Paragon Publishing Acquires IDG Gaming Titles

Gaming and internet magazine publishing, Paragon Publishing, has bought a number of consumer titles from IDG Media, boosting its presence in the videogame and PC magazines sector. Paragon has acquired Playstation Pro, N64 Pro, Planet Playstation, PC Home and PC Basics.

The combined videogames portfolio gives Paragon a 23% market share in this sector; Paragon already publishes 64 Magazine and Dreamcast Solutions. Paragon has offered jobs to the 50 staff at IDG involved in the transferred titles if they are willing to relocate from Macclesfield to Paragon’s offices in Bournemouth.

Paragon’s management recently completed a buy-in of the company with backing from investments group 3i (see Paragon Publisher In Management Buy-Out). Commenting on the IDG titles acquisition, 3i Southampton’s investment director, Stewart Lambert, says: “Both IDG and Paragon have similar cultures benefiting from highly talented and motivated teams who are dedicated to creating the best magazines possible. This is a crucial and well-planned acquisition and fits in with Paragon’s long-term UK and international development strategy.”

Mark Simpson, managing director of Paragon, adds: “Paragon’s recent management buy-in has had a dream start. Our strategy has been to push the business forward to capitalise on its impressive growth. The first stage of this expansion plan has certainly been put in place with the acquisition of IDG, an achievement which could not have been realised without the initial talks put in place by the previous management team back in February.”

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Paragon Publishing: 01202 299 900