New York, NY, January 6, 2015 – ALM, a leader in specialized industry news and information, announced a deal to acquire Summit Professional Networks, the publisher of Investment Advisor and several prominent insurance and legal publications, including National Underwriter and InsideCounsel.  The deal also includes Judy Diamond Associates, a market-leading provider of prospecting tools and data within the benefits industry.  The acquisition advances ALM’s strategy of expanding and strengthening its offerings beyond the legal industry, while adding to the company’s considerable stable of legal publications that include The American Lawyer and The National Law Journal.  The transaction is expected to close by January 31, 2015.

The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc. (www.jegi.com), the leading independent investment bank for the global media, information, marketing and technology sectors, headquartered in New York, NY, represented Summit Professional Networks in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor.

This marks the second transaction for Summit Professional Networks over the past six months, following Summit’s sale of The Investing in African Mining Indaba annual professional conference to Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC (LSE: ERM) in July 2014.  The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc. also represented Summit in this transaction and acted as its exclusive financial advisor.

“The acquisition of Summit Professional Networks represents the next major step in ALM’s growth strategy, expanding our reach into new strategic markets,” said Bill Carter, President and CEO of ALM.  “What makes Summit an ideal fit with ALM is their strong competitive position in the markets they serve, driven by a combination of award-winning journalism and their robust custom marketing solutions.”

Once closed, this acquisition will increase the size and reach of ALM’s network to over 6 million professionals, most of which work within regulated industries.  With six offices in the US, Summit publishes content through several respected brands in the investment advisory, legal, insurance and benefits fields.  In addition to Investment Advisor, National Underwriter, and InsideCounsel, Summit publishes other leading brands, including Credit Union Times, Benefits Selling, ThinkAdvisor.com, PropertyCasualty360, and LifeHealthPro, among others.

About Summit Professional Networks
Summit Professional Networks supports the growth and vitality of the insurance, financial services and legal communities by arming professionals with the knowledge and education they need to succeed at every stage of their careers.  The company provides face-to-face and digital events, websites, mobile sites and apps, online information services and magazines, giving professionals multi-platform access to critical resources, including Professional Development; Education & Certification; Prospecting & Data Tools; Industry News & Analysis; Reference Tools & Services; and Community Networking Opportunities.  Using all of its resources across each community it serves, Summit delivers measurable ROI for its sponsors through a range of turnkey services, including Research, Content Development, Integrated Media, Creative & Design, and Lead Generation.  For more information, visit www.summitprofessionalnetworks.com.    

About ALM
ALM is a global leader in specialized industry news and information.  Trusted reporting delivered through innovative technology is the hallmark of ALM’s award-winning media properties, which include Law.com (www.law.com), The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel, The National Law Journal, and The New York Law Journal.  Headquartered in New York City with 16 offices worldwide, ALM brands have been serving their markets since 1843.  ALM was named among Folio: Magazine’s Top Places to Work in Media in 2014.  For more information, visit www.alm.com.      

About The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc.
The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc. (JEGI) has been the leading independent investment bank for the global media, information, marketing and technology sectors for nearly 27 years.  Headquartered in New York, with offices in Boston and Atlanta, as well as affiliates in London and India, JEGI has completed over 500 high‐profile M&A transactions, serving global corporations; middle‐market and emerging companies; entrepreneurial owners; and private equity and venture capital firms.  For more information, visit www.jegi.com.