Media & Entertainment Acquisitions in 2022

Crew One Productions acquired the assets of Innercept Management Corporation, a provider of skilled temporary labor for concerts and large events in South and Central Florida. The acquisition expands Crew One’s event staffing capabilities and strengthens its footprint in the Florida live-events market.

Los Angeles-based web3 entertainment company Orange Comet has acquired Mint State Labs, a gaming and entertainment technology provider that builds blockchain-powered experiences for creators. Mint State Labs CEO Peter Morales will become Orange Comet's Chief Technology Officer and the target’s leadership, employees and contractors will join Orange Comet; terms were not disclosed.

ROW8 has acquired Rad (Rad NFTV) to integrate Rad's web3, NFT and immersive streaming technology into ROW8's premium movie streaming service. Rad's leadership will remain with Tony Mugavero named CEO of the combined business, and the combined company secured funding led by Ayre Ventures to support the integration and product roadmap.

4612 Group acquired ON Services, a national live event production and in-house audio-visual provider, in a transaction that includes key ON Services management (Brent Milner, Austin Milner and Stan Milner) as co-investors. ON Services will remain branded as ON Services / ON Site and continue to be led by CEO Brent Milner as a privately held company under the new ownership.

Eagle Football Holdings Bidco Limited, led by John Textor, acquired a significant controlling stake in Olympique Lyonnais Groupe SA on December 19, 2022. The transaction was backed by funds managed by Ares Management and investors Iconic Sports and Elmwood Partners; Jean‑Michel Aulas will remain as chairman and join Eagle Football's board, and Eagle Football intends to launch a tender offer (with Holnest) for remaining shares.

Leeds Equity Partners has made a significant investment in e.Republic, a U.S.-based media, events and research company focused on state and local government and education. The transaction positions e.Republic as a platform for Leeds Equity Partners VII to expand the company's community, research and market-insights offerings; terms were not disclosed.

Coral Tree Partners, a Los Angeles-based private equity firm, acquired AMI Entertainment Network from The Gores Group. AMI operates a network of over 30,000 digital jukeboxes and video systems serving bars, restaurants and hospitality venues and is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Trifecta Collective LLC, a trade-show platform backed by private equity firm GreyLion, acquired the International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC) and the International Mass Timber Report (IMTR) from Forest Business Network. Forest Business Network’s leadership (Craig Rawlings, Arnie Didier and Tom Waddell) will remain in place as Trifecta looks to grow the conference and report as part of its events portfolio.

Crestline Investors and existing investor Seaport Capital made a significant ownership investment in bMedia Group, Puerto Rico's leading out-of-home (OOH) media company. The capital injection will support bMedia's continued organic and inorganic growth, including expansion of its digital billboard network.

Zibber, a Dutch real-estate visual content specialist, has acquired industry competitor AV2. The deal—part of Zibber’s recent roll-up activity alongside prior purchases of SOO media and Topr—bolsters national coverage, adds capacity and capabilities (including planned roll-out of Zibber's 3D laser scan technology) while AV2 will continue to operate as a label under Zibber.

Lumina Datamatics UK Ltd. signed a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling stake in UK-based Sunrise Setting Ltd., a boutique Brixham firm that provides copy-editing, proofreading, indexing and production services to academic and other publishers. The deal strengthens Lumina Datamatics' publishing production capabilities and enhances its presence in the United Kingdom and wider EU publishing market.

TheSoul Publishing acquired a majority stake in Underscore Talent, a next-generation creator management firm, to integrate Underscore's roster and services with TheSoul's global content production, distribution, and technology capabilities. The founders of Underscore will join TheSoul's board as the companies combine resources to expand creator services, production scale, and global reach.

Animoca Brands Corporation Limited has acquired a majority stake in PIXELYNX, a Los Angeles–based music metaverse and gaming platform founded by deadmau5 and Richie Hawtin. The deal is intended to integrate PIXELYNX's music/gaming/Web3 capabilities into Animoca Brands' broader metaverse ecosystem to develop new music-focused gaming products and monetization formats.

Trafilea, the e‑commerce group behind Shapermint and Truekind, has acquired The BodCon — a virtual annual conference focused on body confidence — and its BodPod podcast. The founders Jess Hunichen and Emily Ward will remain with the business to continue operating The BodCon as a standalone brand; financial terms were not disclosed.

Jon Peddie Research (JPR), a Tiburon, California–based graphics research and consulting firm, has acquired Babel TechReviews, the benchmarking and XR/graphics review site founded and run by Mark Poppin. The deal expands JPR's testing, benchmark coverage and XR expertise, enabling end-to-end analysis across content creation, GPU/computing and display/HMD delivery.

Capitala Group originated an $80.0 million investment in New Wave Entertainment, an employee-owned post-production and entertainment marketing company based in Burbank, California. Capitala syndicated a majority of the financing and said proceeds will support New Wave's ongoing growth.

Becketts Bidco Limited, indirectly owned by funds managed by Astorg and Epiris, has completed its acquisition of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, leading to Euromoney's delisting from the London Stock Exchange. The consortium intends to separate the Group—with Fastmarkets becoming a standalone entity owned by Astorg and the remaining Euromoney businesses majority-owned by Epiris—to accelerate execution of each business's strategy and drive subscription and events growth.

Mobeus has backed a management buyout (MBO) of GW Global Insights (GWGI), the operator of the gasworld and H2 View brands that provide news, data, events and business intelligence to the industrial gases and hydrogen markets. Mobeus will support GWGI's expansion of business intelligence products, digital content, marketing services and its events portfolio; Richard Babington joined GWGI's board as part of the transaction.

Ex Populus, a Web3 gaming studio and publisher, has acquired LAMO, a multimedia IP that includes a PC game, augmented reality experiences, and a collectible toy line. The acquisition brings LAMO's IP and development talent into Ex Populus' Web3 ecosystem to expand its gaming portfolio and phygital/Metaverse capabilities.

Amagi has acquired Streamwise, an early-stage data aggregation and reporting platform for content distributors, to expand its streaming data analytics and reporting capabilities. The acquisition will integrate Streamwise’s data-standardization and dashboarding tools into Amagi’s SSAI and channel monetization offerings, with Streamwise’s CEO Doug Shineman joining Amagi to lead analytics business development.

Grindr completed a business combination with special purpose acquisition company Tiga Acquisition Corp., and the combined company began trading on the NYSE under the ticker GRND. The transaction takes Grindr public to support user growth, product and monetization investments, and international expansion while providing access to public capital markets.

Bulls & Apes Project (B.A.P.), a web3 community and NFT operator based in Southington, Connecticut, has acquired the NFT brand Bulls on the Block to revive the project and expand B.A.P.'s community and utility offerings. The deal brings one of the recognizable NFT collections from 2021 under B.A.P.'s delivery model, enabling cross-brand utilities, gamified tokenomics, and increased exposure for both communities.

Rollic, a Zynga subsidiary, has acquired Berlin-based mobile game developer Popcore. The acquisition strengthens Rollic's position in hyper-casual and puzzle mobile gaming by combining Popcore's ad-driven, free-to-play titles and 150+ developer team with Rollic's global publishing and live-operations capabilities.

Bowlero Corp. (NYSE: BOWL) completed the acquisition of The Mark, a large family entertainment center in Elkhorn, Nebraska, expanding its footprint in the Omaha market. The location is a state-of-the-art, 85,000+ sq. ft. facility with 40 bowling lanes, courts, an arcade, full-service kitchen and sports bar; this is Bowlero's second completed Omaha-area acquisition in 2022.

Manhattan West Private Equity has been named the lead investor backing the Formula 1 Exhibition in partnership with production company Round Room Studios (Round Room Live). The investment will fund development and the global rollout of the immersive, touring Formula 1 Exhibition, which opens in Madrid at IFEMA MADRID and will travel internationally.

Yuga Labs has acquired WENEW and its flagship NFT collection, 10KTF. As part of the deal, WENEW co-founder Michael Figge will join Yuga as Chief Content Officer, Beeple will join as an advisor, and nearly 20 WENEW employees will move to Yuga to support expanded storytelling and creative efforts across Yuga's web3 ecosystem.

Scottsdale-based family office Vincere Capital completed a multimillion-dollar investment in Phoenix Rising FC, effective November 9, 2022. As part of the deal Vincere partner Baer Fisher will join the club's board as the investment supports the club's growth plans including a planned stadium relocation and broader expansion efforts.

Boyd Gaming Corporation has completed the acquisition of Pala Interactive LLC and its subsidiaries for $170 million in net cash. The purchase gives Boyd Gaming online casino technology, products and expertise to expand its digital gaming presence and complement its land-based operations.

My Code has completed the acquisition of Veranda Entertainment, a distributor of Spanish‑language and multicultural film and TV content across Connected TV platforms. The deal adds Veranda’s AVOD channels (including Butaca TV, Oro TV, Saborear TV and Judge Faith) and library to My Code’s multicultural media portfolio, giving advertisers direct access to Hispanic CTV inventory.

Cinelytic, a Los Angeles–based content analytics and decision‑support platform, has acquired RightsTrade to integrate its analytics into the leading online content licensing marketplace. The combination is intended to embed predictive data insights and targeted curation into RightsTrade’s platform to improve content monetization and streamline dealmaking for film, TV and independent content companies.

Providence Equity Partners has made a strategic growth investment in Wasserman to provide capital for expansion and to fully redeem exiting investors RedBird Capital Partners and Madrone Capital Partners. Casey Wasserman will retain a controlling ownership stake; financial terms were not disclosed.

Diversified Communications UK, the UK division of Diversified Communications, has acquired Northern Restaurant & Bar (NR&B), the annual hospitality trade show held at Manchester Central. The event, previously owned by Holden Media, will be operated by Diversified as part of its food and hospitality events portfolio; NR&B's event director Andy Clayfield will join Diversified UK while former owner Thom Hetherington will step down.

The St. James, a leading sports, wellness and entertainment platform, has acquired the She Got Game Classic girls' high school basketball showcase and its sister events (Super Games, Christy Winter Scott Classic, Shore Games). The acquisition expands The St. James' events and girls' sports portfolio with the goal of building She Got Game into a multisport brand and platform that broadens competition and development opportunities for female athletes.

Valhallan, a Houston-based youth esports franchise operator, has acquired NXT UP Esports, a leading provider of virtual youth esports camps and leagues across the United States. The acquisition adds virtual programming and league capabilities to Valhallan’s in‑arena training and franchise network, enabling broader geographic reach and increased service offerings for youth gamers.

BBTV Holdings Inc. acquired the assets of Outloud Media, a Detroit-based creator-economy business, to expand its Multi-Platform Partnership distribution and creator monetization capabilities on platforms such as Facebook and Snapchat. The deal is primarily structured as a five-year performance-based earn-out of up to US$5.0 million; Outloud Media generated US$4.0 million of revenue in the prior 12 months.

MSP Sports Capital acquired a majority (controlling) interest in the X Games from ESPN Productions, Inc., with ESPN retaining a minority, non-controlling stake and remaining the domestic linear broadcast partner under a multi-year agreement. MSP will assume day-to-day operational control of the X Games, appointing Steven Flisler as CEO, and has enlisted Tony Hawk as a brand steward as it seeks to reinvigorate the action-sports property and expand fan experiences.

CyberRisk Alliance (CRA) has acquired the Cyber Security Summit (CSS) and TECHEXPO Top Secret, two U.S.-based events businesses that produce cybersecurity conferences and security-cleared recruitment events. The acquisition expands CRA's portfolio of cybersecurity events, media brands, and marketing services to broaden its reach among C-level security leaders and defense/intelligence recruiters.

Viral Nation has acquired Eight Seven Media, an award-winning content production company founded by Dylan Scance, to expand its in-house content production and monetization capabilities under a new VN Studio. The deal brings Eight Seven Media's creative and production team into Viral Nation's broader influencer, talent and technology platform; terms were not disclosed.

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) has acquired Pixomondo (PXO), an award-winning virtual production, visualization and VFX company, from Mayfair Equity Partners. Financial terms were not disclosed; the deal gives SPE full ownership of PXO and strengthens Sony's virtual production and visual effects capabilities across film and premium television.

Founders Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden completed a management buyout of Round Room Live’s lead investor (a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.), with backing from Los Angeles-based investment firm Manhattan West. The transaction returns control to Round Room’s management and provides a strategic partnership with Manhattan West to support global growth of the company’s touring shows and immersive exhibitions.

TransPerfect has acquired Paris-based Hiventy Group, a provider of technical audiovisual services including post-production, localization, distribution, and film restoration. Financial terms were not disclosed; TransPerfect said the deal expands its global media services footprint and will maintain continuity for Hiventy staff and customers.

Valnet Inc. has completed the acquisition of SN&CK Media Ltd. (Snack Media), a UK-based digital sports publishing network and ad network. The deal gives Valnet a stronger foothold in the sports category and expands its UK and international publishing and advertising reach.

BroadcastMed has acquired Harborside, a medical publishing and communications leader specializing in oncology, expanding BroadcastMed’s reach across healthcare specialties and strengthening its oncology communications capabilities. The transaction was backed by growth equity partner 424 Capital and expands BroadcastMed’s total reach to over 2.8 million healthcare professionals.

Playmaker Capital Inc. (TSXV: PMKR) has acquired Wedge Traffic Limited (dba Wedge), a Glasgow-based iGaming affiliate operator, for aggregate consideration of approximately US$31.2 million (cash, Playmaker shares and contingent earn-outs). The deal brings Wedge's founders into Playmaker's senior leadership, adds affiliate iGaming capability and U.S. market exposure, and immediately contributes revenue and EBITDA to Playmaker (Wedge: FY2021 revenue US$2.9M; TTM to June 30, 2022 revenue US$5.5M, EBITDA US$3.1M).

PLAYSTUDIOS, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYPS) acquired Portland-based mobile casual game developer Brainium for $70 million in upfront cash plus contingent consideration. The deal more than doubles PLAYSTUDIOS' average daily active users, expands its casual game portfolio (Solitaire, Sudoku, Mahjong, etc.), and diversifies revenue by adding advertising-driven titles to its playAWARDS loyalty platform.

Arc, a B2B events, data and media platform backed by funds managed by EagleTree Capital, has agreed to acquire the HR Technology and Education Technology portfolios from LRP Media Group. The deal expands Arc's U.S. footprint and adds nine brands and an experienced team to Arc's portfolio; terms were not disclosed and the transaction was expected to close at the end of October 2022.

Parsec Capital Acquisitions Corp., a Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company, executed a merger agreement with Calgary-based Enteractive Media Inc., a provider of gambling-themed broadcast and streaming content (including its PlayerVision subsidiary). The business combination is intended to take Enteractive public on Nasdaq, providing the company with access to capital to support growth and expansion, subject to customary approvals and closing conditions.

Jon Peddie Research (JPR) has acquired Display Daily, the industry newsletter and media outlet run by Bob Raikes. The deal expands JPR’s news, analysis and reporting capabilities across the electronic display and graphics ecosystem and broadens its global footprint.

Invincible Entertainment Partners, a Philadelphia-based production and distribution company, has acquired YTA Broadcast Network (formerly Youtoo America) to expand its FAST and streaming footprint. The deal brings YTA's traditional broadcast and cable reach into Invincible's portfolio of 18 owned FAST channels and aims to broaden distribution and advertising opportunities; financial terms were not disclosed.

Ziff Davis, Inc. completed two acquisitions in Q3 2022, acquiring asset(s) related to 1TwentyFour (entertainment, U.S.) and an equity stake in CellRebel (connectivity, Sweden). Terms were not disclosed and the company said the transactions are not expected to be material to its financials; the deals expand Ziff Davis’ global customer base and product lineup.