This month will see the release of Collingwood’s Media Acquisition Report. Now in its fifth year, this report serves as a barometer for M&A in the B2B media sector – covering Information, Media, and Events – and is based on research and interviews with key buyers in the sector. It explores: 

  • Market activity (both overall and by business model)
  • Latest valuation multiples
  • Deal dynamics
  • Value drivers 
  • Deal killers

Using the Media Acquisition Report, buyers and investors can benchmark their approach by exploring insights on valuations, deal dynamics, and emerging trends, ensuring their M&A strategy is ahead of the curve. Meanwhile, those exploring a potential sale can apply these insights to ensure they have the optimal value creation roadmap and strategy. 

What drives value in a B2B media business?

In the previous 12 months, we saw deal volumes drop significantly year-on-year compared to 2022 highs. The Media Acquisition Report looks at why that happened, what that meant for 2024 M&A activity, and what the market is expecting for the rest of the year and going into 2025.

Beyond exploring the general M&A trends in the market, each year the report highlights the key value drivers that buyers of B2B media businesses are looking to see in their acquisition targets right now. 

This year, buyers have shown the value of demonstrating market leadership, clearly defining market growth and potential, and validating a strong quality of earnings – an area where the bar has become higher with respect to predictability and visibility.

The Media Acquisition Report report will unpack these themes in more detail and explore what good looks like in today’s market. Applying this insight to your business is not only important for those looking to sell their business, but also to those looking to maximise value over the medium and long term.

For more detail on these drivers and to see what buyers want, register your interest for the Media Acquisition Report using the form on the right.

What does the Media Acquisition Report mean for your business model?

Beyond sector-wide analysis, the Media Acquisition Report also explores the key trends driving deals across Information, Media, and Events, and how these sector-wide movements are impacting each business model. 

One of the trends highlighted for Information businesses shows that buyers are looking to see how well your product is embedded into your customer’s workflow. With the importance of quality of earnings in mind, showcasing the ‘stickiness’ of what you offer means demonstrating the resilience of your business model and the potential for higher retention rates. The number of enterprise subscriptions for your product and the level of customer satisfaction are both key metrics that buyers will be looking for in this process.

A full analysis of the market trends for each business model will be available in the Media Acquisition Report upon release. 

To be one of the first to receive this year’s report, with in-depth insights into what’s driving valuations, M&A strategy, and market trends, make sure to fill out the form on the right.