Online marketing services provider ValueClick Inc., owner of brands like Be Free, Mediaplex and AdWare, signed an agreement to buy Commission Junction, a Santa Barbara, CA, affiliate marketing firm.
The Westlake Village, CA, company will pay $58 million in cash, common stock and options to acquire all outstanding shares in Commission Junction. Boards of both companies have approved the deal. It will close in November pending regulatory approval.
The deal doubles the size of ValueClick's affiliate marketing division. Its Be Free arm powers the affiliate marketing programs of more than 200 retailers and marketers including Best Buy Co., Travelocity, Staples and CitiFinancial.
Commission Junction has clients like MSN, Quicken Loans, eBay and Overture as well as British retailer Marks & Spencer, Marbles and Expedia overseas.
