Coupons.com Incorporated Acquires Couponstar Following Its Recent $200 Million Investment

-Couponstar rebrands to become the European expansion arm of Coupons.com-

LONDON--()--Coupons.com Incorporated, today announces its acquisition of the remaining 50% ownership of its UK joint-venture, Couponstar Ltd (UK), the London-based digital promotions and coupon provider.*

Couponstar will rebrand to operate in the UK and Europe as Coupons.com, in alignment with Coupons.com’s corporate objective to strategically invest a portion of its recent $200 million funding to grow its footprint through opportunistic acquisitions. The combined organisation will also continue to develop and extend its product and services portfolio by investment in technological innovation.

Together, both companies have a combined 20 years experience in the coupon industry and distribute millions of coupons every day. The acquisition brings together two companies that have been at the forefront of developing secure digital couponing and vouchering programmes for the international FMCG, supermarket and pharmacy market, helping brands connect with consumers with money-saving coupons across the digital domain.

Steven Boal, CEO of Coupons.com Incorporated, expands, “The sum total of our two companies is greater than their individual values, and the combination positions Coupons.com as an even greater, and growing force in couponing. Together, we can further accelerate our common goal to move the coupon industry to digital and help more brands engage with more consumers everywhere across the digital domain.”

Jared Keen, Managing Director of Europe for Coupons.com (previously Couponstar Ltd), explains, “The acquisition of Couponstar positions Coupons.com as an even greater, and growing force in couponing, and everyone will benefit, including brand marketers and consumers, alike. The combined resources of the two companies will enable us to continue to deliver innovative, secure couponing solutions and increase our presence and service in Europe with more employees and new offices in local markets to service consumers and marketers.”

He continues, “This acquisition is a natural development of the international growth in the digital couponing market.”

The newly formed European subsidiary will build on Coupons.com’s experience in reaching vast numbers of consumers in the US and help extend the expertise internationally as the digital coupon market continues to grow and expand globally through unprecedented consumer demand.

According to a new YouGov survey conducted in April 2011 on behalf of Couponstar, over 57% of UK consumers have printed a coupon from the Internet. Internet coupons are also 31% more likely to be redeemed than any other type of coupon, while 2010 saw a 15% decline in newspaper coupons.**

Keen explains, “There has been a huge increase in coupon usage across the UK and Europe in the last few years as brands expand their online coupon campaigns and as the global economic downturn and new couponing technologies, such as social and mobile, drive consumers to look at ways to save money. It is becoming increasingly important therefore, for brands and retailers alike, to continue to find accessible ways for their customers to benefit from this technology. Coupons.com will now enable them to do this on a global scale.”

Looking forward, Coupons.com and Couponstar will focus strongly on merging into a single global brand and building upon their existing technology base, to develop new sales and media innovation in areas that include social couponing and virtual couponing for the every-day consumables market.

Boal adds, “Coupons.com has always been impressed with Couponstar’s product innovation and its ability to quickly and securely adapt coupon technology to the local UK, European and Australian markets. In addition, the company has a strong client base with a track record of excellent client service that is highly complementary to that of Coupons.com.”

He continues, “Coupons.com is dedicated to the global digital coupon industry. We will continue to use the skills and expertise of our international colleagues based in London, combined with our financial resources, to expand the Coupons.com brand while developing products and solutions that will keep us at the cutting edge of this industry.”

ENDS

*Note to Editors: Coupons.com had previously in 2006, acquired 50% of Couponstar Ltd. Today’s announcement marks its acquisition of the remaining 50% ownership of Couponstar Ltd.

** Further research findings are available on request

About Coupons.com Limited (UK & Europe)

Coupons.com is the recognised global leader in digital coupons, including online printable, social, save to loyalty card and mobile promotions. For FMCG brand marketers, the company distributes digital coupons to consumers through beforeIshop.co.uk (the largest supermarket offers site in the UK) as well as numerous partner websites such as ITV Daybreak, UKTV Good Food, Now Magazine and Delia Online that comprise the beforeIshop™ digital coupon network. The company also powers digital coupon initiatives for brand and retailer independent digital marketing campaigns - including coupons distributed via brand websites, ad media, email and social media campaigns.

Clients include FMCG brand manufacturers including Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Nestle, Kraft Foods, Johnson & Johnson and L’Oreal as well as top supermarket retailers such as Boots & The Co-operative Group.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Mountain View, CA, USA Coupons.com has grown both organically and through acquisitions, including the full acquisition of Couponstar Ltd (UK) in 2011, which has now become the European expansion arm of Coupons.com Incorporated.

Coupons.com distributes millions of coupons each day. Coupons.com’s products and services include Coupons.com, the 39th most visited domain in the U.S.†, as well as Grocery iQ and Coupons.com mobile applications.

To start printing coupons, visit www.beforeIshop.co.uk. To learn more about Coupons.com Limited visit www.couponstar.com

† Nielsen, July 2011

Contacts

Neo PR Limited
Krista Le Beau / Josephine Timmins
Tel: +44 (0)1296 733 867
E: krista@neopr.co.uk / josephine@neopr.co.uk

Release Summary

Coupons.com Incorporated, today announces its acquisition of the remaining 50% ownership of its UK joint-venture, Couponstar Ltd (UK), the London-based digital promotions and coupon provider.

Contacts

Neo PR Limited
Krista Le Beau / Josephine Timmins
Tel: +44 (0)1296 733 867
E: krista@neopr.co.uk / josephine@neopr.co.uk