BuzzFeed, the US- based digital news and entertainment company, is expected to make its stock market debut in early December and the launch will be watched carefully by other digital publishers to help gauge investors’ appetites for other similar potential IPOs. BuzzFeed is to merge with SPAC 890 Fifth Avenue Partners and simultaneously to acquire Complex Networks the youth entertainment and lifestyle company currently owned by Hearst and Verizon. The company aims to launch at a price that would value the company at $1.5bn for a business with combined revenues of $500m.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Manchester-based youth publishers LadBible Group is also due to IPO, on the London market with a target value of £360m. The company was founded in 2012. Brand extensions have included SPORTbible, GAMINGbible and UNILAD with an audience of young adults, of whom 40% are female.
