2011-04-18 Berkery Noyes Releases First Quarter M&A Report For The Media Industry
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Berkery Noyes, the leading independent investment bank specializing in the information content and technology industries, today released its First Quarter 2011 Media Industry M&A Report.
According the firm’s analysis, the first three months of 2011 surpassed each of last year’s quarters in terms of transaction totals and aggregate transaction value, quelling many of the fears that were raised following the media industry’s fourth quarter 2010’s lackluster numbers.
“A less-than-active Q4 2010 left many doubts about the recovery’s trajectory, and, in many ways, its permanence,” said John Shea, COO of Berkery Noyes. “The strong aggregate value and volume of this quarter seems to confirm a sector recovery that had only three months ago had been put in some doubt.”
Internet media reported the largest gain by sector for the quarter, rising over 44% from 63 transactions to 91, as the popularity of media-enabled devices like smart phones and tablets continues to grow.
AOL Inc. and WebMediaBrands, Inc., meanwhile, were the most active acquirers in the quarter based on the number of announced transactions, each with four businesses purchased either directly or through a partner or affiliate. Interestingly, three of those transactions were blogs. Once considered small by definition, blogs accounted for nine transactions in the first quarter, with AOL’s $315 million acquisition of The Huffington Post the largest blog transaction Berkery Noyes has tracked.
Unique among
investment banking firms, Berkery Noyes combines independent strategic research and industry intelligence with senior information technology banking expertise. Long having been an innovator in database and research technology in M&A, Berkery Noyes has committed itself to providing more expansive and more current information on the acquisition activity in their respective sectors.
About Berkery Noyes
Berkery Noyes provides strategic mergers and acquisitions transaction advisory services, financial consulting and strategic research to middle-market information, healthcare, technology, information and media companies in the United States and internationally. For more information, visit www.berkerynoyes.com.