Folio RSS: M and A and Finance

Hearst Ups Equity Interest in Fitch Group to 50 Percent

sbotelho — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:31:24 -0500

Hearst Corporation has upped its equity interest in global credit ratings agency Fitch Group again, adding an additional 10 percent. The transaction, valued at $177 million, brings Heart’s total equity interest to 50 percent.

GigaOm Buys PaidContent

Bill Mickey — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:02:00 -0500

Stora Enso Restructures to Drop $63.6 Million in Costs

sbotelho — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:45:03 -0500

Stora Enso has announced a restructuring plan that aims to cut costs in its annual magazine paper operation by about $63.6 million by third quarter 2013, with the goal of improving efficiency and productivity.

Ziff Davis Enterprise Sold to Lead-Gen Company QuinStreet

Bill Mickey — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:45:15 -0500

Inside Publications Acquires Cheer Biz News

sbotelho — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:31:04 -0500

For an unknown amount, Atlanta-based Inside Publications purchased Cheer Biz News and sister titles The Coach’s Handbook and All Star Insider. Moving forward, Cheer Biz will be produced by Inside Publications staff.

CFO Publishing Acquires Innovation Enterprise Group

Bill Mickey — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:08:58 -0500

American Cheerleader Sold to Varsity Spirit Corp.

sbotelho — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:35:03 -0500

Have You Noticed? There's Been a Flurry of Magazine M&A

Bill Mickey — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:09:46 -0500

Ten magazine and website deals in the last 24 days.

Meredith Buys Allrecipes.com from Reader’s Digest Association

sbotelho — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:28:30 -0500

After putting the property on the block in October, Reader’s Digest Association will sell Allrecipes.com

Topspin LBO Buys Stagnito Media

Bill Mickey — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:43:03 -0500

Catalyst Paper Will Undergo Recapitalization

sbotelho — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:56:52 -0500

Hanley Wood Slashes Debt Via New Ownership Group

Bill Mickey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:16:04 -0500

NewBay Media Buys Music Mags from Future US

Bill Mickey — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:08:31 -0500

Grand View Media Takes Over Operations of Shooting Sports Retailer

sbotelho — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:03:14 -0500

F+W Buys World Tea Media

sbotelho — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:00:50 -0500

F+W Media, a Blue Ash, Ohio-based media company serving enthusiasts in about 20 verticals including antiques and collectibles, crafts, writing and horticulture, has acquired World Tea Media, organizer of the World Tea Expo.

Vibe Holdings to Merge with Access Network

sbotelho — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:51:06 -0500

The Yucaipa Johnson Fund and InterMedia will merge the Vibe Holdings and Uptown businesses with the BlackBook Media business and its owner Access Network. The resulting company, which will operate under the moniker Vibe Media, will manage Vibe, Uptown and BlackBook magazines.

Bangor Metro Regional Magazine to be Sold to Private Investors

sbotelho — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:54:28 -0500

Bangor Metro, a six-year old business, lifestyle and opinion magazine serving the Bangor, Maine region, will be sold next month to a group of investors within the city—principally Jack Cashman of Cashman Asset Management, a long-time Bangor businessman.

Advantage Business Media Buys Vicon Publishing

Bill Mickey — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:37:47 -0500

Meredith Acquires FamilyFun Magazine from Disney Publishing Worldwide

sbotelho — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:17:35 -0500

Meredith Corporation is acquiring the assets of Disney Publishing Worldwide’s FamilyFun. Beginning in March 2012, FamilyFun and its associated special interest publications, as well as Toyhopper and other magazine apps, will be published by Meredith.

Ziff Davis Buys Toolbox.com

Bill Mickey — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:04:00 -0500

Overall Media M&A Up 9 Percent in 2011

Bill Mickey — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:40:29 -0500

The New York Times Company Sells Regional Media Group

Bill Mickey — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:05:34 -0500

Source Interlink’s GrindMedia Acquires Baseball America

sbotelho — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:22:49 -0500

In a move to expand its traditional sports portfolio, GrindMedia (a division of enthusiast publisher Source Interlink Media) acquires Baseball America magazine and accompanying properties. Baseball America’s original staff will remain in the magazine’s Durham, North Carolina-based offices.

Bluff Media Acquires Stake in Mid-States Poker Tour

sbotelho — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:24:14 -0500

Bluff Media, publisher of poker industry magazine Bluff, has acquired a stake in the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT), with plans to immediately rebrand the event the Bluff Magazine Mid-States Poker Tour and eventually the Bluff Poker Tour.

F+W Media Acquires Script Magazine from Final Draft Inc.

sbotelho — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:57:42 -0500

F+W Media adds another property to its portfolio, acquiring Script Magazine from Final Draft, Inc. For an undisclosed amount, F+W will now have complete ownership of Script content.

Bonnier Corp. Buys Four Hunting Expos from Target Communications

sbotelho — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 11:04:28 -0500

Bonnier Corporation, publisher of magazines including Field & Stream and Outdoor Life, has purchased four hunting expos from Mequon, Wisconsin-based Target Communications for an undisclosed sum.

J.C. Penney Invests $38.5 Million in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

sbotelho — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:30:03 -0500

After initiating a search for investors and potential partners with Blackstone Advisory Partners in May 2011, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announces the resulting partnership. Retailer J.C. Penney invests $38.5 million in the multi-brand company, and will hold a 16.6 percent stake.

Digital Media Company Black Ocean Takes Majority Stake in Hearst’s LMK App

sbotelho — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:04 -0500

What a Facebook IPO Could Mean For Publishers

sbotelho — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:09:48 -0500

Influences from shareholders could help the company triumph, or falter.

Digital Platform ePals Acquires Carus

sbotelho — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:46:27 -0500

CompareNetworks Acquires Russell Publishing

sbotelho — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:27:12 -0500

San Francisco, California-based CompareNetworks, which operates online b-to-b marketplaces for the scientific and healthcare industries, has acquired Indianapolis, Indiana-based Russell Publishing, LLC, publisher of titles American Pharmaceutical Review, Pharmaceutical Outsourcing and International Drug Discovery. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Open Sky Media Acquires Marin Magazine

sbotelho — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 12:33:34 -0500

M&A Transaction Value Plummets 23 Percent from Q2 to Q3 2011

sbotelho — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:05:12 -0400

According to a report from investment bankers Berkery Noyes, media M&A in third quarter 2011 experienced a higher transaction volume, but a lower transaction value, than in second quarter 2011.

Report: Media M&A Flat Through Third Quarter

sbotelho — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:35:47 -0400

A media M&A report for the first three quarters is out from M&A advisory firm the Jordan, Edmiston Group and transaction volume is about equal to the same period 2010, with value up by 10 percent to about $35 billion.

Hearst's CDS Global Buys PayDQ

sbotelho — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:31:31 -0400

CDS Global, the fulfillment company owned by Hearst Corporation, has purchased e-payment platform provider PayDQ. The acquisition broadens CDS' electronic payment capabilities, providing it with a stronger cross-platform billing solution.

Bonnier Acquires Hearst’s Cycle World

sbotelho — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:40:18 -0400

In a continuum of an acquisition series that has become Bonnier’s growth strategy, the publisher acquires Hearst’s Cycle World. Terms of the deal remain undisclosed.

VSS Predicts Total Communication Industry Spending to Grow 4.1 Percent in 2011

sbotelho — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:57:18 -0400

The Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS) firm releases its 25th edition of its Communications Industry Forecast for 2011-2015. According to the VSS report, the total communications industry will grow 4.1 percent during this period to $1.120 trillion. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to increase 5.5 percent from 2010 to 2015.

Summit Business Media Sells Off Highline Data

Matt Kinsman — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:25:53 -0400

Summit Business Media has sold Highline Data--its insurance information services unit--to SNL Financial LC.

Glam Media Acquires Ning

Matt Kinsman — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:12:23 -0400

Glam Media, a lifestyle and fashion blog network, has acquired Ning, a platform for building social media communities. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but reports are putting the price in the $150 million to $200 million range and mostly in stock.

Personalized Content App Zite Acquired by CNN

sbotelho — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:44:25 -0400

Zite, the free personalized news app for the iPad, has been sold to CNN. The sale is reportedly valued between $20 and $25 million, according to All Things D.

Former NCI CEO Dan McCarthy Joins DeSilva & Phillips

Matt Kinsman — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:02:33 -0400

R.R. Donnelley Acquires LibreDigital

sbotelho — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:05:11 -0400

R.R. Donnelly has added another company, LibreDigital, to its portfolio. Terms of the deal remain undisclosed.

BBC Worldwide Sells its Magazine Portfolio to Private Equity Firm Exponent

sbotelho — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:34:02 -0400

BBC Worldwide, a UK-based publisher, has sold its magazine business to Exponent, a private equity firm.

American Media Drops Sale After Disappointing Offer

sbotelho — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:14:34 -0400

Platinum Equity Acquires Quark

sbotelho — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:09:54 -0400

Digital publishing software company Quark has been acquired by global M&A&O firm Platinum Equity. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Digital Analytics Provider comScore To Acquire AdXpose

sbotelho — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 11:26:54 -0400

Hearst Completes U.K. Portion of Lagerdere Acquisition

sbotelho — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:36:18 -0400

Hearst’s U.K. division, the National Magazine Company, is officially merged with Hachette Filipacchi UK Ltd. The group is now under the moniker Hearst Magazines UK.

Meredith National Media Group Ad Revenue Down 4 Percent for 2011 Fiscal Year

sbotelho — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:05:10 -0400

Active Interest Media Acquires Assets from Dominion Enterprises

sbotelho — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:37:13 -0400

Active Interest Media (AIM), the consumer enthusiast media company that publishes magazines such as American Cowboy and Backpacker, has acquired several assets from Dominion Enterprises, a marketing services company serving the automotive, marine, enthusiast commercial vehicle, real estate, apartm

M&A Soars For Digital and Marketing Services, While B-to-B Deals Plummet

Dan Trombetto — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:02:23 -0400

Mergers and acquisitions in the media, information, marketing services and tech sectors in the first half of 2011 may not be matching the breakneck pace of the first half of 2010 (which rebounded 61 percent over a dismal first half 2009) but were still up 3 percent in the number of deals (to 484) and 15 percent in overall value (to $23.28 billion), according to The Jordan, Edmiston Group.