Automation and Electronics: two of the eight titles sold to Datateam
Wilmington Media has sold eight of its magazines to independent B2B publisher Datateam in a move to break out of the manufacturing sector, writes Ruth Addicott.
The deal will affect almost 60 staff who face a switch to Datateam’s offices in Maidstone, a 20-minute drive from their current base in Gravesend.
The acquisition includes the titles Automation, Design Solutions, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Irish Manufacturing.
Staff were in a period of consultation this week. Datateam publishing director Nick Carpenter said: “There is absolutely no duplication with any of our titles and we have not got any redundancies planned.”
Datateam’s titles cover a range of markets from office equipment to catering. The group has been looking to move into the industrial sector for four years and the takeover will increase its portfolio of titles to 32.
Carpenter said Datateam was hoping to acquire another B2B magazine publisher early next year. There is also a sports magazine due to launch in August, edited by Alistair Phillips.
Commenting on the takeover, Wilmington finance director Douglas Wright said the titles did not fit in with the core markets that the company wanted to be involved in and it would allow Wilmington to focus on markets such as power and design.
He said there were no plans to sell off any more of its titles.
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