Mark Allen Group completes acquisition of 12 UKi magazines

Mark Allen Group completes

on 12 UKi magazines

The Mark Allen Group is pleased to announce that it has finally completed on the acquisition of 12 magazines owned by Uki Media & Events.

They are: Business Airport International, Business Jet Interiors International, Aircraft Interiors International, Aerospace Testing International, Air Traffic Technology International, Industrial Vehicle Technology International, Traffic Technology International, Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology International, Vehicle Dynamics International, Railway Interiors International, Stadia and Auditoria.

The magazines will trade in a newly-formed company, MA Aviation and Auto International Limited. The 22 transferring staff, will be based in the group’s business offices in Hawley Mill, Dartford in Kent.

Sales manager Simon Hughes, who will report to chief operating officer Jon Benson, is to be promoted to the role of publisher of these publications and Tom Stone, the editor of Air Traffic Technology International and Industrial Technology International, is to become editorial director.

Chairman of the Mark Allen Group, Mark Allen, said: “I am delighted that, after five months of negotiations, we have finally completed this deal. I would like to thank owner Tony Robinson and managing director Graham Johnson for helping to navigate this difficult process to such a successful outcome. Above all, I want to compliment the staff, whom we have started to get to know, for their patience and engagement. They are a very committed and talented group and we greatly look forward to working with them.”

Tony Robinson, the owner of UKi Media & Events, said: “As part of a strategic reorientation reflecting the significant growth of our exhibitions and conferences activities over the last 20 years, divesting ourselves of our stand-alone magazines is a sound decision even though it’s been a hard one to make.

“Amongst the titles going to Mark Allen Group, there are magazines that we launched 25 years ago, including 'Traffic Technology International' which won the PPA International Business Magazine of the Year Award way back in the year 2000 and 'IVT International' which was awarded a similar accolade from the industrial vehicle community some years later.

“Saying goodbye to these magazines and, especially the staff, who will transfer with them, was never going to be easy and inevitably it’s a process tinged with mixed emotions. Nonetheless, I can't think of a better home than the Mark Allen Group who have a fantastic amount of knowledge and experience with B2B magazines and who also have a track record of long-term staff retention and loyalty. We wish the whole project and incorporation of the magazines in their new home fantastic success.”

For further information, contact:

Mark Allen at mark.allen@markallengroup.com and 020 7501 6700;

Ben Allen at ben.allen@markallengroup.com and 020 7501 6725;

Tony Robinson at tonyrobinson1000@gmail.com and 07768981838;

Graham Johnson at graham.johnson@ukimediaevents.com and 01306 743744.

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