AppLovin to Acquire Wurl to Extend Reach Into Connected TV Market

Rhea-AI Summary

AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: APP) has announced its decision to acquire Wurl, a growing software platform in the Connected TV market, for roughly $430 million. This acquisition aims to enhance AppLovin's capabilities in the fast-expanding CTV sector, where ad spending is expected to exceed $30 billion by 2025. The deal will be financed with 55% cash and 45% AppLovin equity, and it is anticipated to close in the first half of 2022, allowing Wurl to continue operating under its brand.

Positive

• Acquisition of Wurl extends AppLovin's capabilities into the growing CTV ad market.
• Wurl's distribution platform offers valuable access to CTV ad inventory and data.
• Wurl's clients include major networks, enhancing AppLovin's market reach.

Negative

• Transaction valued at $430 million could impose financial strain.
• Integration challenges may arise post-acquisition.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: APP), a leading marketing platform, today announced it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Wurl, a high-growth software platform in the Connected TV (CTV) market. The transaction is valued at approximately $430 million and is subject to customary closing conditions.

The acquisition will extend AppLovin’s software platform capabilities into the large and growing CTV market. In 2021, eMarketer projected that U.S. advertisers spent $14.4 billion on CTV, an increase of 60% compared to 2020, with ad spending projected to surpass $30 billion by 2025.¹

“The acquisition of Wurl will further our commitment to building and growing the world’s largest, most-effective digital marketing platform by providing advertisers a seamless way to tap into the highly addressable and measurable CTV market,” said Adam Foroughi, CEO and co-founder of AppLovin. “We believe our software marketing expertise can further optimize the experience for advertisers and consumers as well as enable content companies to expand their audiences and increase monetization.”

Wurl’s Global FAST Pass platform enables content companies including A+E Networks, AMC Networks, Scripps, and Bloomberg to distribute streaming video content to more than 300 million TVs and reach over 30 million users globally each month. Wurl’s distribution platform yields unique access to CTV ad inventory and data that can be harnessed to further develop its CTV performance advertising products – Wurl AdPool and Wurl Perform. Wurl makes it effortless for content companies to build and track global distribution for branded linear channels, live events, and on-demand programming to manage and monetize their ad inventory.

“Our shared vision and values made the opportunity to join forces compelling and unique,” said Sean Doherty Sr., CEO and co-founder of Wurl. “AppLovin brings enormous new demand from advertisers and our partnership will enable current customers to realize even more benefits including expanded ad revenue, new viewers, and enhanced distribution to global CTV audiences. Together, we’ll pursue our mission and dramatically impact the CTV market.”

Wurl is expected to retain its brand and operate independently with its existing management team. The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2022 and be funded with approximately 55% cash and 45% AppLovin equity.

AppLovin will host a webcast and conference call today at 3:00 PM PT / 6:00 PM ET, during which management will discuss the acquisition news. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-844-826-3033 for domestic callers or 1-412-317-5185 for international callers. A replay of the call will be available until March 7, 2022 at https://investors.appLovin.com.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati served as legal advisors for AppLovin, and Fenwick & West LLP acted as legal advisor for Wurl. LionTree Advisors acted as exclusive financial advisor to Wurl.

About AppLovin

AppLovin’s leading marketing software provides developers with a powerful, integrated set of solutions to grow their businesses. AppLovin enables developers to market, monetize, analyze and publish their apps. The company’s first party content includes more than 350+ popular, engaging apps and its technology brings that content to millions of users around the world. AppLovin is headquartered in Palo Alto, California with several offices globally.

About Wurl

Wurl, the world leader in powering streaming TV, interconnects over 1200 streaming channels from the world’s top content companies with the leading streaming distribution services in over 50 countries. Reaching over 300 million connected TVs around the globe, the Wurl Network platform helps leading studios such as A+E Networks, AMC Networks, Bloomberg, BBC Studios, CNN, Reuters and Sony, deliver programming to the biggest streaming platforms, including Amazon IMDb TV, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Rakuten, Twitch, and VIZIO, while maximizing monetization. Wurl is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “can,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “going to,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, priorities, plans, or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our future financial performance, including the impact of Wurl; the expected closing and closing date of the transaction; our expectations regarding the connected TV market; and our expectations regarding our acquisitions, including the impact of the Wurl acquisition. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties, including changes in our plans or assumptions, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks include our inability to forecast our business, fluctuations in our results of operations, our inability to adapt to emerging technologies and business models, our inability to integrate, and realize the benefits from the acquisition of Wurl. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021. Additional information will also be set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Source: AppLovin Corp.

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¹ US connected TV advertising will approach 60% growth by year-end, emarketer.com, eMarketer, November, 10 2021

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220228005934/en/

Investors

Ryan Gee

ir@applovin.com

Press

Kim Hughes

press@applovin.com

Source: AppLovin Corp.

FAQ

What is the value of AppLovin's acquisition of Wurl?

The acquisition of Wurl by AppLovin is valued at approximately $430 million.

When is the acquisition of Wurl expected to close?

The acquisition is expected to close in the first half of 2022.

How will the acquisition impact AppLovin's business?

The acquisition will enhance AppLovin's capabilities in the Connected TV market, potentially increasing ad revenue and market share.

What financing structure is being used for the acquisition?

The acquisition will be funded with approximately 55% cash and 45% AppLovin equity.

Will Wurl continue to operate independently after the acquisition?

Yes, Wurl is expected to retain its brand and operate independently with its existing management team.