Acquisition of Blaze Publishing

RNS Number : 8563X

Future PLC

11 May 2016

 

RNS Reach

11 May 2016

Future plc

Acquisition of Blaze adds new shooting vertical and music events

Future plc (LSE: FUTR, "the Group"), the international media group and leading digital business, has acquired, for an undisclosed sum, the assets of Blaze Publishing ("Blaze").

Blaze is a UK-based publisher and event organiser, which focuses on the shooting and music sectors through a combination of events, consumer magazines, trade publications and contract publishing.

The acquisition adds shooting as a new content vertical, broadens Future's leading music events and publishing portfolio, further diversifying the Group's revenue streams.

Blaze owns the established music events The London Drum Show and The London Bass Guitar Show in addition to music magazines Acoustic, Bass Guitar, Drummer and iDrum.

Blaze's shooting titles, a new vertical for Future, include Sporting Rifle, Clay Shooting, Airgun Shooter, Bow International, Gun Trade News and iShoot.

The Group has also taken an option in the newly launched UK Game Fair (www.ukgamefair.com/) which will complement the growth of Future's new shooting vertical.

The company employs some 35 staff and is based in Leamington Spa.

Zillah Byng-Thorne, Chief Executive said:

"Blaze adds another complementary vertical as well as strengthens our events capabilities.

"The acquisition is part of our strategy to diversify our revenues, increase our scale and improve operational efficiency by acquiring complementary brands in our Magazine division."

Enquiries:

Future plc	01225 442 244
Zillah Byng-Thorne, Chief Executive Officer
Penny Ladkin-Brand, Chief Financial Officer
Instinctif Partners	020 7457 2020
Adrian Duffield/Lauren Foster

 

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