El SEGUNDO, CA - Active Interest Media, Inc. (AIM) President and Chief Executive Officer Efrem “Skip” Zimbalist III has announced that the company has acquired a group of key assets from Dominion Enterprises, adding several market-leading magazines, events and websites to its growing portfolio of enthusiast media. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. “These acquisitions allow AIM to expand our marine, consumer enthusiast and B2B portfolios with highly differentiated print, digital and event properties,” said Zimbalist.
The assets include Passagemaker and Passagemaker’s Trawlerfest events (www.passagemaker.com), an international publication and events business that covers boats, boaters and the lifestyle of powerboat cruising; Soundings (www.soundingsonline.com), a magazine for recreational boaters; Soundings Trade Only (www.tradeonlytoday.com), the premier magazine and website dedicated to the marine industry professional; and Woodshop News (www.woodshopnews.com), the magazine and website for small-shop professional woodworkers.
“Soundings, Trade Only, Passagemaker and the Trawlerfest events add important dimensions to our existing shows, print, and websites in the marine industry,” said Andy Clurman, AIM’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Woodshop News is also a fit with AIM’s Homebuyer Media Group that serves a wide spectrum of custom home builders and craftsmen. In all, this is a rare opportunity to bring together great brands and excellent teams that share a passion for the communities they serve.”
“We are pleased to have completed the sale of these important publications to AIM and see an excellent fit with their existing portfolio of publications and events,” said Jeff Littlejohn, President of Dominion Business Solutions. “Dominion continues to develop its extensive interests in the recreational marine industry and is very happy with the continuing growing of its three market leading web portal businesses – www.yachtworld.com, www.boattrader.com, and www.boats.com.”
Operationally, the Passagemaker and Soundings staffs will remain in place in their present locations in Annapolis, MD, and Essex, CT. The group will report to Gary DeSanctis, AIM’s Marine Group Vice President of Sales and Publisher of Yachts International, who has been promoted to Group Publisher of AIM Marine.
About AIM: Based in El Segundo, CA, AIM (www.aimmedia.com) is a leading publisher of enthusiast magazines, consumer shows, books and Internet sites. AIM's five publishing groups include Healthy Living, Marine, Home Buyer, Outdoor and the Equine Group. The company publishes dozens of magazines and websites including Yoga Journal, Backpacker, Vegetarian Times, SNEWS® American Cowboy, Log Home Living, Arts & Crafts Homes, Peaks, Dressage, Black Belt, Yachts International, and others. AIM produces and markets conferences, DVDs and books, and produces logand- timber home shows and seminars. The company also produces the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show®, the largest boat show in the world. The company was formed in October 2003 by the private equity investment firm Wind Point Partners and by Zimbalist.
About Wind Point Partners: Wind Point Partners (www.wppartners.com) is a private equity investment firm with over $1.8 billion in capital under management and locations in Chicago, IL and Southfield, MI. Wind Point’s strategy is to team with top caliber CEOs to acquire solid middle market businesses with a clear path to value creation. Wind Point has an excellent track record of success, and has invested in more than 80 companies since 1984.
About Dominion Enterprises: Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services company serving the automotive, marine (including market leading web portals YachtWorld.com, Boats.com and BoatTrader.com), enthusiast and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, travel, and employment industries. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., with 4,900 employees nationwide, the company provides a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions, more than 40 market-leading Web sites reaching more than 20 million unique visitors monthly. For more information, visit www.dominionenterprises.com.
The assets include Passagemaker and Passagemaker’s Trawlerfest events (www.passagemaker.com), an international publication and events business that covers boats, boaters and the lifestyle of powerboat cruising; Soundings (www.soundingsonline.com), a magazine for recreational boaters; Soundings Trade Only (www.tradeonlytoday.com), the premier magazine and website dedicated to the marine industry professional; and Woodshop News (www.woodshopnews.com), the magazine and website for small-shop professional woodworkers.
“Soundings, Trade Only, Passagemaker and the Trawlerfest events add important dimensions to our existing shows, print, and websites in the marine industry,” said Andy Clurman, AIM’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Woodshop News is also a fit with AIM’s Homebuyer Media Group that serves a wide spectrum of custom home builders and craftsmen. In all, this is a rare opportunity to bring together great brands and excellent teams that share a passion for the communities they serve.”
“We are pleased to have completed the sale of these important publications to AIM and see an excellent fit with their existing portfolio of publications and events,” said Jeff Littlejohn, President of Dominion Business Solutions. “Dominion continues to develop its extensive interests in the recreational marine industry and is very happy with the continuing growing of its three market leading web portal businesses – www.yachtworld.com, www.boattrader.com, and www.boats.com.”
Operationally, the Passagemaker and Soundings staffs will remain in place in their present locations in Annapolis, MD, and Essex, CT. The group will report to Gary DeSanctis, AIM’s Marine Group Vice President of Sales and Publisher of Yachts International, who has been promoted to Group Publisher of AIM Marine.
About AIM: Based in El Segundo, CA, AIM (www.aimmedia.com) is a leading publisher of enthusiast magazines, consumer shows, books and Internet sites. AIM's five publishing groups include Healthy Living, Marine, Home Buyer, Outdoor and the Equine Group. The company publishes dozens of magazines and websites including Yoga Journal, Backpacker, Vegetarian Times, SNEWS® American Cowboy, Log Home Living, Arts & Crafts Homes, Peaks, Dressage, Black Belt, Yachts International, and others. AIM produces and markets conferences, DVDs and books, and produces logand- timber home shows and seminars. The company also produces the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show®, the largest boat show in the world. The company was formed in October 2003 by the private equity investment firm Wind Point Partners and by Zimbalist.
About Wind Point Partners: Wind Point Partners (www.wppartners.com) is a private equity investment firm with over $1.8 billion in capital under management and locations in Chicago, IL and Southfield, MI. Wind Point’s strategy is to team with top caliber CEOs to acquire solid middle market businesses with a clear path to value creation. Wind Point has an excellent track record of success, and has invested in more than 80 companies since 1984.
About Dominion Enterprises: Dominion Enterprises is a leading marketing services company serving the automotive, marine (including market leading web portals YachtWorld.com, Boats.com and BoatTrader.com), enthusiast and commercial vehicle, real estate, apartment rental, travel, and employment industries. Headquartered in Norfolk, Va., with 4,900 employees nationwide, the company provides a comprehensive suite of technology-based marketing solutions, more than 40 market-leading Web sites reaching more than 20 million unique visitors monthly. For more information, visit www.dominionenterprises.com.
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