Israeli publication Haaretz reported last night that Tomer Bar-Zeev’s ironSource is to buy Supersonic, which is also an Israeli company. This is the seventh acquisition by IronSource.
The value of the deal is some $150 million in cash and shares. Part of the plan is to expand ironSource’s presence in mobile app monetization, the core power of Supersonic. The deal isn’t final yet and that talks are ongoing between multiple parties.
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Supersonic has been growing its presence in mobile monetization through rewarded video advertising, where a user can gain currency to buy things in a game or app by watching video ads.
“The video ads — which are provided by a number of big mobile ad networks on Supersonic’s platform — are a good way to keep people engaged, and a great way for developers to drive revenue”, said Gil Shoham in an interview earlier this year.
Supersonic has 200 employees, and its clients are such as Pretty Simple, Pocket Gems, Electronic Arts, Kongregate, Gree, Social Point, and DeNA.
IronSource has about 550 employees, mainly in Israel and more in Beijing, San Francisco and New York. Its revenues are estimated bout $300 million a year, and its net profit $100 million a year.
Supersonic was founded in 2008 by Nissim Romano, Gil Shoham, and Arik Czerniak. The company has raised $23.2 million. The main investor is one of China’s leading venture capital firms, SAIF Partners, alongside the partners in Israeli venture capital firm 83North, formerly Greylock Israel.
Two of the initial investors in Supersonic were Reuven Adler and Eyal Chomski, of the advertising agency.
