Member Article

Darlington media production company acquired in £0.45 million deal

Somerset-based Haynes Publishing Group P.L.C. has announced a 100% acquisition of Teon Media Limited’s share capital, a Darlington based media production company, for a cash consideration of £0.45 million to be paid in staged payments from cash resources over 24 months.

Through its founder Peter George, Teon, has developed a digital platform designed to engage with younger motorists.

Since 2011, Teon has created a mobile centric platform and database covering Europe’s most popular cars.

This platform will enable Haynes to accelerate development of its digital delivery plans by adding its own content to a well established delivery system to supply free and paid for content.

Content will be delivered in the form of video and simplified text procedures designed to eventually afford multilingual and pan-European delivery using the translation skills of HaynesPro, and beyond that to the rest of the Group’s markets.

The complementary nature of the Teon platform alongside the Group’s extensive model coverage, growing video archive, technical expertise and language translation capabilities will form a key element of the Group’s consumer digital initiative.

Commenting on the acquisition, Eric Oakley, CEO of the Group, said “The acquisition is an important move for the Group and whilst we remain firmly committed to our Haynes manual programme, Teon forms a major building block in our consumer digital strategy.

“Building on the strength of our iconic Haynes Manuals, the complementary provision of timely information in an accessible, easy to use and trustworthy format will significantly strengthen our consumer offering.

“We are also delighted that as part of the deal we’ve signed a three year consultancy agreement with Peter, which will help to ensure continuity during the important post acquisition period and add strength to the Group’s digital initiative.”