comScore Bundle
Who Owns comScore?
Understanding the ownership of a company like comScore is key to grasping its strategic direction and market impact. A significant investment in January 2021 by Charter Communications, Qurate Retail, and Cerberus Capital Management marked a notable shift, offering vital financial flexibility and charting a new path forward.
Founded in 1999, comScore has established itself as a leader in cross-platform measurement, providing crucial data for the media and advertising sectors. The company reported revenues of $356.0 million for 2024, alongside a net loss of $60.2 million.
The ownership structure is a mix of institutional investors, strategic partners, and public shareholders. This article explores comScore's ownership journey, from its early days to the influence of major investors and its current public shareholding.
For a deeper dive into the external factors influencing the company, consider a comScore PESTEL Analysis.
Who Founded comScore?
comScore was established in July 1999 by Magid Abraham and Gian Fulgoni, who both had prior experience at Information Resources, Inc. (IRI). Linda Abraham also played a role as a co-founder and early angel investor. The company secured significant early funding, totaling $57 million across three rounds by August 2001, to fuel its growth and market penetration strategies.
| Founders | Magid Abraham, Gian Fulgoni, Linda Abraham |
| Early Backing | Angel investors and venture capital firms |
| Total Early Funding (by Aug 2001) | $57 million |
| Key Early Investors | Adams Street Partners, Accel Partners, JP Morgan Partners/Flatiron Partners, Institutional Venture Partners, Lehman Brothers Venture Fund |
The founders aimed to provide a comprehensive view of internet user behavior and purchasing patterns. Their experience from market research provided a strong foundation for this goal.
Significant capital was raised through multiple funding rounds, indicating strong early investor confidence. This funding was crucial for the company's aggressive market approach.
Prominent venture capital firms were instrumental in providing the necessary financial backing. Adams Street Partners notably led a $15 million Series C round.
The early investment allowed the company to implement a robust sales and marketing strategy. This focus was essential for capturing market share in the nascent digital analytics space.
While specific initial equity splits are not public, the involvement of major venture capital firms shaped the foundational ownership. This structure was designed to support rapid expansion and innovation.
The founders' prior leadership roles at Information Resources, Inc. provided invaluable expertise. This background was critical in navigating the complexities of the market research industry.
The early ownership of comScore was characterized by a blend of founder equity and significant investment from venture capital firms. This strategic infusion of capital, totaling $57 million by August 2001, enabled the company to aggressively pursue its mission of understanding internet user behavior. Key investors like Adams Street Partners, Accel Partners, and JP Morgan Partners played a crucial role in shaping the company's trajectory, providing not just funding but also strategic guidance. This early backing was fundamental to comScore's ability to develop and market its data-driven services, laying the groundwork for its future growth and influence in digital analytics. Understanding the Marketing Strategy of comScore also sheds light on how this early ownership structure was leveraged.
The substantial early funding allowed comScore to build its technological infrastructure and expand its market reach. This investment was critical for establishing its position in the competitive digital analytics landscape.
- Secured $57 million by August 2001.
- Attracted investment from prominent venture capital firms.
- Enabled aggressive sales and marketing initiatives.
- Supported the development of data-based services.
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How Has comScore’s Ownership Changed Over Time?
The ownership of comScore has evolved significantly since its initial public offering in 2007. Key strategic investments in 2021 marked a pivotal moment, reshaping the company's financial structure and stakeholder alignment.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Public Offering (IPO) | March 30, 2007 | Listed on Nasdaq under ticker 'SCOR'. |
| Largest Post-IPO Funding Round | April 2015 | Raised $287 million. |
| Strategic Investment | January 2021 | Charter Communications, Qurate Retail Group, and Cerberus Capital Management affiliate invested $204.0 million ($68.0 million each) for convertible preferred stock. |
| Debt Retirement | January 2021 | Investment used to recapitalize the company and retire existing debt, including senior secured notes. |
The ownership structure of comScore reflects a blend of institutional backing and strategic industry partnerships. As of July 2025, institutional investors are the dominant shareholders, holding a substantial majority of the company's shares, indicating significant confidence from the broader financial market.
Understanding who owns comScore involves looking at both institutional and insider holdings. This breakdown highlights the concentration of ownership and the influence of major investors.
- Institutional Investors: Collectively hold 58.88% of comScore shares as of July 2025.
- Mutual Funds: Account for 14.08% of comScore's stock as of July 2025.
- Insiders: Executives and directors hold approximately 0.89% of shares as of July 2025.
- Total Outstanding Shares: As of March 6, 2024, there were 4,755,153 shares of common stock outstanding.
- Major Institutional Shareholders: Include 180 Degree Capital Corp. /ny/, Westerly Capital Management, Llc, Vanguard Group Inc, Clune & Associates, Ltd., Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., and Acadian Asset Management Llc.
- The 2021 investment by Charter, Qurate, and Cerberus provided financial stability and strategic alignment, with each gaining board representation and voting rights capped at 16.66%. This move was a significant factor in the Mission, Vision & Core Values of comScore.
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Who Sits on comScore’s Board?
The governance of comScore, Inc. is overseen by its Board of Directors, a group responsible for strategic direction and fiduciary duties. As of August 2025, the board comprises Dr. Nana Banerjee (Chairman), Bill Livek, Jon Carpenter (CEO & Director), Itzhak Fisher, Leslie Gillin, David Kline, Matt McLaughlin, Jeff Murphy, Marty Patterson, and Brian Wendling. Jeffrey B. Murphy, appointed as a Class III director on April 3, 2024, chairs the Board's Finance and Acquisitions Committee, with his term concluding at the 2025 annual meeting.
| Director Name | Role | Appointment/Term |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Nana Banerjee | Chairman | Since July 2022 |
| Bill Livek | Director | |
| Jon Carpenter | CEO & Director | |
| Itzhak Fisher | Director | |
| Leslie Gillin | Director | |
| David Kline | Director | |
| Matt McLaughlin | Director | Nominated by 180 Degree Capital Corp. |
| Jeff Murphy | Director | Appointed April 3, 2024; Term expires 2025 Annual Meeting; Chairs Finance and Acquisitions Committee |
| Marty Patterson | Director | |
| Brian Wendling | Director |
comScore's voting power is distributed through its common stock and Series B Preferred Stock, with all holders having the right to vote on matters presented at annual meetings. Following a strategic investment in 2021, Charter Communications, Qurate Retail, and Cerberus Capital Management each gained the right to appoint two directors to the ten-member board. Crucially, the voting rights tied to their convertible preferred shares are capped at 16.66% per investor, ensuring no single entity holds a dominant voting position. An example of shareholder engagement in comScore ownership structure explained was when 180 Degree Capital Corp. nominated Matthew (Matt) McLaughlin for director and proposed declassifying the Board for the 2024 Annual Meeting, a matter resolved through direct engagement.
Key investors in comScore have specific rights influencing board composition and voting power. These arrangements are designed to balance influence among significant stakeholders.
- Charter Communications, Qurate Retail, and Cerberus Capital Management each have rights to designate two board seats.
- Voting rights for convertible preferred shares are capped at 16.66% for each of these investors.
- Shareholder nominations, like that of Matt McLaughlin, demonstrate active participation in company governance.
- The Target Market of comScore is directly impacted by the strategic decisions made under this board structure.
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What Recent Changes Have Shaped comScore’s Ownership Landscape?
Over the last few years, comScore's ownership has seen significant shifts, including strategic investments and leadership changes. These developments aim to bolster its market position and financial standing within the evolving media measurement landscape.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic Investment | January 2021 | $204.0 million from Charter Communications, Qurate Retail, and Cerberus Capital Management. |
| Acquisition | December 2021 | Acquired Shareablee to enhance social media insights. |
| CEO Appointment | July 2022 | Jon Carpenter became CEO, succeeding Bill Livek. |
| Executive Appointments | January 2025 | Frank Friedman appointed Chief Data and Analytics Officer; Jackelyn Keller became Chief Marketing Officer. |
| Strategic Review | August 2025 | Retained Goldman Sachs to advise on strategic and capital structure alternatives. |
In 2024, comScore reported revenues of $356.0 million, a decrease from $371.3 million in 2023, with a net loss of $60.2 million. The company projects 2025 revenues between $360 million and $370 million, anticipating growth in its Content & Ad Measurement segment, particularly in local TV and cross-platform products. This focus aligns with industry trends emphasizing cross-platform measurement and programmatic advertising growth, as highlighted by the March 2023 rebrand of Proximic by Comscore. As of July 2025, institutional ownership represents 58.88%, with insiders at 0.89% and mutual funds at 14.08%, indicating a predominantly institutional investor base.
Institutional investors hold a significant portion of comScore's ownership. Mutual funds represent a notable segment of these stakeholders.
The company experienced a revenue dip in 2024 but forecasts modest growth for 2025. Strategic investments are being made in key measurement areas.
Recent executive appointments signal a commitment to enhancing data and marketing capabilities. The company is actively exploring strategic and capital structure alternatives.
comScore is focusing on cross-platform measurement and programmatic targeting. Understanding these dynamics is crucial when examining the Competitors Landscape of comScore.
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