DC Thompson, publisher of long-running comic The Beano, has acquired Puzzler Media Group for £85 million, bringing its portfolio of quiz, puzzle and trivia titles under its control.
Founded in 1973 and with a staff of 50, Puzzler Media currently holds a 50% market share in the Puzzle sector, far outweighing its competitors. The publisher currently produces 32 titles, including the market leading
Puzzler,
Puzzler Collection and
Puzzler Sudoku.
Under the control of previous owners, ABN AMRO Capital, Puzzler Media has widened its opportunities with new media growth and an expansion into the Australian market. The company has also cashed in on the latest puzzle craze, launching a series of successful sudoku titles.
Commenting on the company’s sale, Paul Southwell, head of ABN AMRO Capital’s UK buyout team, said: “When we acquired Puzzler we saw the opportunity to invest in a strong business with an experienced management team that needed a supportive partner to move to the next stage of its development. This has been a successful investment for us and we wish the management team all future success under its new ownership.”
Mel Lewis, managing director of Puzzler Media, added: “In 2002 we clearly saw the potential for developing the business in new directions and in ABN AMRO Capital we found a partner that had the expertise and financial strength to help us achieve our goals. Puzzler Media has been transformed in the last three years, which has been reflected in strong financial performance.
“Our new partnership with DC Thomson offers us an exciting opportunity to continue the successful development of Puzzler Media. We are now rapidly advancing our development in mobile phones, interactive TV and the Internet with sudoku, opening exciting opportunities internationally with planned launches in India, Russia and USA.”
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