UBC Media Share Discussion Threads

[smithie6] 14/1/2014 19:32

I understand your interest in seeing an update...

but ...last update was 17th Dec....
and expected date for merger is before April

and one assumes that before issuing proposed merger papers that they wouldnt issue any data....except for perhaps saying
- 'merger talks are off'
or
- 'merger terms have been agreed and it is hoped to issue the formal papers to shareholders before data X '

issue it all in one go imo.....assuming that they get a merger deal agreed by both side to put forward

---

Perhaps in Feb. they would tell us if it is happening or not....since the planned end date of April is then approaching

[richardoak] 13/1/2014 11:01

Why no communication? Surely Investors deserve a progress report?

[smithie6] 06/1/2014 19:25

some new UBC related news at
hxxp://fulltimeinvestors.com/UBC/

[mach100] 30/12/2013 18:00

Smithy my name is John and I am sure I put mach100 in the body of the email. I love your comments here, really informative. I will scroll up and resend the email.

[euclid5] 30/12/2013 15:03

In fact, Drury, who is also a co-founder at 7digital, notes a few reasons for tapping UBC instead of going it alone. First, there is funding: with 7digital founded in 2004, it's not really playing in startup territory anymore. "We may call ourselves that, or others may call us a startup, but we've been around for almost 10 years," he told me in an interview.

Second, there is speed of execution: "Going on to AIM by way of a reverse takeover of UBC is a way to accelerate our development," he told me. "This is a faster path."

Third - and perhaps most interesting for those watching how the digital music space is evolving - is what UBC would bring to 7digital in terms of product. The company owns several patents, it has an extensive catalog of audio archives, and it has infrastructure in place to create original content - "a skillset that could be adapted for the kinds of customers that we work for," Drury noted.

What could that mean? Right now, he says, the buzzword in digital music is "curation" and how to whittle down and shape the huge mass of music that customers have at the tips of their fingers but without much shape about what to listen to next. (Yes, the old water, water everywhere conundrum.) It sounds like what 7digital might be looking to do is help produce original content, or at least services that help point users to more tailored listening experiences that cut through the 7digital catalog.

His example: UBC currently produces a show for BBC Radio, called "Pick of the Pops," which picks a year and then runs through music from it. "Imagine that strong editorial role being adapted for the on-demand age," he told me. Along with that will come an evolution of the streaming music business model to offer more targeted "microsubscriptions" around particular genres or even playlists - not unlike the vision that Deezer is also eyeing up, creating deals that cut up the typical $10/month, all-you-can-eat offerings.

"Our platform and partnership roster has been growing steadily over time and we see continued interest in music globally, across online radio, subscription streaming, and downloads. We will continue to develop and scale the platform, and to innovate with new products and features," Ben Drury, CEO of 7digital, noted in a statement. "Radio, in particular, is an area where we see a lot of future opportunities, and we are thrilled that our new strategic investor and partner, UBC, shares this vision."

UBC says that the deal will play into a wider strategy that it has to develop more digital services around audio content, with the interactive media market offering "the best opportunity for growth as so-called 'connected' devices became more important for the consumption of content."
In fact, Drury, who is also a co-founder at 7digital, notes a few reasons for tapping UBC instead of going it alone. First, there is funding: with 7digital founded in 2004, it's not really playing in startup territory anymore. "We may call ourselves that, or others may call us a startup, but we've been around for almost 10 years," he told me in an interview.

Second, there is speed of execution: "Going on to AIM by way of a reverse takeover of UBC is a way to accelerate our development," he told me. "This is a faster path."

Third - and perhaps most interesting for those watching how the digital music space is evolving - is what UBC would bring to 7digital in terms of product. The company owns several patents, it has an extensive catalog of audio archives, and it has infrastructure in place to create original content - "a skillset that could be adapted for the kinds of customers that we work for," Drury noted.

What could that mean? Right now, he says, the buzzword in digital music is "curation" and how to whittle down and shape the huge mass of music that customers have at the tips of their fingers but without much shape about what to listen to next. (Yes, the old water, water everywhere conundrum.) It sounds like what 7digital might be looking to do is help produce original content, or at least services that help point users to more tailored listening experiences that cut through the 7digital catalog.

His example: UBC currently produces a show for BBC Radio, called "Pick of the Pops," which picks a year and then runs through music from it. "Imagine that strong editorial role being adapted for the on-demand age," he told me. Along with that will come an evolution of the streaming music business model to offer more targeted "microsubscriptions" around particular genres or even playlists - not unlike the vision that Deezer is also eyeing up, creating deals that cut up the typical $10/month, all-you-can-eat offerings.

"Our platform and partnership roster has been growing steadily over time and we see continued interest in music globally, across online radio, subscription streaming, and downloads. We will continue to develop and scale the platform, and to innovate with new products and features," Ben Drury, CEO of 7digital, noted in a statement. "Radio, in particular, is an area where we see a lot of future opportunities, and we are thrilled that our new strategic investor and partner, UBC, shares this vision."

UBC says that the deal will play into a wider strategy that it has to develop more digital services around audio content, with the interactive media market offering "the best opportunity for growth as so-called 'connected' devices became more important for the consumption of content."

UBC and 7digital's non-legally binding Letter Of Intent says that the two will outline terms of a potential acquisition of 7digital by UBC by no later than December 16, 2013, "with a view to entering into a definitive sale and purchase agreement by 30 April 2014."

UBC says the new publicly-listed company would combine its existing UBC assets, its investment in Audioboo, and 7digital, with 7digital's Drury would become the CEO and UBC's CEO Simon Cole taking on the role of chairman. Customers would include the BBC and Yahoo (two of UBC's current clients) and Samsung and HTC (two of 7digital's), with business operations in 42 countries and covering 5 million registered users and services pre-loaded on 60 million mobile devices. "In content terms, the new company will have an archive of thousands of hours of entertainment programming, producing 1,200 hours of new material a year and have a licensed catalogue of 25 million music tracks and audiobooks," UBC notes.
UBC and 7digital's non-legally binding Letter Of Intent says that the two will outline terms of a potential acquisition of 7digital by UBC by no later than December 16, 2013, "with a view to entering into a definitive sale and purchase agreement by 30 April 2014."

UBC says the new publicly-listed company would combine its existing UBC assets, its investment in Audioboo, and 7digital, with 7digital's Drury would become the CEO and UBC's CEO Simon Cole taking on the role of chairman. Customers would include the BBC and Yahoo (two of UBC's current clients) and Samsung and HTC (two of 7digital's), with business operations in 42 countries and covering 5 million registered users and services pre-loaded on 60 million mobile devices. "In content terms, the new company will have an archive of thousands of hours of entertainment programming, producing 1,200 hours of new material a year and have a licensed catalogue of 25 million music tracks and audiobooks," UBC notes.

hxxp://techcrunch.com/2013/11/25/samsung-htc-music-partner-7digital-picks-up-1-6m-loan-enters-into-reverse-takeover-talks-with-ubc/

[smithie6] 30/12/2013 14:30

Hi Mach
I dont see any e-mail from you....

(one from someone who's name begins in J, but I think that is not you)

cheers

[mach100] 29/12/2013 23:05

Did you get my previous email Smithy?

[smithie6] 29/12/2013 21:22

Tully, Micheal, AN Other
can you perhaps send me an e-mail ?

[e-mail]

( I am interested to discuss 7Digital and merger etc off line
...3 of us already)

[tullynessle] 29/12/2013 20:55

At the end of the article the following information is provided, "Updated throughout with comments from 7digital CEO Ben Drury."

The article describes strategy, technology and expectations for each of the companies proposing the merger.




Samsung's Music Partner 7digital Picks Up $1.6M Loan, Enters Into Reverse Takeover Talks With UBC

Posted Nov 25, 2013 by Ingrid Lunden (@ingridlunden

Article follows...

[tullynessle] 29/12/2013 20:39

List of 7Digital Press Releases and News Articles as provided at Complete Music Update (CMU) - see link below.

[tullynessle] 29/12/2013 20:34

I have tried to identify the size of Dolby's investment in 7Digital - without success. (See Post 1382)

However, I did find an article dated August 2013 and entitled "7digital appoints Dolby man to VP Product role".





Thursday 22 August 2013, 11:14 | By Chris Cooke

7digital appoints Dolby man to VP Product role


Digital music seller 7digital yesterday announced the appointment of Gunnar Larsén, most recently with Dolby Laboratories, to the role of VP Product. He will be "responsible for defining and driving 7digital's expanding portfolio of music products across the B2B and B2C market – further cementing its position as a leader in the digital music sector". Which sounds like fun.

Confirming the hire, 7digital boss Ben Drury told CMU: "Gunnar is an excellent addition to our growing 7digital team. He brings the right talents and experience to the role as we continue to strengthen and grow our digital platform. It's a privilege to welcome Gunnar to 7digital".

Meanwhile Larsén himself added: "I'm excited to join the 7digital team and appreciate this unique opportunity to help advance its product line. 7digital is a well-established name in the digital music space and I'm looking forward to working with its extraordinary talent to further establish it as a leading, global digital music company".

- See more at:

[tullynessle] 29/12/2013 19:46

Interesting information about 7Digital at "Wikipedia" - see link below.

At the "Corporate History" note the information at "para 5, line 1", namely:

"In October 2012, the company secured $10 Million in funding from 2 new strategic investors, Dolby and Imagination........."





Corporate history[edit]

The company was founded in January 2004 by Ben Drury and James Kane as a B2B digital music services company building download stores for record labels, brands and other retailers. 7digital direct to consumer service was launched in 2005.

On 28 January 2008 the company announced that it had agreed terms on a £4.25 million ($8.5 million) investment from various groups, including Sutton Place Managers and Balderton Capital. The investment was to be used to launch www.7digital.com in more European countries and the United States,[1] along with expanding the sites offerings to include downloadable video and computer games.[2]

On 3 August 2009, the venture capital investors were bought out by HMV Group UK, who were then 50% owners of 7digital.

In 2011, 7digital expanded with an office in Luxembourg and in early 2012 launched US operations.

In October 2012, the company secured $10 Million in funding from 2 new strategic investors, Dolby and Imagination, which diluted HMV's share and enabled 7digital to extend and scale their existing reach, adding new functionality and capabilities to the platform and their API. It also allowed them to continue international roll-out of products and services to new territories, and further expand their existing business in North America and Europe.

7digital now has the broadest reach of global digital music rights in the world and powers services for companies such as Samsung,[3] BlackBerry,[3] Microsoft,[3] Toshiba,[3] HP,[3] Acer,[3] HTC,[3] T-Mobile US and Sonos.[3] 7digital services are available globally and have dedicated music download stores in over 37 countries. They also have a mobile web store and smartphone apps for Android, BlackBerry, Windows and iOS.[4]

On 25th November 2013, UBC Media announced an intention to acquire 7 Digital Group Inc by way of a reverse takeover. [5][

[mach100] 29/12/2013 18:15

Well I agree with the latter part of the analysis Smithie which is why the proposed merger seems redundant.There is a lot of hope in terms of reversing 7Digital's downtrend. I hope you are right but the 4 million of net liability seems the last thing UBC needs if it is focusing on Audioboo. Surely stemming that kind of loss would be a distraction at best and perilous at worst. Ok we will see what the next 2 trading days brings and q1 of 2014.

[smithie6] 29/12/2013 18:01

btw
I would assume that any deal or not, will all be done and dusted before us PIs are or told

and if the RNS says that 60% of the co. has voted in favour, then its a done deal

the big investors have much more invested than us and should be much more skilled at analysing co. accounts than us...so hopefully they will produce a beneficial deal (that moves the share price up and makes us PIs some money !) , or say that there is no deal...and imo with no deal but some news that Audioboo fund raising was successful and activity is good..then the share price would also go up.

so, maybe us PIs are on a win win !.....and we dont have to do any work over Xmas for it either !