What a Quartz Sale Might Look Like, and Why

In the continuing roll-up and old media investment in digital news start-ups, Atlantic Media’s Quartz may be next in line. According to aFinancial Times report published late Thursday evening, Atlantic Media “has met with at least one interested party this month.”   Acquisition interest in Quartz would come as no surprise. Axel Springer’s acquisition of Business Insider (“What Axel Springer’s big buy of Business Insider means”) just three months ago valued that business news start-up at about $400 million. Quartz offers a different profile for buyers, but it represents the next logical property in this market long controlled by massive legacy companies like Dow Jones, Thomson Reuters and Bloomberg. Further, Nikkei’s purchase of the Financial Times in July for $1.3 billion signaled a consolidation in business news properties.