The number of newsletter acquisitions in the first quarter of this year increased slightly over the same period of this year increased slightly over the same period last year, while the value of this year's deals showed a more marked increase. Merger and acquisition advisory firm Whitestone Communications, Inc., reported six deals were sealed in the first quarter of this year, compared with four last year; but the value of this year's acquisitions nearly quintupled from $11 million in the first quarter of 2003 to $54 million this year. Whitestone Communications Associate Jenifer Lindenman said the company expects to see continued growth in the newsletter M&A activity as the economy continues to improve. "While the first quarter improvement was modes, we expect the pace will pick up as the year goes on," she said. LRP Publications had a busy first quarter by closing two transactions - the purchase of newsletters on security from Rusting Publications and publications covering education from Aspen Publishing. Also in the quarter, two former high-level Thomson Corporation executives, Michael Danziger and Mark Lerch, completed their acquisitions of Buyers Laboratory, a rating and database service for the printer, copier and fax machine field.
This article is reprinted with permission from Hotline. Copyright May 10, 2004.
