Birmingham, Ala.-based Cahaba Media Group announced today its acquisition of the assets of two B2B brands: RV PRO and THE SHOP from National Business Media.
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The products under the RV PRO brand – including a print magazine, digital issue, website, daily newsletter and social media platforms – offer industry professionals timely news and relevant business advice on the RV market and related products.
THE SHOP, which includes a print magazine, digital issue, website, daily newsletter, social media and podcast, offers automotive aftermarket professionals insight on trends and products in performance, restyling/aftermarket accessories, hot rods and customization, technology and electronics, shop tools and equipment.
Colorado-based National Business Media launched and has published RV PRO since 2005, and The Shop and its predecessors since 1998.
“Going forward, RV PRO and THE SHOP will be in good hands,” said Bob Wieber, CEO of National Business Media. “Cahaba Media Group is a first-class organization run by first-class people and we are excited to watch the continuing development of these two important industry brands.”
“We are thrilled to add the teams at RV PRO and THE SHOP to our growing team of experienced professionals in the B2B publishing sector,” said Matthew Conroy, president and CEO of Cahaba Media Group. “Since Matt Lyons and I acquired CMG in 2020 we have doubled the size of the business and continue to add jobs in Birmingham and now Denver. Our platform is becoming a ‘first call’ for experienced professionals, as well as people just starting their careers in publishing, and we are also seeing a lot of inbounds from publishers and business owners looking for liquidity and to sell their brands to a company committed to growing jobs in the B2B sector.”
Jennifer King, previously the editor of Cahaba Media Group’s Pumps & Systems brand, will lead the RV PRO and THE SHOP teams as executive editor, with the rest of the Colorado-based editorial staff: Jordan Benschop, associate editor, and Tony Kindelspire, associate editor, of RV PRO; and Jef White, editor, and AJ Hecht, associate editor of THE SHOP.
Cahaba Media Group’s Vice President of Sales Greg Meineke will lead the sales staff, which will include Colorado-based Chris Cieto, associate publisher, and Rebecca Tittel, account executive for RV PRO; and Stacy Marshall, associate publisher, and Wendy Miles, senior account executive for THE SHOP. Kelly Duman will also be onboard as client services coordinator.
“I am excited to lead two well-respected brands and work with the experienced, talented editors on those brands,” King said. “These are exciting industries with loyal, enthusiastic audiences, and I look forward to continuing to offer the expertise and news the readers have come to depend on.”
“Accelerating our growth through acquisitions is a key priority,” Meineke said. “We target brands with a leadership position in the market they serve and have a great team. Both RV PRO and THE SHOP meet both these requirements. “
Regions Financial provided financing for the acquisition, and Maynard Cooper & Gale PC served as legal counsel to Cahaba Media Group. Nick Curci of Corporate Solutions in Westport, Conn., was the exclusive advisor to National Business Media in arranging, structuring and negotiating this transaction. Hoffman Nies Dave & Meyer LLP served as legal counsel to the seller.
Cahaba Media Group was founded in 2002. The privately owned company publishes trade magazines, websites, newsletters, podcasts and more for the industries of its growing lineup of brands: Pumps & Systems, Construction Business Owner, HomeCare, Butane Propane News, RV PRO and THE SHOP.
