Ocean Group Launches New Digital Media and Technology Company

NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocean Group, a private holding company that builds businesses across high-growth sectors, today announced the creation of Black Ocean, a digital media firm that will focus on developing new technology businesses globally.

Ocean Group, which has successfully built and managed growth-oriented companies in private aviation, corporate finance, real estate, and agriculture in the US, Europe and Asia, will invest $100 million in Black Ocean. Ocean Group co-founders Timur Sardarov and Oliver Ripley will spearhead Black Ocean's development and management of next generation of investments in video, social, mobile, and e-commerce technologies.

Black Ocean's core business will comprise both a strategic holding division and an incubator. On the holding side, Black Ocean will actively manage the day-to-day operations of its companies – in which it typically owns a majority stake – to help bring new technologies to market. On the incubation side, Black Ocean offers everything from capital to structural expertise to back office support to help entrepreneurs accelerate, monetize and grow their businesses.

"Ocean Group has applied its collective entrepreneurship approach – working closely with sector experts to grow successful businesses together – across industries from agriculture to aviation," said Sardarov, co-founder and chairman of Ocean Group. "With Black Ocean we are poised to expand our digital footprint and enable new technologies that create value for the marketplace."

Current Black Ocean companies include Streamworks, a global, end-to-end streaming company; AdGenesis, a video ad matching and rewards platform; and MyCube, the social exchange that enables users to own, control and monetize the content they create online.  

"This investment enables Black Ocean to accelerate the development of new technologies and market new platforms and solutions worldwide," said Ripley, co-founder and chief executive officer of Black Ocean. "By combining investment and incubation with active, ongoing management, Black Ocean can ensure the technologies we launch today will be in a position of strength to meet market needs over the next decade."

Black Ocean is currently expanding its New York City headquarters, located in an original 19th century firehouse in the City's technology corridor.

About Ocean Group

Ocean Group is a private holding company focused on building businesses in high growth sectors worldwide and creating long term value founded by Timur Sardarov and Oliver Ripley. As an entrepreneurial company it identifies opportunities in sectors with fundamental long term growth and accelerates businesses through careful execution – identifying the right business model, financing strategy and management structure. Ocean Group sector investments include agriculture; media and technology; corporate finance; and real estate.

About Black Ocean

Black Ocean is a digital media company that invests in, builds and operates technology businesses around the world. Through its strategic holding division, Black Ocean actively manages a complementary network of businesses across video, social, mobile and e-commerce. Through its incubator, it turns smart ideas into successful businesses. Black Ocean is a new kind of company on the front line of innovation, creating value, efficiency, engagement, and revenue for its customers and shareholders. Black Ocean has offices in New York City, London, Luxembourg, Singapore, and Moscow.

SOURCE Black Ocean