Online publisher Magicalia has acquired Encanta Media to create a specialist cross-media publishing group.
Encanta publishes nine specialist magazines, which range from woodworking and modelling to patchwork and gardening, and operates a series of leading hobbyist exhibitions.
Magicalia says that the acquisition marks the first step in its strategy of building the UK’s first truly integrated specialist community publisher, both online and in print.
The initial integration of the businesses will be focused on launching community websites for Encanta’s magazines on Magicalia’s online platform.
Peter Harkness, currently chairman of Encanta, will become executive chairman of Magicalia. Owen Davies, managing director of Encanta, will join Magicalia’s founders, Jeremy Tapp and Adam Laird, as joint managing director, responsible for magazine publishing.
Laird said: “We’re very excited to be acquiring Encanta for a number of reasons: Encanta is a great publishing group, with some excellent community magazines; Peter and Owen share our vision, and will add tremendous experience to our management team as we execute our strategy for building cross-media communities; and the broader Encanta team bring well-proven magazine skills so that together we can confidently launch and acquire more print titles for the group.”
Harkness added: “Owen Davies and I were delighted that Magicalia and Exponent shared our vision of creating a unique vehicle to consolidate and develop the UK’s Special Interest publishing sector, in print and online. It is a unique opportunity for Encanta’s staff and offers huge benefits for our advertisers and readers.”
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