F.Y.I.

Mobile programmatic video platform InMobi acquire AerServ

Bangalore based programmatic video service, InMobi has acquired US advertising tech company AerServ to become what it claims is “the world’s largest independent mobile advertising platform”.

The announcement;

InMobi Acquires Los Angeles Based AerServ for $90 Million to Create World’s Largest Programmatic Video Platform for Mobile Publishers

Deliver next-generation mediation capabilities and offer high impact mobile video, at scale, while providing the greatest level of transparency & control

InMobi, the world’s largest independent mobile advertising platform, today announced the acquisition of AerServ for $90 million in cash and stock to create the industry’s first mediation platform with a unified programmatic auction for mobile in-app publishers. This acquisition will enhance monetisation for publishers globally and further enhance the InMobi Exchange, a premium mobile programmatic platform.

Globally, mobile premium publishers seek greater control over advertising revenue and deeper transparency into both the buyer landscape and pricing than what supply-side platforms offer today. These publishers are looking to further scale their advertising revenue using a best-in-class programmatic exchange, which will bring header bidding into mobile in-app for the first time. Together, InMobi and AerServ’s technology will deliver a next generation platform that goes beyond traditional ad mediation and provides high-quality brand demand, marking the industry’s first platform to deliver this combination to publishers worldwide.

On the demand side, brand advertisers are in need of transparent programmatic platforms of high-quality ad inventory that can be independently verified. It is expected that two thirds of the world’s digital display advertising will be traded programmatically by 2019 and advertising sold programmatically will increase from USD $57.5 billion to USD $84.9 billion over the next two years, growing at an average rate of 21 percent a year. Together, InMobi and AerServ boast over 90 percent viewability and over 70 percent video completion rate, more than double the industry benchmark for mobile – helping better meet the demands of today’s brand advertisers when it comes to programmatic spend. AerServ has integrations with over 75 DSP’s, exchanges and agencies around the world, enhancing InMobi’s global footprint and together cover a large majority of the Fortune 500 brand buyers.

With this investment, InMobi’s video and programmatic business will account for 35 percent of the overall company revenue and will solidify InMobi’s leadership position in the mobile video advertising industry in the U.S. InMobi Exchange scale will increase as AerServ runs more than 90 billion ad opportunities each month and provides access to brand programmatic demand to over 2,000 mobile apps.

“This acquisition fits in perfectly with our global strategy to bring next generation platforms for premium publishers. That aside, we are two profitable companies combining forces to cement our leadership position in mobile video advertising, and our integrated prowess in this space will help us scale our business in new directions globally,” said Naveen Tewari, Founder and CEO, InMobi. “Our combined platforms will bring next-generation mediation capabilities to premium publishers and establish the first programmatic video exchange in India and China. Over the next three years, we expect to increase our brand programmatic revenue tenfold with this acquisition and continue our investments in that direction.”

“We’re excited to join forces with InMobi and grow the mobile advertising and programmatic industry together,” said Josh Speyer, Chief Executive Officer at AerServ. “Our decision to embark on this new adventure was made easy by the great partner we have in InMobi, their expertise in the industry and global scale. This will allow us to scale our platforms together across the globe and build a strong business in previously untapped markets such as China and broader APAC.”

From an InMobi media release.

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