3i boosts media team with advisory hire

3i has appointed Rosalyn Wilton, chairman of newly formed Ipreo, as senior adviser working alongside the global private equity firm’s media team. Wilton will help identify transactions in the business information space, in particular online opportunities.

Prior to 3i, Wilton spent eight years at Hemscott, having joined as CEO in 1999. She remains chairman of the company, which has been renamed Ipreo since merging with US-based i-Deal. Previously, Wilton was managing director of Reuters Transaction Services and a member of Reuters Executive Committee, and before that spent more than 15 years in the financial markets.

She is currently a non-executive director of Optos and previously held non-executive positions at Liffe, Scottish Widows’ Fund and Life Assurance Society.

3i’s media investments include Yellow Brick Road, a directories business sold to a consortium for €1.83bn (US$2.67bn) in May 2005, generating a 4.2 times money multiple; VNU Business Media Recruitment; web media business DemandMedia; and online real estate listings business SeLoger.com, which was floated last December after receiving a €60m investment from 3i in November 2005.

Earlier last week, 3i added to its Chorion portfolio company. The UK-based owner of literary-based brands such as Mr Men and Noddy, acquired The Copyrights Group, which owns the Beatrix Potter and Paddington Bear characters, for an undisclosed sum.