Delius Klasing becomes part of the KLAMBT media group - investment program aims to tap the full potential of Delius Klasing's attractive target groups - publisher Konrad Delius becomes chairman of a newly established advisory board.
The KLAMBT media group is acquiring 100% of the shares in Delius Klasing GmbH and is thus entering the market for special interest publications. A planned investment program is intended to strengthen existing print publications and promote digital development opportunities.
Delius Klasing is a special interest publishing group focused on leisure topics, which was founded in 1911 and is active in the automotive, water sports, cycling and soccer segments. Delius Klasing publishes magazines and books, operates websites, offers corporate publishing and is an organizer of lighthouse events in its segments. Delius Klasing's best-known brands include "YACHT", "BOOTE" and "BIKE". Events such as Europe's largest mountain bike festival demonstrate the potential of the brands and target group segments.
Delius-Klasing employs over 200 people at its sites in Bielefeld, Hamburg and Munich and generates sales of around 40 million euros.
With this transaction, the KLAMBT media group is adding traditional yet modern premium brands to its portfolio. It is also expanding its business areas to include the special-interest periodicals and books segment.
The acquisition is subject to the approval of the German and Austrian antitrust authorities.
Lars and Kai Rose, publishers of Mediengruppe KLAMBT: "We are delighted to be able to give Delius-Klasing GmbH, a company with strong magazine and online brands, books, events and corporate publishing, a new home. We are pleased to take over the professional staff and to be able to invest in the multimedia expansion of the brands.
Following our investment in the national press distributor MZV and the content marketing service provider Storyboard, both effective January 1, 2022, this investment underscores our unwavering growth strategy and our belief in the power of the print and digital markets of the German-language consumer press.
We see the acquisition as a great opportunity to make our portfolio even more diversified and broader and as a publishing commitment to expand these traditional brands as multi-channel platforms. Looking ahead, we can imagine further investments in new products and portals related to the Delius Klasing brand worlds as well as acquisitions in adjacent markets.
We are counting on continued cooperation with Nils Oberschelp, the current Managing Director of Delius Klasing alongside Konrad Delius, whom we already know from previous joint venture companies and who will be appointed Chairman of the Management Board by us once the contracts have been concluded. Tim Ramms will be appointed as the other managing director once the contracts have been completed."
We are particularly pleased that Konrad Delius, whom we have gotten to know and appreciate very well over the years through our joint association work in the "Verband Deutscher Zeitschriftenverleger", now the "Medienverband der Freien Presse", will accompany and advise us on the way as Chairman of the newly founded Advisory Board with his many years of expertise as a family entrepreneur and publisher.
Konrad Delius, publisher of Delius Klasing: "With this alliance, we are securing the long-term future of Delius Klasing. In particular, together with KLAMBT we will benefit from great investment power, expertise in the digital business and in M&A. I will retire from operational management in the fall, but will remain involved with the company - Lars and Kai Rose and I have agreed to set up an advisory board for the company, which I will chair. The upcoming changes are both for Delius Klasing: a signal of long-term continuity for a successful family business and a signal of departure into a time in which we can appear on the market with even more clout."