BOCA RATON, Fla. - Penthouse Media Group CEO Marc H. Bell discussed the company's purchase of Adult FriendFinder with AVN Online on Wednesday.
"With this transaction closing, we have now become the No. 1 adult entertainment and lifestyle company in the world," Bell said. "There is no one larger than us. Penthouse is the brand, and Adult FriendFinder is the technology. It's a great matchup."
Bell said he will combine all of the companies' assets into one group called Penthouse Internet. For affiliates and consumers, he said, there will be no difference.
Bell said he started thinking about purchasing Adult FriendFinder about a year ago, when he was drawn to what he said is the largest adult site in the world. His goal now is to "keep it that way."
"We have lots of exciting things arriving soon for the site," he said. "We will be launching some new websites. We will be working to improve our conversion ratios. We are ever striving to have the highest conversion percentages in the business."
Penthouse
Media Group, parent of Penthouse magazine, acquired social-networking
giant Various Inc. and
its subsidiaries for $500 million in cash and securities. With $340 million in
projected combined revenue for 2007, the acquisition makes Penthouse the
largest adult-entertainment company in the world.
Various has an extensive affiliate network, more than 260 million members and more
than 1.2 million paid subscribers. Various operates more than 25 online
communities, including Adult FriendFinder, which is one of the United States' top 50 websites and one
of the world's most highly trafficked sites, with more than 18 million
members.
"We are very excited to welcome Various and its employees as a part of the
Penthouse family," Bell
said. "Various is an attractive addition to our already strong print platform
and one that puts Penthouse in a very robust position in the ever-growing
online social-networking arena. We like where the business combination
puts us and that this transaction will enhance PMGI's current and future
licensing, print and interactive ventures."
"We are excited to be combining our substantial Internet presence with one of
the most recognized adult-entertainment brands in the world," said Lars Mapstead, vice president of marketing
for Various. "Together, we will expand in many areas, both online and offline,
to solidify our position as the world leader in adult entertainment."
