The media, information, technology, healthcare and database sectors saw 353 M&A transactions in the first quarter of 2013, for a combined value exceeding $7.53 billion, according to a recent report released by the Jordan Edmiston Group, Inc. (JEGI), an independent investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services.
The transaction volume represents a 6% decline compared to Q1 activity in 2012, and a 38% drop in overall value. Still, there are some notable deals for subscription sites:
- B2B Online Media & Technology: LexisNexis’ acquired Knowledge Mosaic, an online information resource for law firms.
- Business-to-Business Media: Euromoney Institutional Investor acquired financial publisher Insider Publishing for $25 million. (Side note: Euromoney’s Ben Eva will be speaking at Subscription Site Summit.)
- Consumer Magazines: Guggenheim Partners acquired subscription website The Hollywood Reporter, along with Billboard other publications.
- Database and Information Services: Thomson Reuters’ acquisition of UK legal know-how provider Practical Law Company was the second-largest deal of the quarter, which The Telegraph estimates was between $300 and $450 million.
- Education Information, Technology & Training:IAC acquired Tutor.com, online tutoring and homework help services, for $40 million; Franklin Covey acquired a 90% stake in NinetyFive5, a subscription?based online tool set for sales training, for $12 million.
- Healthcare Information & Technology: Athenahealth acquired Epocrates, subscription?based provider of mobile drug reference tools and electronic health records, for $215 million.
You can read deal notes as they relate to non-subscription sites in the original report published by JEGI, including Amazon’s acquisition of GoodReads, Dropbox’s acquisition of Mailbox, and Yahoo’s acquisition of Summly.
