In press release today Incisive Media announced the acquisition of VNU Business Publications.This was a back to back transaction with 3i following their acquisition of the VNU Group of Dutch and European publishing interests.
VNU BPL, established in the UK in 1980, is one of the leading B2B publishers in both the UK business finance and corporate and personal computing markets. VNUs market leading brands include Accountancy Age, Computing, CRN and ComputerActive. The group has a portfolio of 10 publications, 22 websites and 6 events together covering B2B IT, Special Interest Computer and Business Finance. VNU was an early adopter of the internet, launching VNUNet in 1998. VNUNet is one of the UKs leading technology websites with over 2.2m monthly users, generating 8.5m page impressions per month. VNUs revenues for the full year ending December 2006 were £42.5M.
Tim Weller, Chief Executive, Incisive Media, commented: I am delighted to be able to announce our second acquisition since our management buy-out in December 2006. This acquisition gives Incisive Media a leading presence in the B2B Accountancy and Corporate IT and Special Interest Computer markets. It will also substantially accelerate our existing online aspirations as we leverage VNUNet’s proven, successful and highly developed content management system.