Mark Allen Group (MAG) has finally completed its acquisition of Farmers Weekly. The 85-year-old brand has been sold by Reed Business Information Ltd (RBI), part of RELX.
The portfolio includes the leading weekly magazine Farmers Weekly, its community website and online trading platforms on FWi.comco.uk, a growing events portfolio including the market leading industry Farmers Weekly Awards, newsletters and social media platforms supporting these publishing activities. This transaction does not include the agricultural connectivity, workflow, data and analytics business Proagrica.
A new company, MA Agriculture Ltd, has been formed to accommodate the brand, which will continue to be based at its Sutton offices, with 55 members of its staff transferring under TUPE.
CEO Ben Allen said: “Farming is going through an interesting rationalisation. Farmers Weekly is ideally placed to help progressive farmers undertaking such transformation. I’m immensely proud of the acquisition and the opportunities which lie ahead.”
Mark Allen, the founder and chairman of MAG, added: “This has been a long process, but negotiations have been extraordinarily smooth. I would particularly like to thank RELX for the professional and amicable way they have negotiated this deal. We have been very well supported by our bank, HSBC, and well advised by our lawyers, Trethowans of Southampton and our London-based accountants, Blick Rothenberg.”
