|
« Back
Waterfront Media to Merge with Revolution Health
Network Establishing the Everyday Health Network as the Preeminent
Online Health Destination
#2 and #3 Players Combine to Form Leading
Online Health Company Devoted to Helping Consumers Live Healthier
Lives Combination Brings Revolution Health Network Properties Under
the Everyday Health Network Umbrella
Business Wire
October 3, 2008
BROOKLYN, N.Y. & WASHINGTON, Oct 03, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Waterfront
Media, the largest private online health company, and Revolution
Health Network, another leading online health information company,
today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement to
merge that will create a new powerhouse in the online health space.
With this merger, the Everyday Health Network, which is operated
by Waterfront Media, will now include RevolutionHealth.com andall
the online propertiesassociated with the Revolution Health Network,
forming the most comprehensive online destination designed to enable
consumers to live healthier lives every day. Both companies' boards
of directors unanimously approved the merger.
The combined company is projected to have more than 20 million
unique users* and, according to a comScore Plan Metrix custom report
for the month of June, will be the market leader in audience reach
for 23 health conditions. Waterfront Media CEO and co-founder Benjamin
Wolin will remain chief executive officer of the new company. Steve
Case, chairman and CEO of Revolution Health Group, and an additional
member of Revolution Health's board of directors to be named later,
will join the Waterfront Media board of directors. The company
will keep the name Waterfront Media, and will operate all sites
under the Everyday Health Network. The company will remain headquartered
in Brooklyn, NY. Doug McCormick, former CEO of Lifetime TV and
iVillage, will remain chairman of the company. Mike Keriakos will
remain president of the company. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"The inclusion of Revolution Health and its properties in the
Everyday Health Network creates the most powerful, expansive online
health experience for consumers," said Wolin. "Both companies share
a common heritage of providing consumers with access to online
information, tools and support for healthier living. We look forward
to adding Revolution Health's world class features and sites to
the Everyday Health Network. The combined company will bring together
some of the industry's best assets and enable us to accelerate
our growth, reaching our respective goals faster with newly combined
resources."
"When we entered the health care market we knew one of the areas
we wanted to focus on was using the Internet to empower consumers
and give them more choice, control and convenience," said Case. "The
merger of Waterfront Media and Revolution Health Network builds
on each company's complementary strengths to create a new industry
powerhouse -- thus enabling us to accelerate our efforts to reach
the largest, most engaged audience and help people stay healthy,
manage chronic disease and deal with serious illness."
Waterfront Media, which operates the Everyday Health Network, was
founded by Wolin and Keriakos in 2002 and has since grown to become
one of the top online health companies. Its network of more than
20 leading sites includes its flagship site, EverydayHealth.com,
as well as WhatToExpect.com, SouthBeachDiet.com, JillianMichaels.com,
and more.
Revolution Health Network has also become a leading online health
information company since its launch in 2007. Web sites operated
by or affiliated with the Revolution Health Network that complement
Everyday Health will include:
- RevolutionHealth.com, a health and wellness destination with
deep expert content and sophisticated online tools;
- HealthTalk.com, one of the most in-depth information sites
for those dealing with chronic illnesses;
- CarePages.com, offered by more than 700 hospitals to patients
so they may easily communicate with loved ones; and
- Affiliate agreements with Drugstore.com, Sparkpeople.com and
DailyStrength.org.
By combining, the companies will have 24 online health properties,
which will offer advertisers the unique opportunity to target consumers
across the entire spectrum of online health and wellness.
Upon the closing of the transaction, which is expected by mid-October
2008, Revolution Health will become a significant shareholder of
Waterfront Media and join existing investors Rho Ventures, Scale
Venture Partners, Foundation Capital, Neocarta Ventures, BEV Capital,
Time Warner Investments and Village Ventures. Revolution LLC --
the parent company of Revolution Health -- will continue to maintain
its broad health portfolio through investments in RediClinic, a
leading convenient care provider; Extend Health, a leading provider
of defined contribution programs; Brainscope, which develops breakthrough
technology that assesses brain function at the initial point of
care; and SparkPeople, an online community that empowers users
to change their lives for the better.
According to comScore Media Metrix August 2008 figures, Everyday
Health had more than 14 million unique users and more than 80 million
page views. Revolution Health Network had more than 12 million
unique users and 200 million page views over the same period. The
combined company is expected to reach well more than 20 million
unique users and generate more than three billion page views per
year, making it a leading health company in terms of both reach
and utilization.
The respective financial and legal advisors to Waterfront Media
are Credit Suisse and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, and
to Revolution Health Network are Morgan Stanley and Cooley Godward
Kronish LLP.
About Waterfront Media and the Everyday Health Network
Waterfront Media is the largest privately held online health company
and operates the Everyday Health Network, which attracts over
14 million unique users per month. Through its portfolio of health & wellness,
diet, fitness, and pregnancy Web sites, including its flagship
EverydayHealth.com, Waterfront Media enables consumers to live
healthier lives every day. Waterfront Media was founded by CEO,
Ben Wolin, & President, Mike Keriakos in 2002.
About Revolution LLC and Revolution Health
Revolution LLC was created by AOL Co-Founder Steve Case to create
products and services that empower people and promote consumer-centered
change. Today Revolution owns businesses in the healthcare, financial
services, resorts, wellness and digital sectors. It is the largest
investor in five principal health-related investments, including
Revolution Health Network, with its flagship RevolutionHealth.com,
and sites CarePages.com, HealthTalk.com, and affiliate partners;
RediClinic, a leading convenient care provider; Extend Health,
a leading provider of defined contribution programs. Revolution
is also a significant minority investor in Brainscope, which
pioneers breakthrough technology that assesses brain function
at the initial point of care; and SparkPeople, an online community
that empowers users to change their lives for the better.
« Back

|