NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ARTNEWS S.A. the Warsaw Stock Exchange-listed art media company with its primary operations in New York, and Brant Publications, Inc. announced terms to combine the two publishing companies' art media assets, creating the world's largest and most influential print and digital publisher of in-depth, comprehensive and scholarly writing, art- related news, information and art business intelligence.
Under terms of the deal, Brant Publication's BMP Media Holdings LLC will become the majority shareholder of ARTNEWS S.A. BMP Media Holding LLC will transfer 100% ownership interest in Art in America, The Magazine Antiques, Modern Magazine and related archives and digital properties to ARTNEWS S.A. The transaction will give BMP Media Holdings LLC a controlling interest in ARTNEWS S.A. Interview magazine is not part of the transaction and will continue to be operated by Brant Publications, Inc.
Upon completing the merger of the two companies, ARTNEWS S.A. will maintain Art in America on its current publication schedule of 11 issues a year and will launch a new bundled print subscription offer under the Art in America brand with ARTnews focusing on special themed editions that have proven successful with the readers, such as the best-selling ARTnews issue “The World’s Top 200 Collectors.” The Magazine Antiques and Modern Magazine will continue as quarterly editions.
All the art media properties will be consolidated onto a single digital platform at www.artnews.com, featuring art-related news, extensive archives, images and editorials. Readers will have access to a wide range of information on art and art business intelligence and both digital and international expansion of the group will continue under the ARTnews brand.
Skate’s Art Market Research will continue its focus on providing reliable and unbiased research, art market data and art business intelligence.
The above transactions remain subject to certain conditions, including the approval of shareholders of ARTNEWS S.A.
"Under one umbrella, the combined company will have some of the most important cultural publications that together provide the complete content and history of decorative arts, classical arts and art-related news," said Peter M. Brant. "We plan to strengthen our focus on digital content and online news reporting across all platforms. The combination of Art in America's digital resources coupled with those of artnews.com will ensure that the company is the leading online resource for the art and design industries. We also see Skate’s Art Market Research as an area that has a significant growth potential."
The combined company will have a 52% market share in the U.S. print art magazines market, a digital audience in excess of two million unique users per month and will be based in New York. To improve on the liquidity of ARTNEWS S.A. shares, ARTNEWS S.A. management will seek to list them on the German Stock Exchange (Deutsche Boerse) in 2016.
"This merger gives the new ARTNEWS S.A. the necessary scale and market power to preserve and strengthen our leadership in the art media space going forward. We’ll continue to deliver the best in class audience to our advertisers and the most diverse high quality content to our readers – a streamlined print offering will be combined with a significant investment in digital expansion with the objective of establishing artnews.com as the number one digital destination for the art loving public in the North American and European markets,” said Izabela Depczyk, who will remain the CEO of ARTNEWS S.A.
About ARTNEWS S.A.
ARTNEWS S.A. is the world’s leading print and the fastest growing online art media business with its media properties including the ARTnews and the Art & Business monthly print magazines, www.artnews.com and the www.artbiznes.pl digital properties and Skate’s art business intelligence unit. ARTNEWS S.A. is listed at Warsaw Stock Exchange and has its primary operations in New York, USA via Artnews Ltd, the 100% owned subsidiary of ARTNEWS S.A.
About Brant Publications, Inc.
Brant Publications Inc. was founded in 1984 by Peter M. Brant and is on of the nation’s leading magazine and digital publishers. It’s four titles include: Interview, Art in America, The Magazine Antiques and Modern.
Art in America was founded in 1913,Art in America is published 11 times per year. Current, provocative and comprehensive, over 200,000 readers rely on Art in America’s in-depth coverage every month. The magazine’s editorial team explores the contemporary art world with expertise and passion, engaging readers through critical essays, reviews and profiles.
The Magazine ANTIQUES, in print since 1922, currently publishes six bi-monthly issues each year on fine art and antiques for collectors, museum directors and enthusiasts. The publication delivers deep insight into the history of American, European and Continental works of beauty. Its prestigious reputation in the art world has made it well known for intelligent articles on exquisite objects of historical importance are illustrated with outstanding photography.
MODERN magazine is a vibrant quarterly magazine on modern furniture, architecture and design that began publication in 2009. It examines 20th & 21st century design from all angles - looking at architecture, interiors, furniture, objects and the players in the design industry with a fresh and intelligent approach. It’s readers are a unique, affluent audience of sophisticated fine art and design buyers.