Magazine-media. Hearst Magazines has acquired a minority but highly-strategic stake in Gear Patrol, a “men’s enthusiast print and digital publication, store and content studio”. The 11-year-old, New York-based company, which covers a wide range of gadgets, bikes, cars, watches, and sports product, is profitable and claims a monthly audience of 2m. It makes nearly 25% of its…
BuySellAds acquires ex high-flier Digg
B2C Digital. Boston-based adtech company BuySellAds has bought the assets of the content aggregator Digg, once seen as a direct competitor to Reddit. Founded in 2004, Digg had amassed 30m monthly uniques within five years when it reportedly rejected a $200m offer from Google. By 2012, traffic had slumped to 1.5m and the business was sold for…
Comcast launches rival £22bn Sky takeover bid
Broadcast-streaming. Europe’s Sky TV has withdrawn its recommendation for 21st Century Fox’s £18.5bn offer after Comcast tabled a £22bn all cash offer. Comcast’s offer £12.50 per share bid is at a 16% premium to the £10.75 offer by Fox has a 39% shareholding in Sky. It is not known how a successful bid by Comcast would…
Sinclair sells 23 TV stations for $500m after Tribune deal
Broadcast-streaming. To obtain regulatory approval following its $3.9bn acquisition of Tribune Media, Sinclair – the owner of the largest number of US TV stations – is selling nine stations to Standard Media Group for $441.7m in cash, and KPLR-11 in St. Louis to Meredith Corp for $65m. In addition, three stations are being sold to Howard Stirk and…
Informa acquires 6 exhibitions in Egypt
Events. UK-based Informa Plc (now acquiring UBM to become one of the world’s two largest exhibitions organisers. Reed is the other) has acquired the Egypt-based shows: MediConex, PharmaConex and Africa Food Manufacturing from Arab African Conferences and Exhibitions; and Electricx, Solar-Tec and Mefsec from Egytec Engineering. Terms not disclosed. Informa
UBM acquires Metaltech from ITE Group
Events. UBM (itself being acquired by Informa Plc) becomes the owner of Metaltech, Malaysia’s annual manufacturing process exhibition. The seller ITE is a £400m quoted UK company which organises more than 200 exhibitions worldwide, with a strong (and currently challenging) presence in Russia, Central Asia and Turkey. Consolidation in global exhibitions (large and small) keeps coming. What will…
UBM acquires HK shows from Diversified Comms
Events. The US privately-owned Diversified Communications Inc has agreed to sell its trade shows Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong , Natural & Organic Products Asia, and Retail Asia Expo to the UK-based UBM which is itself is being acquired by Informa Plc. No terms have been disclosed. Diversified owns some 50 brands, operates more than 150 events and…
DLT acquires Vera Productions in UK
Broadcast-streaming. UK and US based independent TV and theatre production company DLT Entertainment has acquired UK-based producer Vera Productions (Bremner, Bird & Fortune, and Dispatches). Terms not disclosed. DLT Entertainment
TransUnion acquires Call Credit for £1bn
B2B information. The £115m-revenue, Leeds UK-based Call Credit, like the publicly-listed US-based TransUnion, provides data, analytics and technology solutions to help businesses and consumers make informed credit decisions. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval. TransUnion
NewPoint US homes mags sold to Pez Gallo Holdings
NewPoint Media Group (owned by Lion Equity Partners) is one of the largest US publishers of regional homes magazines including: Homes & Land, The Real Estate Book, Estates & Homes, New Home Guide, and Senior Living Choices. It operates a US national network of over 200 independent publishers which are embedded in their local real estate markets. Undisclosed…
