Vinyl Group Acquires Time Out Australia, Raises $2.4M to Boost Integration

Strategic Acquisition of Iconic Urban Culture Brand

Vinyl Group Ltd (ASX:VNL) has secured the Australian operations of Time Out, one of the world’s most recognisable urban culture brands, through the acquisition of Time Out Australia from Time Out England for nominal consideration. This deal, finalising on 24 June, includes a long-term franchise agreement whereby Time Out England will receive ongoing royalty payments and annual minimum guarantees, under an initial five-year term with automatic renewals thereafter.

The acquisition brings premium cultural digital assets spanning food, travel, entertainment, and city discovery into Vinyl’s portfolio, complementing its existing Concrete Playground business. Time Out Australia’s presence across digital platforms, social media, and events enhances Vinyl’s ability to connect audiences with real-world experiences in major Australian cities.

Capital Raise Supports Integration and Growth

Coinciding with the Time Out deal and the recent acquisition of Pedestrian Group from Nine Digital, Vinyl completed a $2.4 million placement priced at $0.054 per share, a 10% discount to the last closing price, to sophisticated and strategic investors. Led by a cornerstone Top 10 shareholder and supported by institutional investors, the raise is earmarked for integration costs, working capital, and operational initiatives including technology upgrades and audience growth efforts.

This capital injection reflects investor confidence in Vinyl’s strategy to consolidate premium cultural media assets and build a scaled adaptive media and music technology business. The new shares will rank equally with existing shares and are expected to commence trading on 12 June.

Expanding Audience Reach and Market Position

The addition of Time Out Australia increases Vinyl Media’s combined internet audience reach to approximately 55% of Australians, based on Ipsos iris de-duplicated data, edging closer to the scale of Australia’s largest media organisations. This follows the recent Pedestrian Group acquisition which lifted reach to 53%, further consolidating Vinyl’s footprint in national digital media.

Time Out Australia operates profitably and is forecast to contribute positively to Vinyl Group’s EBITDA on a pro forma basis in FY27, marking the company’s first earnings accretive year. Vinyl’s CEO Josh Simons highlighted the acquisition as a key step in building a premium publishing platform at the intersection of content and real-world experiences.

Adaptive Media Model and Future Growth Catalysts

Vinyl continues to leverage its adaptive media business model, which integrates cultural assets, technology, and distribution to deliver meaningful brand connections at scale. The company’s ecosystem combines premium cultural brands with proprietary technology and AI publishing capabilities, driving superior ROI for advertisers and creating a self-reinforcing growth cycle.

The company forecasts consolidated FY27 revenue of $37-$40 million, nearly doubling from prior years, alongside an EBITDA forecast of $3.5 million, supported by scale benefits and a stronger market position. Upcoming catalysts include the integration of Val Morgan Digital, Time Out, and Pedestrian Group, targeted technology investments, and international expansion through licensing and M&A.

Time Out Australia’s franchise agreement model positions Vinyl as the preferred partner for international cultural digital assets seeking to maintain a presence in Australia, underpinning the company’s ambition to become the acquirer of choice for sub-scale publishers in the cultural media space.