5 March 2019: The Financial Times has acquired a controlling stake in TNW (The Next Web), an events and media company with a focus on new technology and startups in Europe.
The acquisition, its first in continental Europe, will deepen the FT’s reach into the European technology community and create synergies with its existing events business, FT Live. The move also complements the FT’s recent investment in Sifted, a new media and data platform targeting Europe's innovators and entrepreneurs, and the expansion of various other tech-themed editorial products.
FT Live Global Publisher Angela Mackay said: “TNW is an established and profitable business that produces one of the largest and most critically acclaimed tech startup events in Europe. There are clear synergies between TNW and FT Live, in sharing audiences and delivering the FT’s world class journalism on live stages in Europe. We look forward to delivering first class programs with our new partners.”
TNW’s CEO, Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten, said: “It is a huge honor to work together with a company with such a rich history, which is so well respected and well known around the world. FT has a global vision for the future, a future where business and technology audiences are converging and form the thriving force of our society. We look forward to working together in this digital-first age and combining our expertise, networks and influence.”
The FT and TNW have already announced a new content partnership for TNW’s flagship tech conference, TNW2019. The FT will programme one of the event tracks and will co-host The Assembly, an exclusive gathering of technology leaders, industry figures and key policy-makers.
The acquisition forms part of a corporate development strategy that has seen the FT diversify its business in strategic areas. It follows the acquisitions by FT in recent years of AlphaGrid, a content production company, GIS Planning, a San Francisco-based investment intelligence company, and Longitude, a specialist provider of thought leadership and research services.
-ENDS-
For more information please contact:
Financial Times: Oliver Stannard | oliver.stannard@ft.com
TNW: Vince Dinga | vince@thenextweb.com
About the Financial Times:
The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading business news organisations, recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. The FT has a record paying readership of 985,000, three-quarters of which are digital subscriptions. It is part of Nikkei Inc., which provides a broad range of information, news and services for the global business community.
About TNW:
TNW is a global digital brand that informs, inspires and connects people who love tech, through media, events, and services.
Primarily known for its media outlet thenextweb.com and award-winning tech event TNW Conference, TNW also incorporates a co-working label (TQ.co), a global startup database (Index.co) and delivers custom innovation programs to corporates and governments via TNW X.