Media & Entertainment Acquisitions in New Jersey

ZCG-backed VENU+ has acquired Tiburon Lockers, a U.S.-based provider of electronic rental locker systems for high-traffic entertainment and leisure venues. The add-on expands VENU+'s smart locker capabilities and strengthens its North America presence while integrating Tiburon's customized locker solutions into VENU+'s tech-enabled guest mobility and storage platform.

Datavault AI Inc. (NASDAQ:DVLT) has completed its acquisition of API Media Innovation Inc., a New Jersey–based provider of media infrastructure and event technology solutions. The acquisition expands Datavault AI's capabilities in live-event audio/visual, audience intelligence and data-monetization services to better serve sports, entertainment and venue customers.

Quality Media, a Los Angeles-based performance publishing and content marketing agency, has acquired Juniper, a digital content platform for modern pet parents. The acquisition expands Quality Media’s owned-media portfolio and aims to scale Juniper’s editorial calendar, brand partnerships, and content formats to drive performance-focused growth for pet brands.

DIRECTV acquired a majority ownership stake in INVIDI Technologies, a leading provider of addressable television advertising solutions. INVIDI will continue to operate independently under its existing leadership and will be jointly owned by DIRECTV, DISH, and WPP as the company expands its U.S. and international addressability efforts.

KnoWEwell, P.B.C. has acquired Natural Awakenings Publishing Corporation, the publisher and franchisor of the Natural Awakenings magazine network. The acquisition brings together KnoWEwell's regenerative whole-health digital hub with Natural Awakenings' print and franchise network (46 U.S. territories, ~1.3M monthly readers) to create an integrated digital and print leader in whole-health and sustainable living content; terms were not disclosed.

Clarion Events has acquired Eaton Hall, a specialist organizer of highly targeted, face-to-face, pre-arranged meetings-based forums, and will fold the business into a new division called Clarion Connect. Eaton Hall founder Scott Goldman will remain as Chairman of Eaton Hall as Clarion consolidates its 1-to-1 events capabilities across North America and UK/Europe.

Formedics, an HCP community and engagement platform based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, has acquired AMC Media Group to expand its portfolio of digital properties, medical association partnerships, and KOL communities. The deal increases Formedics' verified HCP reach by more than 60% to 1.5 million clinicians, incorporates AMC's live-event and social tools, and brings AMC employees into Formedics' operations to broaden content, peer-to-peer learning, and AI/ML-driven engagement capabilities.

Amuze Products, in partnership with Bar Partners and owner Surge Private Equity (operating as Surge Amuze Holdings), has acquired Pipeline Games, a developer of arcade and prize games for entertainment venues. The acquisition was financed with an expansion facility from Bluehenge Capital Partners alongside existing senior lenders, and Pipeline Games will operate as a subsidiary of Surge Amuze Holdings to expand product offerings and accelerate growth in the amusement industry.

3STEP Sports, a national youth sports club and event operator, has acquired D3 Lacrosse Showcase, a New Jersey–based organizer of Division III college recruiting lacrosse events. The acquisition will integrate D3's year‑round boys' and girls' showcase programming into 3STEP's event platform to expand recruiting exposure and scale D3's events nationwide.

Endeavor Business Media has acquired Data Center Frontier, a trade publication covering data center design, cloud computing and related technologies. The acquisition brings Data Center Frontier's audience and editorial team into Endeavor's Advanced Technology Group to expand its coverage and advertising reach in the data center and cloud infrastructure market.

Montreal-based Stingray Group Inc. acquired InStore Audio Network, the largest in‑store audio advertising network in the United States, for up to approximately C$59 million including an earn‑out. The deal gives Stingray a foothold in the U.S. retail media market (InStore reaches ~100 million shoppers weekly across 16,000+ locations and generated an estimated C$18.5 million in revenue in the prior year).

MoneyLion Inc. has acquired MALKA Media Group LLC, a creator network and content platform, to expand its content capabilities and better engage consumers across digital channels. The acquisition will enable MoneyLion to combine MALKA's creative capabilities with its financial products and first-party data to drive customer acquisition and retention.

Global investment firm Carlyle has acquired LiveU, the live video streaming and remote production solutions provider, from Francisco Partners. Financial terms were not disclosed; Carlyle said it will use its CETP IV fund to support LiveU's growth, pursuing organic expansion and M&A to broaden its footprint in broadcast, sports and cloud production as 5G and cloud-based media production accelerate.

Pageant Media has acquired Hedge Fund Alert, a U.S. trade publication covering the hedge fund industry, from Green Street. The four-person editorial team in New Jersey will remain with the title as Pageant integrates the publication into its asset-management focused portfolio; financial terms were not disclosed.

Spire Capital has made a growth investment in The Inception Company, a Fairfield, New Jersey-based provider of virtual engagement platforms and production services, to support expansion of studios, product development, sales and marketing, and complementary acquisitions. Founder Doug Mack will move to a board role while Spire partners will join the company's board; Santander provided debt financing and Intrepid acted as Inception's financial advisor.

MJH Life Sciences has acquired Pharmaceutical Commerce, a multimedia B2B publication formerly published by Healthcare Commerce Media Corporation. The acquisition expands MJH’s healthcare media portfolio and strengthens its reach into the biopharma commercial operations and supply-chain audience, adding a magazine with a controlled circulation of roughly 21,000 and multiple newsletters and events.

MPS Limited completed the acquisition of HighWire Press, adding a leading scholarly publishing platform to its content, learning, and platform solutions portfolio. The deal is intended to accelerate MPS's platform business and expand its digital publishing capabilities for academic and STM customers.

Green Street Advisors has entered into an agreement to acquire four trade publications—Real Estate Alert, Commercial Mortgage Alert, Hedge Fund Alert, and Asset-Backed Alert—from Harrison Scott Publications. The acquisition, funded in part by parent investor Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS), will expand Green Street's research and analytics offering by adding independent news and trade publishing capabilities and will maintain the titles' editorial independence in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Northstar Travel Group has acquired travAlliancemedia, a marketing services, digital media, events and information business serving the retail travel advisor community and owner of brands such as TravelPulse, Agent at Home and Agent Studio. The deal expands Northstar's portfolio of marketing services, online media, events and SaaS tools for travel advisors; travAlliancemedia founder Mark Murphy will become an advisor to the combined business.