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FinanceFunny or Die

No laughing matter: The Onion is considering a sale

By
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
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By
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 14, 2014, 10:42 AM ET
The Onion Newspaper Ceases Publication In Major California Markets
SAN FRANCISCO - MAY 05: A pedestrian walks by an Onion news rack May 5, 2009 in San Francisco, California. Satirical newspaper the Onion is ceasing publication in Los Angeles and San Francisco citing low ad revenue despite an increasing circulation. The Onion, which has a circulation of 60,000 in San Francisco, will continue to publish in other markets like Chicago and New York. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Photograph by Justin Sullivan — Getty Images

The Onion, a news satire website that takes nothing seriously, could be seriously considering a sale.

The website’s parent company Onion Inc. has reportedly hired a financial advisor to advise it on a potential sale, according to a Bloomberg report that cited people with knowledge of the situation. The company is reportedly working with investment bank GCA Savvian.

It appears to be a good time to be in the business of being funny, at least when it comes to mergers and acquisitions. Funny or Die, a comedy website co-founded by actor Will Ferrell, is also reportedly exploring a possible sale. That website could be hoping to land a valuation of as much as $300 million, according to a separate Bloomberg report.

The Onion’s potential sale comes less than a year after the company ended its print publication business. It had been in the business of printing its content in 17 markets at one point, though that figure dwindled down to just three before the print operation was shuttered in December 2013.

Known for its quirky and amusing headlines, Fortune’s sister publication Entertainment Weekly last year issued a list of 25 of the best Onion headlines. Among the favorites? “Study reveals: Babies are stupid” and “Kitten thinks of nothing but murder all day.”

About the Author
By John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence

John Kell is a contributing writer for Fortune and author of Fortune’s CIO Intelligence newsletter.

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