Orange, CA, -- September 26, 2006 -- The Action Pursuit Group LLC (APG), an operating company of Apprise Enthusiast Media LLC, today announced the acquisition from Great Hill Partners of Action Media Operating LLC, the leading provider of events and online media properties serving the tuner and sports compact performance market. APG is already a leader in this segment through such publications as Drag Racer, Drifting, Diesel World, Drive! and StreetTrucks. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Action Media, based in Irvine, California, produces Hot Import Nights and NightShift events, the largest tuner and sports compact performance auto show series, with 20 events a year throughout the United States attended by more than 250,000 auto enthusiasts. Action Media's websites - www.hotimportnights.com, www.hincity.com, and www.carandmodel.com - are the largest community sites serving the industry in terms of unique visitors and page views. Action Media also leverages its operating expertise to produce consumer events in other enthusiast sectors such as skiing and boating.
Action Media is a great addition to APG and extends our multi-media reach in the fast-growing automotive enthusiast market and the desirable 18-34 year old demographic," said Craig Nickerson, CEO of the Action Pursuit Group. "This is a highly attractive market that we know very well. The sports compact performance market had $4 billion in sales in 2006. Action Media brackets that market with unique car show events as well as strong interactive media vehicles that complement our existing print and online assets."
"We will continue to invest in APG's growth, with regard to both organic opportunities as well as acquisitions like Action Media," said Charles G. McCurdy, Chairman and CEO of Apprise Media LLC. "Enthusiast media is a core sector for Apprise, and we will continue to grow our operating platform there."
"Action Media is a great addition to the Apprise Enthusiast Media stable of properties," said Michael Behringer, Senior Vice President of Apprise Media. "Our strategy is to offer our consumers and advertisers a diverse offering of media products. The Action Media acquisition establishes APG as the leading provider of publications, events and online media for the tuner and sports compact industry. In addition, Action Media's deep experience in the consumer event industry will serve as a springboard for us to launch consumer events in APG's non-automotive verticals such as paintball and marital arts."
"Apprise's experienced management team brings a significant amount of youth marketing and automotive knowledge to Action Media. Their expertise within this field coupled with their enthusiasm to continue building our fast growing business will ensure further success for both parties. We are confident that our staff and clients will benefit from this transaction. Everyone at Action Media is committed to a smooth transition and has a positive outlook for the Company's ongoing prospects," said Glenn Rogers, CEO at Action Media Holdings, LLC. The Jordan, Edmiston Group, Inc. (JEGI), the New York-based middle-market media investment banking firm represented Action Media in this transaction.
About Apprise Media LLC
Established in 2004 by Charles G. McCurdy, co-founder and former President of Primedia, Inc., Apprise Media (www.apprisemedia.com) concentrates on niche media, one of the fastest-growing segments in the media industry worldwide. Apprise currently operates two strategic platforms: Apprise Business Media LLC, which includes Canon Communications LLC, a leading publisher, trade show producer, and digital media company serving advanced, technology-based manufacturing industries, including medical device, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, specialty packaging, electronics, and plastics processing; and Apprise Enthusiast Media LLC, which serves a variety of attractive consumer niche markets through Beckett Media LP and the Action Pursuit Group.
About Action Pursuit Group
The Action Pursuit Group (APG) is an operating company of Apprise Enthusiast Media LLC. APG, which is based in Orange County, California, operates publications including Drag Racer, Drifting, Diesel World, Drive! and StreetTrucks in the automotive segment; Bow & Arrow Hunting, Gun World and Knives Illustrated in the outdoor sports segment; Victorian Homes and Romantic Homes in the homes segment; and Action Pursuit Games, Ultimate Grappling and Inside Kung-Fu in the action enthusiast segment. Apprise Enthusiast Media is a strategic platform of Apprise Media LLC (www.apprisemedia.com), a leading investor in niche media.
