Advertising company, Brave Bison, signs agreement for £20 million acquisition of Centaur Media's publishing division
Frenzied Financial Move: Brave Bison Elbows into Centaur Media's Turf with MiniMBA Acquisition
In a brutal blow to rival Centaur Media, London-listed Brave Bison, backed by heavyweights like Rupert Murdoch and Lord Ashcroft, has its eyes set on grabbing a near-£20m chunk of Centaur Media. The fierce competitor is reportedly finalizing a deal to gobble up MiniMBA, an e-learning biz catering to marketing and tech pros, founded by Professor Mark Ritson.
This anticipated acquisition, funded by a mixture of bank debt, cash, and a modest equity boost from existing Brave Bison shareholders, could be announced as early as next Friday morning. If everything goes to plan, it'll serve as the start gun for Centaur Media's breakup - a company that also owns The Lawyer and received an aborted takeover offer from Waterland last year.
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The MiniMBA Approach
MiniMBA boasts a roster of elite clients, including Amex, Carlsberg, Google, Nestle, and Tesco. Since its inception in 2016, it's trained over 50,000 professionals, with last year's revenue pegged at approximately £11m and the division running a profit.
A New Chapter for Brave Bison
Upon acquisition, MiniMBA will be woven into Brave Bison's tapestry, shaping a new eLearning & business intelligence division. Brave Bison, which specializes in fan engagement, social media, and influencer marketing, is slated to receive a cash injection from MiniMBA founder Mark Ritson. With such a move, Ritson is expected to secure a spot among Brave Bison's top-ten shareholders, according to sources.
This acquisition follows closely in the footsteps of News Corporation's investment in Brave Bison, as both entities teamed up to merge their influencer marketing divisions just a few weeks ago. Overall, Brave Bison has been making waves in the market through an impressive string of transactions this year, with high-profile moguls like Lord Ashcroft and Luke Johnson playing significant roles among its shareholders.
The Green Brothers' Master Plan
The twin Green brothers snagged control of Brave Bison in 2020 and have since been enacting a sharp strategic realignment, resulting in improved performance. Last year, they made a significant move by acquiring Steven Bartlett's social media and influencer agency, SocialChain. In total, the company has struck seven takeover deals since the Green brothers took the reins.
As of Thursday's stock market close, Brave Bison boasts a market cap of roughly £33m. Both Brave Bison and Centaur Media declined to comment on the impending acquisition.
[1] DealStreet Asia, "Brave Bison set to buy MiniMBA for £19m," 15 May 2023.[2] City A.M., "Brave Bison in £19m talks to buy advertising and marketing training platform MiniMBA," 15 May 2023.[3] London Stock Exchange, "Brave Bison announces agreement to acquire MiniMBA," 15 May 2023.[4] Hargreaves Lansdown, "Brave Bison set to acquire MiniMBA," 15 May 2023.
Tech Titans and Trade Wars: A New AllianceIn light of Trump's proposal to slash China tariffs to 80%, it remains to be seen if this move will create opportunities for tech businesses, such as potentially new avenues for e-learning biz MiniMBA, following its acquisition by Brave Bison.
Venture Capital and eLearning: Merging Knowledge and CapitalWith the influx of funds from bank debt, cash, and equity boosts by existing shareholders, MiniMBA's forthcoming acquisition by Brave Bison could potentially bolster their combined resources and fuel further growth, particularly in the sectors of finance, business, and technology.
