selected experts via its proprietary technology. As of today, the company is successfully active in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and Poland. (www.viversum.de)
About ACXIT
ACXIT Capital Partners is a leading independent corporate finance and investment advisory firm for mid-market clients and entrepreneurs in Europe and beyond. Since 1998, ACXIT offers its clients comprehensive corporate finance advisory services including M&A and capital markets advisory as well as restructuring, equity/debt and strategic advisory. As an independent, privately owned firm we maintain offices and representations in Frankfurt, Berlin, Munich, Leipzig, Zurich, Hong Kong and New York, as well as strong alliances in France, China and India. (www.acxit.com)
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