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

  • Rand - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Given how rapidly and starkly Tom's Hardware declined after Purch purchased them, you can hardly blame people for being somewhat pessimistic and a tad dubious that AnandTech will remain what it once was.
    I doubt even the most optimistic of people is likely to argue that Ton's Hardware is even a tenth the site it was at it's peak.

    Purch has developed an awfully negative reputation, and while you understandably have to present this in a positive light you must also be aware of that reputation and why they have it.
    As the content posted is now under the purview of Purch it's only logical to expect Purch to handle things similarly to how they have in the past.
    And I don't think how they've handled things in the past is a manner anyone thinks highly of.
  • rickon66 - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    I been around pretty much since AnandTech started, first he leaves and now this. It was fun while it lasted - RIP Anandtech.
  • MatthiasP - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    If this was the reason the DailyTech side bar is gone then it's one step in the right direction.
  • Gasaraki88 - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Too bad Tom's Hardware turned to shit after they got bought. Now the same thing's happening.... ='(
  • juicytuna - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Does anyone know how much it was sold for? Is that public knowledge?
  • hughlle - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Best of luck. However these guys also bought toms hardware, so i have a hard time beleiving they are good investors.

    Best have a plan up your sleeve for replacing dailytech though. I imagine you've just gone and lost a substantial number of regular visitors as a result. While reviews were detailed, they were far and few between, many of us came here mostly for dailytech, with the idea of reading a review as a secondary purpose. No reason for myself to visit this place on even a semi-frequent basis now.
  • hughlle - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Best of luck. However these guys also bought toms hardware, so i have a hard time beleiving they are good investors.

    Best have a plan up your sleeve for replacing dailytech though. I imagine you've just gone and lost a substantial number of regular visitors as a result. While reviews were detailed, they were far and few between, many of us came here mostly for dailytech, with the idea of reading a review as a secondary purpose. No reason for myself to visit this place on even a semi-frequent basis now.
  • prime2515103 - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    Is this why the Daily Tech feed is missing?
  • Malih - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    "That search led to a number of interesting potential partners"

    And you chose Purch? That's what make me sad and pessimistic about the future of this site.

    I think most of us long time readers are not really complaining about the editors/writers or doubt them, but we are concerned the future of this lovely site with Purch driving it.

    Because personally what I see from their track record, I doubt they'd be concerned about replacing the whole editorial team if they want to, and be satisfied to have acquired the brand and the domain name.
  • agoyal - Wednesday, December 17, 2014 - link

    I can see how this is going to pan out. There will be more content pushed at the pretense of "more eyeballs equals more ad revenue" at the expense of quality. This leads to slow vicious cycle of poorer quality and slow death like Toms hardware. Pardon me for being skeptic but people like me who have followed PC hardware since 90's have seen this happen too many times. Hope Ars does not sell to Purch. Sad day for a lot of us.

Log in

Don't have an account? Sign up now