Buyer for media software company in Europe

• Revenue: 3-30M EUR
• Employees: not decisive
• Location of the target: Europe
• Reason for acquisition: The company is a large media group. It has a strategy for growing its operations in Europe via acquisitions, therefore the management is open to speaking to interested sellers
• #CFIE ITB045

The buyer started as a specialist publishing company for specialized sectors such as administration and industry. Over the years it managed to grow into a corporate group that today includes more than 40 companies in Europe. The management developed the business organically, but mostly via acquisitions. This media company has 4 major areas of business activity: magazines, online platforms, events and content marketing. The services are addressed to industries such as Automotive, Construction & Building Technology, Industry and Production. More than 1000 employees specialized in business information, education, communication, journalism, science and IT work together to prepare the specialist information, software, advanced training and services addressed to the business sector. The group is backed by a leading private equity firm in Europe that will continue to consolidate and diversify the group’s entrepreneurial behaviour. A key focus will continue to be on the development of products & services and on digitalization that changes corporate processes. In this line, the acquisition policy remains a strong priority, the group is looking for target companies that are able to complement the current portfolio. The buyer wants to acquire companies that work in software media sector and that have high ambition and potential for growth.

The buyer is a diversified media group that gained a top market position by offering a wide range of specialist information across various formats. The group generates an annual turnover of around EUR 300 million with a total of 1,600 employees and wants to continue growing by acquiring companies that can add value to the existing services portfolio. The area of “Business Information & Education” is a key activity for the business, the group offering expert knowledge via print, digital and face-to-face formats. The digital services are composed of online content & databases, software and e-learning. Face-to-face activities include seminars and various specialized training that are focused more on practice level rather than on theoretic. Specific niche industries where technical knowledge is provided include occupational safety, hazardous goods, law and taxation or dentistry.

Another important segment in the company’s activity is Business Communication. The team offers specialist information through print material (magazines), digital services and special events (conferences, sectorial meetings, etc.). Targeted industries are electronics, ITC and building technology. Within this communication division the topics are on specific data and services that provide participants with key information regarding their respective markets. Education services are provided to specialists and executives through seminars, workshops, courses, conferences, in-house coaching programs and congresses. During these events, the education team covers a wide range of relevant topics such as operational safety, quality management, corporate codetermination and data protection. Specialist information is provided also to professionals from the fields of production and construction, environment and energy, management and finance, public authorities, the building trade, architecture, human resources and IT.

The buyer is looking to acquire a company that is active in the field of media software. The software products are used to optimize and streamline media processes. The acquisition strategy is to buy companies that can diversify and complement the current portfolio of software packages.

• The buyer is a diversified media group offering specialist publishing
• The group is backed by a strong private equity firm
• The group wants to continue growing via acquisitions
• Target companies should be active in providing software solutions for the media sector