ClarityBlue

On the 27 January 2006, GUS plc, the retail and business services group, announced that Experian had acquired ClarityBlue, a leading provider in the UK of bespoke marketing database solutions for major companies. ClarityBlue complements Experian's existing marketing businesses which help clients to target, acquire and retain customers. The purchase price was £85m plus an earn-out of up to £15m over three years. This announcement was the culmination of a sale process Canaccord Genuity ran on behalf of ClarityBlue owners ECI, and the company's management team.

ClarityBlue designs, builds and manages marketing database solutions for large consumer-facing organisations. Based in Luton, ClarityBlue's clients include some of the world's largest retail banking corporations, entertainment companies, mobile phone operators and Internet Service Providers (including Sky, LloydsTSB and Orange).

ClarityBlue was created by an MBO out of Sand Technology Inc in 2003, backed by ECI Partners, for £9m.

Canaccord Genuity worked closely throughout the transaction with Stephens Inc. of the US. This is the second successful transaction in the Technology sector that Canaccord Genuity has completed in conjunction with Stephens and adds to Canaccord Genuity's growing credentials in this sector