Emap faces potential break-up

Emap is considering selling off its magazines business and most of its conferences, according to today’s Telegraph.

Duncan Painter has been in discussions with a number of advisers about the potential break-up of the group. This follows a restructure at the business after Painter joined from BSkyB at the end of last year.

Painter has denied that the company is ready for a break-up but admitted: “Since I have arrived I have had at least 20 firms come to visit me. At the end of the day, we are owned by private equity investors, so if someone turns up and offers a fortune, sure we would sell it to them.”

Apax and GMG bought EMAP for £1 billion in 2008.