Deals

Centaur Media Plc (“Centaur” or the “Group”), an international provider of business information and specialist consultancy, today announces that it has entered into a conditional agreement to sell Centaur Human Resources Limited, the owner of the Employee Benefits brand and the rest of its HR business, to DVV Media International Ltd (“DVV Media International”) for a cash consideration of £5m (subject to customary post-completion adjustments). Completion of the disposal is expected to take place on 30 April 2019.

Simplify Compliance, a Leeds Equity Partners portfolio company, announced today that it has completed the sale of Argosy Group. The transaction resulted from a strategic decision to further hone the parent company’s focus on its core markets: human capital management, healthcare, environmental health and safety, and communications.

DC Thomson Media has confirmed the acquisition of PSP Media, a Glasgow based publisher and event specialist. Following the announcement of radio growth in March, DC Thomson Media’s acquisition of PSP Media is another key step in transforming the business from traditional publisher to modern media creator.

Centaur Media Plc (“Centaur” or the “Group”), an international provider of business information and specialist consultancy, today announces that it has entered into a conditional agreement to sell Centaur Media Travel and Meetings Limited (CTM), the owner of the Business Travel Show and The Meetings Show, to Northstar Travel Media UK Limited (“Northstar”), a leading B2B information and marketing solutions company focused on the global travel and meetings industries. Completion of the disposal is expected to take place on 30 April 2019.

Publicis Groupe is in talks to acquire data marketing giant Epsilon, the holding company confirmed Monday. Epsilon, which is owned by Irving, Texas-based Alliance Data Systems, is ranked as the world’s 13th largest agency company with revenue of $2.3 billion in 2017, according to the latest figures from the Ad Age Datacenter. Epsilon reported 2018 worldwide revenue of $2.2 billion.

Enthuse Group today announces the acquisition of a 51% stake in AA Media, the hospitality, publishing and merchandising division of The AA plc. Enthuse Group specialises in breathing new life into heritage brands and operates thirty  diverse specialist communities of enthusiasts. Titles include Hi-Fi News, Stereophile, Total Carp, The Woodworker, Stamp Magazine and  Patchwork and Quilting amongst others. The longest-running title in the Enthuse Group portfolio has been published fortnightly since the late 19th century.

Centaur Media Plc (“Centaur”), an international provider of business information and specialist consultancy, today announces that it has sold its financial services division to Metropolis Group (“Metropolis”), specialists in business and consumer media

Informa (LSE: INF.L), the International Exhibitions, Events, Information Services and Scholarly Research Group, announces the launch of Informa Ventures, a founder-friendly venture capital fund that makes early stage investments in the Knowledge & Information economy.

Growth capital investor VGC Partners has closed its Fund II at £50.3 million, to target UK-based consumer, media and tech companies. The firm, which currently has about £100 million of assets under management, has been supported by a £30 million commitment from the British Business Bank through its Enterprise Capital Funds (ECF) programme for early stage venture capital. Additional funds have been secured from private investors and high-net worth individuals

According to Colin Morrison’s Flashes&Flames It is believed the US-based Northstar Travel Group is poised to acquire three UK exhibitions – The Business Travel Show, Meetings Show, and Travel Technology Europe – from Centaur Media. The annual two-day events are one part of the Centaur portfolio put up for sale as it prepares to focus on its core XEIM marketing services group, which includes Marketing Week, eConsultancy, Festival of Marketing, and Oystercatchers

Accenture Interactive is acquiring digital shop Storm Digital to expand the network’s presence in Europe. Founded in 2006, the agency specializes in data collection, audience analytics, search, social and programmatic advertising services, media planning and buying, content creation, dynamic creative services and digital business services. The 90-person agency’s client roster includes ABN AMRO, Exact, KLM, Rituals and Transavia. 

Terrapinn [www.terrapinn.com], the global events company, announced today that it has acquired Accounting Business Expo [https://www.accountingbusiness.com.au] and Accountech Live [https://www.accountech.live], the two market leading exhibitions in Australia for the Accountancy and Finance Management profession

Gannett has sold sports, media and pop-culture website The Big Lead to Minute Media. Minute Media president Rich Routman told Morning Consult the company wants to land one media deal similar to The Big Lead acquisition every quarter this year, particularly in the technology, food and lifestyle space.

ReedPOP, the world’s largest producer of pop culture events and part of Reed Exhibitions, today announced that Florida Supercon will be joining its family of global fan conventions.  Florida Supercon is an annual convention held in Miami, Florida celebrating comics, superheroes, science fiction, anime, cartoons, video games, wrestling and all things pop culture.

Incisive Media has today announced the acquisition of The Financial Services Forum Limited (the ‘FSF’ or ‘the Forum’), the membership community for marketing professionals across the financial services industry.

Inflexion Private Equity is pleased to announce that it has acquired Times Higher Education (“THE”) from TPG Capital (“TPG”). THE, formerly part of Tes Global, has been carved out as an independent entity as part of the investment from Inflexion. The investment was made by Inflexion’s dedicated mid-market buyout funds.

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Diversified Communications announced the acquisition of three North American events – Intersolar, ees (electrical energy storage) and Power2Drive North America – from German-based organizers, Solar Promotion International and FMMI.

Reed Exhibitions, a division of RELX, has announced the acquisition of India BIG7. Launched in 1993, the annual, Mumbai-based event is India’s largest trade event for Gifts, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Office Supplies, Gadgets, Houseware, Kitchenware and Home Décor.

Beijing, 28th February: GL events announced plans to acquire 55% of CIEC Union, subject to approval from the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM). Financial details for the acquisition were not released

Bauer Media Group has acquired CrediMarket, a Spanish ecommerce platform for financial products. This acquisition is Bauer’s first move into the Spanish OCP (Online Comparison Platform) market.