A. Sergio, you mentioned this one a couple weeks ago.
mentioned on cnbc today
Mecklermedia -- The Internet Media Company, Acquires One Inc., The Organizer of ISPCON, The ISP Industry's Largest Trade Show
WESTPORT, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 18, 1998--
BOARDWATCH MAGAZINE, INCORPORATED, THE PUBLISHER OF
BOARDWATCH MAGAZINE, THE ISP INDUSTRY'S LARGEST TRADE MAGAZINE AND OWNER OF THE RELATED ISPCON.COM AND BOARDWATCH.COM WEB SITES
Mecklermedia Corporation, The Internet Media Company (Nasdaq: MECK), announced today that it has acquired One Inc., the organizer of the ISPCON trade shows, and Boardwatch Magazine, Incorporated, the publisher of the monthly trade magazine Boardwatch, both companies of Littleton, Colorado, in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $29.5 million. Included in the acquisitions are the Web sites known as Ispcon.com and Boardwatch.com.
"The ISP (Internet Service Provider) industry is the most dynamic vertical growth area of the Internet industry and the properties we are acquiring are the leading trade show, print and Web site resources for the ISP professional and related personnel", stated Alan M. Meckler, Chairman and CEO of Mecklermedia Corporation. " There are currently over 4,800 ISP's in the United States and thousands more around the world. The number of ISP's is growing. In addition, there are many thousands of professionals associated with these commercial firms and countless thousands of professionals who have ISP 'like' duties in corporations and organizations worldwide. It is these professionals that are served by ISPCON, Boardwatch and their respective Web sites. To tap this significant market, most enterprise vendors are starting to roll out new channel sales programs that solely target ISPs.
ISPCON is held twice per year in the United States (March and September) on the east and west coasts, respectively. In its 1997 inaugural year, ISPCON was held once. "Mecklermedia is uniquely qualified to leverage these rapidly growing trade shows. Similar to our Internet World trade shows, our Internet.com Web site and our Internet World weekly print publication, we will market these acquisitions in a fully integrated manner using the Mecklermedia organization to work with the acquired team in Littleton, Colorado" added Meckler. "Boardwatch magazine is a profitable monthly magazine with a paid circulation of approximately 25,000 which is integral to the promotion and success of the ISPCON events. All editorial and sales functions will remain in the current Colorado facility."
"Overseas we will quickly add ISPCON shows to our portfolio beginning with an Australian event in August 1998 and a UK event in October 1998. Also, we will combine the acquired Web site with our ISP position on Internet.com, making Mecklermedia the center for ISP information in unique visitors, page views and content."
Jack Rickard, president of the acquired companies, will continue with Mecklermedia as a columnist in the monthly Boardwatch and weekly as a columnist on Internet.com as well as an advisor for all ISPCON trade shows. Mr. Rickard added "We have built the ISPCON trade show and Boardwatch magazine into the dominant media properties servicing the Internet Service Provider (ISP) segment in the United States - essentially the battlefield for the technical heart of the network. As telephone, cable, wireless and in fact all communication services continue their inexorable convergence on this Internet access space, the potential for continued growth appears to us almost exponential. By joining Mecklermedia, we gain an existing professional management and trade show infrastructure that appears custom-built to handle on a larger scale and with precision. And through Mecklermedia's superb international team of over 20 overseas trade show partners, we gain the potential to quickly expand our presence globally at precisely the time growth in the number of ISPs in Europe, Latin America, India, and Asia is taking off - areas of intense interest to our existing advertisers and exhibitors. The potential synergies between these two companies are enormous, nearly geometric, and appear seamless."
Mecklermedia Corporation, The Internet Media Company, based in Westport, Connecticut, is a leading provider of Internet information through its Internet World trade shows and conferences, its Internet World weekly print publication, and its Internet.com network of Web sites at internet.com, which provides daily news and information resources for the Internet community. Mecklermedia also publishes the ISDEX, the only 100% Internet stock index featuring 50 leading companies at isdex.com. Mecklermedia's global presence includes Internet World trade shows and licensed publications throughout Canada, Mexico, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
This press release contains statements which constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONTACT:
Mecklermedia Corporation, Westport
Dara Tyson, (203) 341-2972
dtyson@mecklermedia.com
or
Norman Iannarelli, (203) 341-2959
normani@mecklermedia.com
KEYWORD: CONNECTICUT
BW1172 MAY 18,1998
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