Media & Entertainment Acquisitions in 2018

Astorg-backed M7 Group agreed to acquire Liberty Global's direct-to-home (DTH) satellite TV operations serving Hungary (UPC Direct), the Czech Republic and Slovakia (freeSAT / Skylink) and Romania (FocusSat). The deal (subject to regulatory approval) adds about 800,000 customers and expands M7's footprint across Eastern Europe, enabling rollout of its hybrid satellite and OTT platform.

Sandbox & Co, on behalf of Figjam Group Ltd., has acquired Constructive Media, the New York–headquartered owner of CoolmathGames, from H.I.G. Capital. The acquisition brings Constructive Media's large edutainment and casual gaming audience into Sandbox/ Figjam's portfolio to expand its network of children- and family-focused learning and entertainment properties.

Elsevier has completed its acquisition of Aries Systems, a North Andover, Massachusetts-based provider of manuscript submission, peer review and publishing workflow solutions. The purchase brings Aries' Editorial Manager and ProduXion Manager offerings into Elsevier's portfolio to strengthen its content-plus-technology strategy for scientific and scholarly publishing.

Boyne Capital has partnered with management to acquire AC Business Media, a Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin–based business-to-business media and business intelligence company, purchasing a majority stake from prior owners Anil Narang and Carl Wistreich (who remain minority owners). Boyne will work with new CEO Barry Lovette and the existing management team to invest in products and capabilities and expand AC Business Media's audience across its portfolio of digital properties, trade shows, magazines, webinars and data-driven marketing offerings.

Emerald Expositions Events, Inc. acquired a leading technology event and a group of complementary technology intelligence brands from EH Media for approximately $28 million in cash. The purchase includes brands such as Total Tech Summit, CEPro, Commercial Integrator, Security Sales & Integration, and Campus Safety, and brings EH Media's Framingham-based team into Emerald to strengthen Emerald's trade show and digital content capabilities.

EnsembleIQ has acquired substantially all of the media, digital and event assets of New York-based Lebhar-Friedman, incorporating trade brands such as Drug Store News and Chain Store Age into its portfolio. EnsembleIQ, a portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners, will operate the Lebhar-Friedman brands under its umbrella with existing management continuing in leadership roles; Berkery Noyes served as financial advisor to Lebhar-Friedman.

Harbor Beach Capital, a lower-middle-market private equity firm, has acquired AVFX LLC, an event technology and audio-visual production company headquartered in the Boston area. The deal provides founder succession while positioning AVFX for national growth and expansion under Harbor Beach’s ownership, with existing management (President Steve Halling) remaining in leadership.

CE Holdco, LLC (the Clubessential platform), a portfolio company backed by Battery Ventures, has acquired Stretch Internet LLC, a Gilbert, Arizona–based collegiate athletics streaming provider. The deal adds streaming capabilities to Clubessential's sports and membership technology platform as Battery builds a comprehensive college-sports division.

4Wall Entertainment has acquired the assets of Boston-based Advanced Lighting & Production Services (ALPS) and will rebrand ALPS' Canton facility as 4Wall Boston. 4Wall will retain ALPS' staff (with founder Steven Way as General Manager and Dan Clawson as Director of Events) and use the 40,000 sq. ft. site to expand its theatrical and corporate event rental, sales, and systems-integration capabilities on the U.S. East Coast.

Cambridge Innovation Institute (CII) acquired Westborough, Massachusetts–based Trends Equity, Inc., including the AI World Conference & Expo and the AI Trends publication. The deal expands CII’s events and publishing portfolio into enterprise AI and enables rapid vertical expansion into markets such as healthcare, finance and manufacturing.

Oi2 Media Corp has acquired Media Response Group (MRG), a Madrid-headquartered digital marketing group and former portfolio company of New York-based private equity firm VSS. The acquisition expands Oi2 Media's digital and Latin American capabilities and extends its presence in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking markets.

Howard P. Milstein and Emigrant Capital acquired GOLF Magazine and the GOLF.com digital properties from Meredith Corporation in February 2018. The buyers said they plan to expand the brands' reach and quality across print and digital platforms by developing new content, services and partnerships for golfers.