At Endeavor Business Media—the Nashville-based company founded by former SouthComm CEO Chris Ferrell just two years ago—2019 is ending the same way it began: with a significant, acquisition-fueled expansion.
Nine months after doubling its portfolio by acquiring more than 20 former PennWell brands from UK-based Clarion Events, Endeavor announced Monday that it has now purchased much of Informa Intelligence’s industry/infrastructure and transportation divisions—a deal that will increase its employee base by approximately 50 percent.
Encompassing some 23 trade magazines, at least seven live events and numerous digital brands, most of the assets involved in the deal are former Penton brands that were absorbed by Informa after the $1.56 billion merger of those two companies in 2016. The four exceptions are the “auto aftermarket” properties, which formerly comprised the UBM Automotive Group prior to UBM’s own merger with Informa last year.
A full list of the properties changing hands can be seen below, as provided by Endeavor:
Endeavor says it now owns more than 80 print and digital media brands and 59 live events across at least 16 different industries, with more than 600 employees in at least nine corporate offices around the U.S.
Asked whether the company anticipates any layoffs or redundancies as a result of this week’s acquisition, a spokeswoman tells Folio: that Endeavor “will be bringing over all staff on the brands as they are structured today.”
Like February’s acquisition of the former PennWell brands, funding for the deal was provided by Endeavor’s private-equity backer, Nashville-based Resolute Capital Partners, as well as Invergarry Holdings, the VC firm founded by investor Townes Duncan last year. But Endeavor tells Folio: that the company secured additional funding for the acquisition from Northcreek Mezzanine, a Cincinnati-based small business investment company (SBIC); Endeavor Business Media first appeared on the “Portfolio” page on Northcreek’s website in early August.
Endeavor declined to share the terms of the transaction, but on a Q3 earnings call Monday, Informa execs suggested the divested properties together represented around £50 million ($64 million) in revenues to the company’s intelligence division. As part of what it calls its “progressive portfolio management” plan, Informa divested its life sciences portfolio earlier this year to U.S.-based MJH Associates for approximately $100 million.
“Endeavor is very excited about bringing the Industry & Infrastructure Intelligence and Auto Aftermarket media brands into the business to expand what we are already offering in these growing markets,” said Chris Ferrell in prepared a statement. “We look forward to investing in these brands to take them to the next level for long-term sustainable success, leveraging Endeavor’s platform-wide strengths in print, digital, events and marketing solutions.”
Endeavor’s Press Release
Endeavor Business Media Acquires Informa’s Industry & Infrastructure Intelligence and Auto Aftermarket Media Brands, Expanding its Position as One of the Largest B2B companies
NASHVILLE, TN//November 11th, 2019 – Endeavor Business Media announces the acquisition of a number of Informa’s Industry & Infrastructure and Auto aftermarket media brands, expanding its position as one of the fastest growing B2B companies. Please click here for a list of brands.
With a committed focus on delivering exceptional content and business opportunities, these Informa brands will join Endeavor’s complementary portfolio of brands and events to create new multi-channel platforms for its audience and advertisers.
“Endeavor is very excited about bringing the Industry & Infrastructure Intelligence and Auto Aftermarket media brands into the business to expand what we are already offering in these growing markets. We look forward to investing in these brands to take them to the next level for long-term sustainable success, leveraging Endeavor’s platform-wide strengths in print, digital, events and marketing solutions,” said Chris Ferrell, CEO of Endeavor Business Media.
“We are confident that the alignment of Informa and Endeavor’s brands in these markets will provide greater scale and innovative new opportunities for clients and audiences alike. Endeavor’s culture and organizational structure based in a data-informed, customer-first philosophy will create a compelling market advantage and new opportunities for the whole portfolio. With Endeavor’s investment in new and cutting-edge products and services, this opportunity to bring aligned marketing services capabilities and talent from Informa to Endeavor will be a great fit for all,” commented Sue Boehlke, President at Informa Intelligence. Informa was advised by JEGI (www.jegi.com), a leading independent investment bank focused on media, marketing, information and technology.
With this acquisition Endeavor Business Media now has 600 employees that produce 80+ brands, 59 live events and 50+ innovative marketing solutions that drive awareness and conversion.
The acquisition of these top brands advances the company’s initiative of actively growing and investing in high quality B2B media brands that deliver excellent content and uniquely valuable experiences for its audiences and partners.
ABOUT ENDEAVOR BUSINESS MEDIA
Headquartered in Nashville, TN, Endeavor Business Media, LLC was formed in late 2017 to acquire and operate trade publications, websites and events. The company targets B2B audiences in the accounting, aviation, dental, facilities maintenance, fire & public safety, industrial, technology, medical, oil & gas, public services, security, construction, vehicle repair, vending, and water & wastewater market. The company has offices in Nashville, Tennessee; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Nashua, New Hampshire; Birmingham, Alabama; Sarasota, Florida; Skokie, Illinois; Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; Akron, Ohio and Santa Barbara, California. For more information, visit www.endeavorbusinessmedia.com
ABOUT INFORMA
Informa PLC Informa is a leading international Exhibitions, Events, Information Services and Scholarly Publishing Group with annual revenues approaching £3 billion. It helps commercial, professional and academic communities work smarter and make better decisions faster, through specialist content and intelligence, and opportunities to connect and learn. For more information, visit www.informa.com.