06/19/2001 - CurtCo Media Labs and TD
Capital Acquire Robb Report and Showcase Luxury
Lifestyle Magazines
MALIBU, CA (June 19, 2001) – CurtCo Media
Labs, a highly successful developer of publishing
companies since 1987, today announced the acquisition
of the international affluent lifestyle magazines
Robb Report and Showcase from Luxury Media Corporation
of Acton, Mass. The acquisition is the first step
for a new partnership between CurtCo Media and
TD Capital Communications Partners, the global
private equity arm of TD Securities. The new company
is CurtCo Robb Media LLC.
In announcing the acquisition, CurtCo CEO William
J. Curtis said he intends “to reinforce
Robb Report’s status as the leading magazine
serving the highest demographic audience. Robb
is for people who actively celebrate the lifestyle
that wealth can provide. Showcase Magazine is
Robb’s shopping mall, offering immediate
access to the best of the best. This is our dream
acquisition. In fact, it’s the best brand
in publishing. Robb has the clearest position
with the most difficult-to-reach audience in the
world.”
Capitalizing on the magazine’s unique positioning,
CurtCo plans to leverage the Robb Report brand
into a series of special interest categories.
“We will concentrate on commanding the ‘best
of the best’ position in a variety of markets.
In addition to a vertical launch strategy, CurtCo
will be interested in acquiring new titles that
can be adapted to fit the Robb position,”
Curtis explained.
Robb Report, which celebrates its 25th anniversary
this year, will serve as the centerpiece of a
series of products and services that CurtCo will
create to support the Robb Report brand. Future
endeavors will exceed beyond publishing to include
radio, video, web, and a series of “Robb”
live events, as well as a host of services exclusively
serving Robb Report member/subscribers.
“Bill Curtis is a proven operator with
an impeccable track record of building market-leading
publications,” said Marc Michel, Managing
Director of TD Capital Communications Partners.
“With Bill and his team, we can build a
substantial franchise in the luxury publishing
sector.”
While CurtCo Media expects to keep editorial
staffing in place, the company did announce the
appointment of CurtCo’s Brett Anderson as
Senior Vice President/Editorial for the publications.
In addition, Robb Report and Showcase Editor/Publisher
Paul Dean will assume the position of Editor-at-Large.
“Our partnership with TD Capital brings
CurtCo the power of a truly remarkable private
equity group. TD Capital’s media expertise
will help launch CurtCo into a powerful position,”
Curtis said.
Luxury Media, under the direction of Mr. Daniel
J. Phillips, President and CEO, will continue
to publish Luxury Golf Homes, a bi-monthly targeting
the golf aficionado. Luxury Media Corporation
was represented in this transaction by the investment
banking firm of DeSilva & Phillips.
“Despite Robb Report’s remarkable
success, Luxury Media Corporation faced significant
challenges in the last year,” Curtis said.
“We will be providing the capital and manpower
to enhance the magazine with more dynamic art
direction, exciting graphics, higher production
values and compelling editorial content. We will
make a great read even better.”
About CurtCo Media Labs
For more than a decade, CurtCo Media Labs, LLC
has developed niche markets in the publishing
industry and successfully launched over 25 publications
in five separate media businesses.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jeff Perlman
Brandware Public Relations
office - 818.706.1915
cell - 818.317.3070
jperlman@brandwaregroup.com
|
