h2 2020 | media talk
media talk | h2 2020
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GLOBAL M&A OVERVIEW
OTHER REGIONS Canada and South Asia – which includes India and Pakistan – each reported 5% of global deals as a target region. While that represents a marginal dip on 2019 for South Asia, Canada increased its share of sell-side deals by 3% (to 6%), boosted by an especially busy H1. South Asia recorded 5% of global deal volume as an acquirer region, with India’s thriving market and growing media consumption a big part of that success. In December media giants Microsoft and Google, alongside investors Sofina SA, Falcon Edge Capital and Lupa India, acquired an undisclosed stake in Dailyhunt, an India-based provider of news and digital book applications, for approximately USD $100 million. Since its founding in 2009, Dailyhunt has raised almost USD $320 million from investors, including a handful of PE backers.
UNITED KINGDOM In H1, the UK’s share of global deals remained consistent year on year, though continuing struggles in H2 and a third lockdown in November hampered M&A. The UK concluded 2020 with 7% of all buy-side deals by volume, roughly half targeting domestic acquisitions, followed by Western Europe and the US. Along with other established players the UK has lost some ground as emerging markets continue to strengthen their position in the global media space. The UK remains an obvious draw to overseas investors, even if logistical difficulties and a combination of pandemic and Brexit- related uncertainty led to a drop-off in activity. Global deals as a target region fell by 2% (to 8%). The decline is likely to be temporary, however, more a matter of the surrounding context than a lack of confidence in the UK media market itself, and UK companies are likely to find themselves in greater demand as 2021 progresses.
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