Purch Acquires AnandTech, Dominates Tech Expert and Enthusiast Market

Leading content and commerce company adds respected mobile, computing, and IT reviews site to its brand portfolio

NEW YORK, NY (December 17, 2014) – Purch today announced the acquisition of AnandTech.com, a leader in mobile, computing and IT analysis and reviews. Purch’s industry-leading combination of high-quality content and integrated commerce experiences makes complex buying decisions easy for more than 100 million consumers and professionals monthly. With the acquisition of AnandTech, Purch furthers its mission to simplify purchase decisions for in-market tech consumers by adding one of the most popular computer components, hardware, and mobile reviews sites to a brand portfolio that already includes category heavyweight, Tom’s Hardware.

AnandTech has been at the forefront of the technological evolution, providing groundbreaking reviews and trend coverage of cutting-edge mobile and computing products since Anand Shimpi, one of the tech industry’s most authoritative and respected figures, founded it in 1997 at age 14.

“AnandTech has grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years, but we were nearing what’s possible as an independent company,” said Ryan Smith, editor-in-chief, AnandTech. “The challenge has always been that there are very few players in the publishing space these days who value deep, high-quality content. We wanted a partner that understood our values, had a sound business model to ensure AnandTech’s legacy would continue for years to come, and would allow us to grow and expand our readership without compromising the quality that made us who were are today. Purch provides all of these things. I am beyond excited about what we’ll be able to do with their support.”

“The addition of AnandTech to a brand portfolio that includes Tom’s Hardware, Tom’s Guide, and Top Ten Reviews unquestionably establishes Purch as the dominant provider of in-depth, quality technology content, serving technology buyers who want to ensure the value of their potential investments,” said Greg Mason, CEO, Purch. “Technology manufacturers, too, can be assured that their messages will reach any serious buyer. The two editorial teams represent the finest, most expert group of content talent in the technology space. ”

“AnandTech represents much of my life’s work over the past 18 years,” said Anand Shimpi, founder, AnandTech. “I am happy to see it end up with a partner committed to taking good care of the brand and its readers. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.”

Purch offers brands and advertisers unmatched reach to tens of millions of discerning in-market tech consumers and professionals each month. These tech “enthusiasts” look to the kind of detailed research, benchmark testing, and advice from category experts during their buying process for which Tom’s Hardware and AnandTech are known. Readers trust that advice because it is backed by nearly two decades of testing every mobile and PC component imaginable, and is supported by unprecedented input and guidance from the biggest, passionate community of like-minded enthusiasts.

Purch’s acquisition of AnandTech is the company’s most recent move in a series of strategic acquisitions and partnerships aimed at furthering its mission to ease complex buying decisions for shoppers and deliver branding and performance results to advertisers. In 2013, the company acquired the renowned “Tom’s” brand of tech media sites and, earlier this year, purchased BuyerZone, the leading online marketplace for SMB buyers and sellers. Purch’s ability to trigger buying decisions in an array of product categories is evidenced by the more than 7,000 marketers and sellers that come to Purch to connect with ready-to-buy consumers. Each year, Purch’s content-commerce combination drives more than one billion dollars in commerce transactions.

In addition to the acquisition, Purch is now the number one technology publisher in the U.S., [1] with a global readership of more than 100 million monthly unique visitors.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

To find out more about Purch, visit www.purch.com or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

# # #

About Purch

Purch is a portfolio of digital brands and services that helps make complex buying decisions easy for 100 million consumers monthly. Its respected sites such as Top Ten Reviews, Tom’s Guide, Tom’s Hardware, and Live Science natively integrate commerce and content in more than 1000 product categories so consumers can make better choices before, during, and after an important purchase.

The company helps marketers achieve their branding and performance objectives in a high-quality, brand-safe context. Its sites connect in-market shoppers with more than 7,000 marketers and sellers, driving industry-leading conversion rates and $1 billion in commerce transactions annually.

Purch is a high-growth, privately held company with more than 350 employees and offices across the U.S. and Europe.

For more information on Purch, visit www.purch.com or follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

[1] Source: comScore U.S. Media Metrix, Tech-News category ranking by unique visitors, PC audience, September 2014

AnandTech Acquired By Purch
Comments Locked

345 Comments

View All Comments

  • nathanddrews - Friday, December 19, 2014 - link

    If there does end up being a union of AT and THG, I expect very little to change at either site, except perhaps a smoothing out of both coverage and reviews. Two very talented teams with extensive laboratories and deep access to many tech companies... my guess is the parent company will attempt to pool resources to maximize efficiency. Ergo, concordantly, vis-a-vis, more articles or similar or better quality. I'll keep my expectations high, thank you.
  • Tegeril - Monday, December 22, 2014 - link

    I am so glad DT is gone. It was such a plague of biased garbage.
  • JonnyDough - Sunday, December 28, 2014 - link

    Everyone here is stating that they used to like Tom's better. We know you'll stand by your former employer, even if you're wrong. It's ok to be wrong, and it's ok to stand beside someone even when they have made a bad decision. We appreciate Anand too, we just adamantly and openly disagree with his choice because we don't have a job or a friend to lose as you do.
  • schizoide - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Yes, every acquired company says "nothing is going to change, nobody will be fired/replaced, we'll just get better". Usually this honeymoon period lasts a couple months. We'll see where AT is in a year-- I hope bigger, better, and not infested with intrusive ads.

    But I'm not optimistic.
  • TheSlamma - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link

    And TBH bigger is not always better. Bigger usually means more spread thin and quality goes out the door. it's better to be great at a few things than good or just okay at many things.
  • frozentundra123456 - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    That is what everyone says when they are taken over by a big corporation. I truly hope it is not a "sell out" in the bad sense of the word, but I agree, it remains to be seen. I was particularly put off by the emphasis on mobile in the press release. Anand's already has enough articles on smartphones, watches, mini-pcs and other gadgets.
  • designerfx - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Really?

    Because I don't believe for a second that a site named Purch is going to deliver on the real news that anandtech is known for.

    Sold out implies credibility as well, which is something that is now clearly gone.
  • mpbrede - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Ditto on "sold out". Have you seen the advertising overload on Tom's?
  • Takamata - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Purch owns Top Ten Reviews as well.

    I worked closely with company that paid exorbitant referral commissions to Top Ten Reviews which allowed them to maintain their #1 ranking -- despite plainly being an inferior product.

    I really hope you retain the journalistic integrity you hope for.
  • Obsoleet - Thursday, December 18, 2014 - link

    No more free ride abusing power in the forum too. I bet this is addressed at some point http://techsoda.com/anandtech-forum-moderators-bia... Anand never brought that place into line, new sheriff in town now boys. :)

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now