Permira and Apax/GMG weigh up options on Reed titles

by Staff, Brand Republic 05-Mar-08, 10:35

LONDON - Private equity firm Permira and Apax/Guardian Media Group are all believed to be considering entering the race to buy Reed Business Information's B2B magazines.

According to a report in The Times this morning, Permira has emerged as a potential bidder for the titles, which could fetch as much as £1.25bn.

If Permira entered the race it would be competing against other private equity firms including Cinven, Candover, CVC and Providence Equity Partners.

The paper also reported that Apax and Guardian Media Group are talking about a bid.

If they did, the RBI titles could join the Emap business-to-business titles, including Broadcast, Construction News and Draper's Record, which the two agreed to buy for £1bn in December.

Whoever wins the bidding war will take control of more than 100 titles and the biggest B2B publishing group in the UK, which includes such titles as Estates Gazette, Community Care, Airline Business, New Scientist and Computer Weekly.

Other B2B publishers including United Business Media and Informa have ruled themselves out of bidding.