K-Mart, Inc. Acquires TechIMO

Knothead · April 1st, 2002, 11:43 AM

--from The Wall Street Journal, 4-1-2002:
Negotiations have been completed in the acquisition of TechIMO.com, a web-based techical information "forum"-type website, and the K-Mart Corparation, the Texas-based national retail chain.

"We envision a good working relationship between the K-Mart family of stores, and this plucky little website" said Martin Broomhoffer, V.P. in charge of Media Acquisition. "The merger of Compaq and Hewlett-Packard affords the K-Mart family the opportunity to represent their new line of computer products exclusively, and the TechIMO site is composed of computer enthusiasts" he stated. "What better target audience to premiere the new line of products to?"

The need for greater media penetration into the computer sector was a major prompt as well.

"The TechIMO site has been an invaluable advertising tool for such excellent companies as PhotoPost, Crucial.com, and others" said David Belinsky, V.P. in charge of Mid-States Promotion. "Let's face it, K-Mart has dropped several points in national public awareness, and we view the advertising opportunities on the site as a major incentive for the move."

Terms of the acquisition are undisclosed at this writing, and Scott Wainwright, the web-forum's owner, was unavailable for comment.

Insight into the acquisition process was provided for The Wall Street Journal by Hansen Klinger, V.P. in charge of Corporate Negotiations:

"Well, it started off a little slow, a little one-sided" Mr. Klinger laughed. "But I think we got his attention with the promise of a shiny new red bicycle. We were surprised at first when we noticed Mr. Wainwright's comparatively young age, and we are convinced that it was a negotiating ploy that we can all feel good about" he concluded, with a chuckle.

The final details of the acquisition are being processed through the Law Offices of Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.

Further information is promised on Thursday.