Posted on December 15, 2009 by Michael J. Young

Valuation of Media and Technology Companies in Today's Environment

Reed Smith's Corporate Media and Technology group held an interactive breakfast panel discussion regarding the valuation of media and technology companies in today's challenging business environment. Attendees included executives from a range of high profile companies in the media, technology and investment industries. The panel featured leading individuals from the media, investment banking and financial services sectors who shared their insights into various aspects of factors affecting the valuation of media and tech companies in the current environment, while also discussing current trends and future outlooks for what looks set to be an uncertain marketplace going into 2010.

Key features of the discussion included:

  • Positive signs - increased activity in many sectors in Q3 2009 regarding potential transactions
  • Difficulty in accurately valuing companies in the current conditions
  • Managing the contrasting opinions of owners and potential buyers regarding valuations
  • The sectors most likely to see an upturn first in 2010

The panel members were:

Chris Whiteley - Ingenious Media, Robert Lees - Strata Partners, Chris West - Deloitte. The discussion was chaired by David Boutcher - Reed Smith.

The attached slides provide an outline of the key discussion topics.

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Posted on November 4, 2009 by Michael DiSanto

China Updates

Our colleagues in China recently launched the China Media & Entertainment Blog.  We will, of course, keep everyone up to date on any developments, news or issues that pertain to the world of startups by linking to the blog entries here.  No better time to start that exercise than the present, so without further adieu, here are three recent blog posts for your reading pleasure:

  • World of Warcraft Controversy leads to War of Words between Government Regulators.  The latest move in the continuing saga betewen the Ministry of Culture in China and the General Administration of Press and Publication over popular online game World of Warcraft has led ot the Ministry of Culture reiterating its sole responsibility for the administration of China's online games market.  Read more.
  • Trading Culture in Shanghai. China has established an exchange devoted entirely to trading in companies that own or deal with culture. The Shanghai Cultural Equity Exchange, whose investors include the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange, Jiefang Daily Group and Shanghai Jingwen Investment Co., Ltd., was established with the approval of Shanghai Municipal Government in June.  The newly established exchange is expected to be a platform for the trading of property rights, creditors’ rights, equities, and intellectual property associated with cultural assets. Trading will cover a wide range of cultural products, services, and companies operating in the press, publishing, film, television and Internet sectors, among others.  Read more.
     
  • Ministry of Culture Outlaws Online Mafia Games.   On July 27, 2009, the Ministry of Culture issued the “Circular on Investigation into ‘Gangs’ and Other Illegal Online Games.”  The Circular notes that some popular online games based on the themes of gangs, the mafia, or “godfather” concepts advocate obscenity, gambling, or violence and undermine morality and traditional Chinese culture. It goes on to note that these games encourage people to deceive, loot, kill, and glorify the lives of gangsters, providing a negative influence on youngsters. The Ministry of Culture has prohibited websites from running, publicizing, or offering such online games, and has also ordered its law enforcement bodies to step up oversight and harshly punish any sites that continue to offer such games.
  • Foreigners and Internet Games in China: "Unfair" Play Results in New Rules.  Foreign companies and their Chinese partners have always been major players in the Chinese online gaming market. The partnership normally is has the foreign company licensing rights to a Chinese partner. The Chinese partner is then responsible for developing the local market. The Chinese partner is required to apply to the Ministry of Culture’s Content Censorship Commission and the China’s General Administration of Press and Publication for pre-approvals to distribute the game. The Commision censors game content and reviews the license agreement, which becomes effective upon the Commission's approval. Chinas General Administration of Press and Publication examines the qualification of the Chinese partner to provide foreign online game services and decides whether to issue a License for Internet Publishing Service to the Chinese partner.  Read more.

 

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