Quantuma advises Dezeen on its sale to Danish media company
Business advisory firm Quantuma has acted as lead advisor to digital content platform and publisher Dezeen on its sale to Danish media company JP/Politikens Hus Media Group (JPP).
The deal, which will preserve Dezeen’s editorial independence, will help to drive the brand’s ambitious growth plans, while retaining its position as the world’s most popular and influential architecture and design magazine. As part of the acquisition, founder and editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs will serve as CEO in the UK.
The transaction marks JPP’s first acquisition outside of Scandinavia and is the latest step in its international expansion.
An advisory team at Quantuma, led by director Adrian Howells, oversaw the entire transaction process, including helping to prepare a business plan and financial forecast for the next three years, negotiations on terms and price and overseeing putting a revised enterprise management incentive share option scheme in place for key management.
This deal follows a very active period for the Quantuma corporate finance team, completing eight transactions in the last fortnight, at a combined value of over £130m.
Marcus Fairs, founder and editor-in-chief at Dezeen, said: “Quantuma were brilliant throughout the process. They made everything easy for us to understand and they were on hand 24/7 to help us get the deal done quickly and successfully. They knew what they were doing and were able to clearly see both what we wanted and what the buyer wanted and were able to skillfully bring the two sides together.”
Adrian Howells, director at Quantuma, said: “Working with the team at Dezeen to help deliver this transaction was a real pleasure. We collectively rolled our sleeves up and worked tirelessly to get the deal over the line in a matter of weeks. The sale is a great result for both the sellers and the buyers; it is rare to see such a good match between parties and there is much excitement and opportunity for the future.
“I wish Marcus, Rupinder and the Dezeen team every success as they embark on their journey as part of a larger group. I know they will continue to lead the way.”
