Arrow Electronics has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the global internet media portfolio focused on technology and electronic design from UBM. The titles and websites include EE Times, EDN, ESM, Embedded, EBN, TechONline, and Datasheets.com. As part of the agreement UBM received $23.5 Million in cash for this acquisition. In 2015 these assets generated revenues of $19m – $16m online and $3m print. The sale is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearance in China.
Last year, Arrow acquired the United Technical Publishing arm of Hearst Media. With this agreement with UBM, they strengthen their position as a foremost thought leader and trusted advisor in IoT and technology design trends. Though Arrow says that these publications will run independently, it is tough not to favour their distribution business (might not happen instantly, but over time this will become an issue). Other distributors like Digi-key and Mouser are large advertisers on both UBM and Hearst Properties and by advertising on these properties, they will be helping their competition generate more revenue.
Arrow Electronics is a provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for more than 100,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 460 locations serving over 85 countries.
