Search Engine Marketing - PPC Management Services

Online Agribusiness Powerhouse IRON Solutions Acquired: Company Continues to Expand Service Offerings and Leads Online Agribusiness Innovation

Boone, IA (PRWEB) August 29, 2008 -- IRON Solutions® (www.ironsolutions.com), the leading online partner for farm and construction equipment manufacturers, dealers and personal sellers, announced at the Farm Progress Show today that it has been acquired by a new group of investors.

Spearheading the acquisition is the leading "Software-as-a-Service" (or SaaS) venture capital firm StarVest Partners (www.starvestpartners.com). StarVest is joined in a limited partnership with Dublin Capital Partners and Spring Mountain Capital and strategic investor GVIC Communications Corporation. Together, they have purchased 90 percent of IRON Solutions, Inc. for the sum of $15 million. Current investors in IRON Solutions will retain a 10 percent ownership stake in the new company, IRON Solutions.

"The acquisition is a very positive development for our customers and business partners in the agribusiness industry," says Darwin Melnyk, President and CEO of IRON Solutions. "This new chapter in our company's history of leadership and innovation was designed to accelerate the development and delivery of our services to our valued customers in the equipment industry."

StarVest Partners established itself in the Software-as-a-Service sector by investing early in leading Software-as-a-Service companies such as NetSuite (NYSE: N). With today's announcement, StarVest Partners and IRON Solutions plan to expand existing offerings aggressively into the dynamic "Data-as-a-Service" (DaaS) market.

Innovative companies use "Data-as-a-Service" strategies to make the integration of data into customer systems easier, and to make data more accessible via online services. "We are as committed as always to the agricultural, outdoor power and construction industries," says Melnyk. "The acquisition of IRON Solutions by investors who have proven vision and growth objectives comes at the right time for the company and the equipment industry. We can now more rapidly address the changing needs of our dealer and manufacturing customers and the demand chain partners that keep equipment moving to and from end users."

The commitment of IRON Solutions, and the company's history of collaboration with equipment industry leaders is reflected in the depth and accuracy of the data that anchors their services. IRON Solutions works with equipment dealers, manufacturers and others to compile the Official Guides book series, which provides unparalleled market intelligence to the equipment industry. In addition, the company offers an online service where crop producers can buy, sell and appraise equipment (www.IRONsearch.com).

IRON Solutions maintains the largest database of used equipment transaction information in the farm and construction equipment industry. The company is the undisputed leader in market data for more than 4,000 North American farm, outdoor power and construction equipment dealers, manufacturers, leading auctioneers, and financial institutions, insurers and government agencies.

StarVest has more than 10 years of experience in the "Software-as-a-Service" market sector and is a major investor in NetSuite, whose $1.6 billion IPO in 2007 elevated the company to national prominence.

"Acquiring IRON Solutions marks another important milestone for StarVest and its investors as we look to continue capitalizing on the large and growing 'Data-as-a-Service' market," said Larry Bettino, general partner, StarVest Partners. "IRON Solutions is a perfect example of the tremendous value generated when data is coupled with technology."

StarVest focuses on five core areas of technology enabled business services including SaaS, Internet Marketing Services, e-Commerce Services, Data Aggregation Services and Identity and Security Management. The firm invests in the most promising companies regardless of where they are geographically and has active investments across the U.S. including emerging technology hubs such as Cleveland, Austin, Scottsdale and Los Angeles.

About IRON Solutions Inc.:

IRON Solutions, Inc. (www.IRONsolutions.com), is the leading source of Equipment Market Intelligence? for used agricultural, industrial, and outdoor power equipment. IRON Solutions® provides an integrated portfolio of services to manufacturers, dealers, producers and finance companies who want to make business-critical decisions, informed by easily accessible and accurate market information. IRON Solutions® publishes the Official Guides, the trusted source of the gold standard in equipment valuation data, and www.IRONsearch.com, North America's largest used tractor and equipment Web site.

About StarVest Partners:

StarVest Partners is a disciplined venture capital firm that is funding and building next- generation businesses. StarVest gained global recognition in 2007 as the only outside venture capital firm in NetSuite, whose December 2007 initial public offering opened with a $1.5 billion market capitalization. StarVest is also a lead venture investor in MessageOne (acquired by Dell Computer in February 2008).

The firm's value-added partnership maintains a sharp focus on five key, emerging technology and services sectors: Software as a Service (SaaS), Internet Marketing Services, eCommerce Services, Data Aggregation Services and Identity and Security Management. StarVest combines a sophisticated investment background with the experience to foresee opportunities for both its portfolio companies and funding partners. The company follows a highly selective approach which has led to a tenfold increase in, and compound annual revenue growth of, more than 70 percent for its active StarVest I portfolio. More information about StarVest is available at the company's Web site: www.starvestpartners.com.

###

MORE ARTICLES:

Internet Marketing Expert Shows How Search Engine Optimization and RSS Can Boost Public Relations Visibility
TopRank CEO Lee Odden to Speak at Bulldog Reporter's Advanced Public Relations Technology in Practice Event

New Law Firm Marketing Subsidiary Combines Web Design and Search Engine Optimization for Lawyers
For over a year, Adviatech has been providing web design and search engine optimization for lawyers. Now they have launched a subsidiary to specialize on the niche service.

SpiderSplat.com Expands Search Engine Marketing to Include Social Media Optimization Services (SMO Consultant)
SpiderSplat, a leading provider of Search Engine Marketing, Pay-per-Click marketing and Keyword syndicated press releases, has expanded its offering to now include Social Media Optimization services. This new service called the SMO Consultant, offers clients the ability to have the opportunity to dramatically increase traffic and turn visitors into paying customers when used with SpiderSplat's SEM services.

Engine77 -- Search Engine Internet Optimization Firm Unveils New SEO Technology and Service
Infinidigm, Inc., a search engine optimization, search engine marketing, and software development firm, announces its cornerstone search engine marketing and search engine optimization technology-based service called Engine77. Engine77 is a robust software platform and service used to optimize web sites, perform market research, and develop sites based upon the analysis.

Search Engine Optimization Firm, Brick Marketing Revises Search Engine Optimization Service
Brick Marketing, an internet marketing company, has recently revised and re-launched their search engine optimization services to adjust with growing trends. Brick Marketing has acknowledged that a revision of this product and the way it was offered to our clients had to be revised in order to stay competitive with other agencies. Potential customers can now be accustomed to similar pricing strategies has other players in the industry. The online marketing industry is a very fast moving industry with changes occurring sometimes over night. In order for firms and consultants to stay in a competitive range a watchful eye must be kept on all offerings in order to be able to provide only the best solution for clients.

Icelandic Internet Marketing Firm Invited to Speak at London's Search Engine Strategies Conference
Nordic eMarketing's Director of Internet Marketing, Kristjan Mar Hauksson, has been invited to present at the Search Engine Strategies Conference and Expo 2007 in London, England.

Local Search Engine Marketing Expert to Speak at Search Engine Strategies Conference in Chicago
Janet Driscoll Miller, a local leading search engine marketing expert, will be speaking at the Search Engine Strategies Conference in Chicago on Monday, December 4, 2006. Miller is the president and CEO of Search Mojo, a search engine marketing firm.

Search Engine Marketing Firm iProspect Wins at Search Engine Strategies Awards
iProspect Client Microsoft Small Business Center Wins Award for Best Business to Business Search Engine Marketing Campaign

PPC Summit Workshops: Learn Search Engine Marketing in Two-Day Seminars from Search Industry Experts
PPC Summit unites some of the foremost minds in the pay per click advertising world to change the way the subject is taught. Targeted at a range of skill levels and suitable for a wide variety of professionals, participants acquire new skills and leave with a solid understanding of search engine marketing. The team is bringing their seminars to cities all over North America, as well as London in the UK, in 2007.

Atlanta Search Engine Marketing Firm Prominent Placement is Finalist for Three American Marketing Association Awards
Prominent Placement, Inc., a leading Atlanta search engine marketing firm, received three Atlanta Marketer of the Year (AMY) Finalist Awards from the American Marketing Association (AMA). All three of the firm's entries were selected as finalists out of 130 total submissions.

Twelve Horses Expands Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing Services
Through hiring SEO expert Eric Morgan Twelve Horses has expanded its service offering to include SEO. Twelve Horses is a Reno based company that currently provides web design, web development, and email marketing services to clients on a national basis.

BrainPulse Technologies: Launches Advanced Internet Marketing / Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Services
BrainPulse has stepped forward to revolutionize Internet marketing and SEO Services to help global businesses achieve their internet marketing goals effectively and in a planned strategical manner to enhance the marketing campaing effectiveness and maximize the return on investments.

Search Engine Optimization Firm, Epiar Inc., Unveils New Paid Search Advertising Service
After months of testing, Epiar has taken pay-per-click (PPC) advertising to the next level with the launch of its new service to the general public. Epiar is introducing the service at the New York Search Marketing Expo Conference Oct. 6-8.

Search Engine Optimization Company Announces Expansion in Business and New Marketing Strategy
Within the past two years Keyword Performance LLC, a creative search engine marketing firm, has tripled in size, offering new services and gaining large company recognition.

SEO Link Building and Copywriting Service Relaunched by Search Engine Optimization Firm Brick Marketing
Brick Marketing has realized the importance of incorporating and combining link building into all aspects of online marketing for each of their clients. They have since re-launched their link building service for those interested in introducing online marketing in their business model.