March 20, 2008

For Press Inquiries:

Kelly O'Donnell
Director, Marketing and Communications
Beringea, LLC
kodonnell@beringea.com
(248) 489-9000

«Return to Newsroom

Beringea releases 2008 Media Sector Barometer

Farmington Hills, Mich. — Beringea, an international venture capital firm specializing in emerging media, and mergermarket, the independent M&A intelligence tool, have 2008 Cover icon biggerreleased the 2008 Beringea Media Sector Barometer. The report provides industry executives, intermediaries, investors and analysts with a guide to current deal activity in both North America and Europe, as well as a preview of international media sector trends for 2008 and beyond.

A new feature this year includes interviews with U.S. and European media executives regarding their opinions on and expectations for the sector. Respondents were divided over whether overall M&A activity in the media sector with increase or decrease; however, the vast majority of respondents (88%) expect to be involved in M&A activity in the next 12 months. Sixty-four percent of respondents predict digital media will be the most active media segment in 2008. Two major trends that could increase M&A opportunities in the media sector are convergence (46%) and shifting content consumption by consumers (39%), according to respondents.

Other results of the survey:

• Respondents mentioned monopolies, antitrust, the impact of dot com regulation on the UK broadcast sector and the limitations on cross-ownership as the regulatory issues that need to be considered when engaging in M&A.
• Respondents generally agree mid-market deals ($50-$250m) will offer the most opportunities in both the U.S. and Europe. Twenty-five percent of respondents believe there will be opportunities for larger deals in the European sector in the next year.
• 77% of respondents think the trend of large technology companies buying Internet advertisers will continue.
• 71% believe U.S. private equity firms will influence the U.S. media sector and 50% believe their European counterparts will do the same.
• 2007 Top North American Deal: Tribune Company agreed to go private in two parts, selling the Chicago Cubs and the company's 25% interest in Comcast SportNet Chicago.
• 2007 Top European Deal: Thomson Corporation acquisition of Reuters Group plc.

Click here to read the Beringea Media Sector Barometer in its entirety.

About mergermarket

mergermarket is a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) intelligence tool, providing original intelligence to the investment banking, legal, private equity, acquisition finance, public relations and corporate markets. mergermarket generates proprietary information and delivers it, together with daily aggregated content, on its mergermarket.com platform and by real-time email alerts to its subscribers. www.mergermarket.com

About Beringea

Beringea is an international private equity and investment banking firm with offices in Detroit, Los Angeles, London and Shanghai. Beringea invests in a range of emerging sectors including media, healthcare, Internet technologies, marketing services and advanced communications. For more information on Beringea's private equity activities, visit www.beringea.com

Beringea is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority.