MERGER MARKET -- Sep 9 -- eHarmony is interested in buying online content
companies as it builds toward an initial public offering, CEO Gregory
Waldorf said. eHarmony has passed the minimum requirements to go
public, but it has no capital needs at present. eHarmony declined to
comment specifically on targets. Internet dating industry consultant
Mark Brooks said Mary.com could be an attractive target. Waldorf said
eHarmony is "very profitable" and generated USD 200m in 2007. Asked
whether eHarmony might expand to allow male seeking male, or female
seeking female partners, Waldorf did not answer directly, saying the
content is for anybody who would find it useful. Brooks said it is
possible eHarmony fears a public reception would be tainted by its
association with social networking businesses, which have not been as
financially successful as some hoped. Brooks said it may be waiting for
people to forget about Chemistry.com's recent advertising campaign,
which invited homosexuals "rejected" by the eHarmony site to join its
service.