Latest Target Report Analysis: Turmoil in the Garden of Meredith Corp.
The last significant bastion of the print/broadcast synergistic strategy, Meredith Corp., has agreed to be acquired by Media General. If all the media pundits opining about the deal are correct, Media General is after the 17 local TV stations that Meredith owns and will weed out the printed publications within short order.
And here’s where it gets complicated—Media General has itself been the target of an unsolicited bid by Nexstar, a pure broadcasting company. As of the date of this writing, it’s unclear as to the outcome of these conflicting offers. Media General may be forced to sell itself to Nexstar, rather than be the acquirer.
Mark Hahn is a managing director and founder of Graphic Arts Advisors, a boutique strategic financial advisory and consulting firm focused exclusively on the printing, packaging, mailing, marketing services, brand management, and related graphic communications industries. With more than 35 years of graphic communications experience in the areas of finance, operations, sales, M&A, and general management, Hahn has served as chief financial officer, chief operating officer and other senior positions with several commercial printing companies, as well as founding and eventually selling his own printing company.The firm assists company owners and management, as well as their lenders, investors and shareholders in the following areas: mergers and acquisitions, sale of business, strategic and financial advisory, capital structure and funding, financial analysis, interim and turnaround C-level management, business valuations and serving as consulting experts. Hahn is the author of The Target Report and is regularly published and quoted in printing industry trade and management journals. Mark Hahn can be reached at (973) 588-7399 or mark@graphicartsadvisors.com
