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M&A Value in B2B Up Nearly 900% In First Half 2016? Yes, But…….

July 25, 2016 by Matt
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The number of mergers and acquisitions in B2B media and technology grew 14 percent while deal value soared 878 percent to $3.1 billion in the first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year, according to media banker JEGI.

However, that enormous leap in value was tied to Microsoft’s $29.4 billion acquisition of LinkedIn. Minus the LinkedIn sale, deal value actually dropped 75 percent in the first half of the year even though there were more transactions (50 deals versus 44 deals in the first half of 2015), as the category saw smaller sized deals. Notable deals included Wasserstein’s acquisition of Northstar for $210 million as well as the Wicks Group buying Bisnow.

The number of deals in the exhibitions and conference space fell 24 percent to 32 in the first half of 2015, while deal value fell 6 percent to $2.3 billion, according to JEGI. Still, the category showed signs of growth after a slow start in the first quarter, with the second quarter of 2016 seeing deals that included UBM buying Business Journals for $69 million and Vista Equity Partners acquiring the Cvent event management platform for $1.6 billion.

The database and information services market saw the exact opposite trend in M&A activity as the exhibitions and conference category, with a 13 percent drop in the number of deals, yet deal value soared 769 percent to $34.2 billion thanks to blockbuster transactions that included Quintiles Transnational Holdings acquisition IMS Health for $10.3 billion and the merger of global information company IHS and financial information services provider Markit for an estimated $10.3 billion.  

For the full JEGI report, click here. 

 

Matt Matt Kinsman is vice president of content + programming at Connectiv, the only association focused on the integrated b-to-b model—including publications, events, digital media, marketing services and business information. Prior to joining Connectiv's predecessor American Business Media in 2011, Kinsman was executive editor of Folio:, the leading information provider for the magazine industry.