Monday, May 14, 2012

WhaleShark Media Buys French Coupon Publisher

Austin-based WhaleShark Media is expanding its coupon and deal empire today, saying that it has acquired a french, online coupon publisher, Miwim. Financial terms of the deal were not announced. WhaleShark's latest acquisition gives it a suite of online coupon sites, including Bons-de-Reduction and Poulpeo. WhaleShark said the new acquisitions will expand its coverage of e-commerce activity in Western Europe to 70 percent of the market. Olivier David and Francois Larvor, the founders of Miwim, have joined WhaleShark as part of the acquisition, adding 20 additional employees to its headcount. WhaleShark is venture backed by Austin Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Adams Street Partners, Google Ventures, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and Institutional Venture Partners (IVP). The company is headed by Cotter Cunningham.