Questex Media Acquires FierceMarkets

Leading B2B online media company to join forces with global B2B media and information provider



FierceMarkets (fiercemarkets.com), a leading online b2b media company, has been acquired by Questex Media Group, Inc. (questex.com), a global, diversified b2b integrated media and information provider headquartered in Newton, MA.

Based in Washington, DC, FierceMarkets helps business marketers reach targeted decision-makers through its portfolio of e-mail newsletters, web sites, webinars and live events focusing on the Telecommunications, Life Sciences, Healthcare, IT, and Finance industries. The company currently produces 19 targeted online publications, primarily marketed under the Fierce brand, including FierceWireless, FierceBiotech, FierceCIO, FierceHealthcare, FierceFinance and many others.

With 45% compound annual revenue growth over five years, more than 300 repeat advertisers, and triple-digit annual audience growth, FierceMarkets has established itself as a leader in the new generation of fast-growth media companies taking traditional trade publishing into the digital age.

“We at FierceMarkets are thrilled to join Questex,” said Jeff Giesea, Founder and President of FierceMarkets. “Questex has a strong leadership team, a global footprint across numerous complementary markets, and a similar vision of creating a global, diversified B2B media company. I think they’re pretty darn ‘Fierce’. Combined with our expertise and reach in digital B2B, there is a lot of value we can create together.”

“Jeff and his team have built FierceMarkets into a leading B2B lead-generation organization serving key vertical markets,” added Kerry Gumas, Questex Media’s President and CEO. “Their business model is an excellent fit with Questex’s digital strategy to serve the new and evolving demands of readers and advertisers and facilitate a meaningful connection between the two audiences. We welcome Jeff and his team and look forward to working with them to further Questex’s focus on lead generation and integrated campaigns, which are top of mind for our advertising partners across all vertical markets served.”

About FierceMarkets

FierceMarkets, a leader in B2B e-media, provides information and marketing services in the Telecommunications, Life Sciences, Healthcare, IT, and Finance industries through its portfolio of e-mail newsletters, web sites, webinars, and live events. Every business day, FierceMarkets’ wide array of publications reaches more than 560,000 executives in over 100 countries. Current publications include: DailyTechRag; FierceBiotech; FierceBioResearcher; FierceBroadbandWireless; FierceCIO; FierceDeveloper; FierceFinance; FierceHealthcare; FierceHealthIT; FierceIPTV; FierceMobileContent; FiercePharma; FierceSarbox; FierceTelecom; FierceVoIP; FierceWireless; FierceWireless:Europe; IT-Wireless; and The Business VoIP Report.

About Questex Media

Questex Media Group, Inc. is a global, diversified business-to-business integrated media and information provider that serves multiple industries including technology, telecommunications, beauty, spa, travel, hospitality, leisure, abilities, home entertainment, landscape design, building services and natural resources through a range of well-established, market-leading publications, events, interactive media, research, information and integrated marketing services. The company's media properties include over 100 print and digital media publications, 45 conferences, tradeshows and events, and a range of research, data and information products. The company’s operations include more than 500 employees in offices throughout North America, South America, Asia and Europe.

United Business Media Acquires Think Service for $24.5 Million

Acquisition enables CMP Technology to further expand its global professional IT support exhibition, training and consultancy business in the call center management market

Think Service, Inc. (thinkhdi.com) has been acquired by United Business Media plc (unitedbusinessmedia.com) on behalf of its subsidiary, CMP Technology (cmp.com), for $24.5 million, with a further performance-related consideration of up to $5 million, payable over the next 12 months. United Business Media is a leading global business media company that informs markets and brings the world’s buyers and sellers together at events, through online, and in print. CMP is a media, marketing solutions and services company serving the technology industry.

Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, Think Service includes HDI, the world’s largest membership association for IT help desk and service management professionals and the premier certification body for the industry. This acquisition will broaden and deepen CMP’s services portfolio to encompass certification in addition to membership, training and events for IT support professionals and their respective corporate organizations. HDI will be an independent operating unit within CMP’s International Customer Management Institute (ICMI) group headed by Ruthann Fisher. Peggy Libbey, President and COO, Think Service, will continue to manage the operational direction of HDI.

HDI provides a platform for continuous networking through 68 chapters and offers training and certification based on internationally recognized standards. The HDI Annual Conference & Expo attracts over 2,000 attendees annually and is recognized as the premier industry event for IT support professionals. HDI is committed to providing its more than 7,000 members with access to industry resources and events to continue enhancing their professional skills and their ability to support the increasingly complex IT environment.

David Levin, Chief Executive Officer, United Business Media, said, “Think Service is a business with strong revenue and profit growth potential, both in the U.S. and worldwide and is a great fit with CMP Technology’s existing ICMI business.”

“Because of the many strong synergies between ICMI and HDI, we see tremendous opportunities for growth in the customer management space,” said Philip Chapnick, Group President, CMP. “This acquisition deepens our portfolio of services beyond the call center to help desk and IT support centers, creating a full service offering to these professionals on a global scale. We are also particularly interested in capitalizing on existing ICMI and HDI businesses operating globally.”

“We are delighted to become part of CMP. By joining forces with a well-funded and truly global corporation, we will be in an even better position to offer our members and clients the world class services they need to keep abreast of the rapidly changing IT support requirements of modern global organizations,” said Ms. Libbey.

About United Business Media

United Business Media is a leading global business media company that informs markets and brings the world’s buyers and sellers together at events, through online, in print, and with the information they need to do business successfully. UBM focuses on serving professional commercial communities, from doctors to game developers, from journalists to jewelry traders, from farmers to pharmacists around the world. The company’s 5,000 staff in more than 30 countries is organized into specialist teams that serve these communities, helping them to do business and sustain effective and efficient markets.

About CMP

CMP, a subsidiary of United Business Media, is a media and marketing solutions company serving the technology industry. With leading online, event and print brands, and with services and tools that reach beyond traditional advertising, CMP shapes and influences the technology industry worldwide. CMP publishes highly respected media brands such as TechWeb, InformationWeek, EE Times and TechOnline; produces major industry events such as Interop, Web 2.0 Expo, and XChange; and provides business information and marketing services for technology marketers.