Q1 2012 Media and Marketing Industry Trends Report

Transaction volume in the Media and Marketing Industry improved in Q1 2012, increasing seven percent from Q4 2011. Meanwhile, transaction value gained 10 percent, its second consecutive quarterly increase. There were only four transactions totaling more than $600 million during the quarter, compared to seven such deals in Q1 2011.

BCE’s announced acquisition of Astral Media for $3.4 billion, the largest acquisition in Q1 2012, was also the largest transaction in the Broadcasting segment since 2008.

Marketing, which saw overall deal activity rise 14 percent, was more active than Internet Media for the first time since being included in this report. Digital Marketing volume rose from 28 to 47 transactions during the first quarter, representing a 68 percent gain. With 99 transactions, M&A in the Internet Media segment remained constant.

The Exhibitions, Conferences, and Seminar segment saw an 80 percent increase compared to Q4 2011. The largest related deal was GCP Capital Partners’ acquisition of World Trade Group, an international media business, for $43 million.

Entertainment Content M&A underwent a 46 percent increase in the last three months. Lionsgate’s acquisition of Summit Entertainment for $700 million and International Gaming Technology’s announced acquisition of Double Down Interactive for $200 million were the segment’s two largest transactions in the first quarter.