Axel Springer buys Bisnow in US B2B push

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1. https://talkingbiznews.com/media-news/axel-springer-acquires-real-estate-news-site-bisnow/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
2. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brighttower-advises-b2b-media-and-events-company-bisnow-in-sale-to-axel-springer-302702616.html – Axel Springer has acquired Bisnow, a leading commercial real estate media and events business, backed by The Wicks Group, a New York City-based private equity firm. Since 2005, Bisnow has built a deeply engaged, global commercial real estate audience through a unified platform of news, live events, and targeted B2B solutions. The company hosts more than 400 live events each year in 47 local markets across the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, connecting decision-makers across the commercial real estate ecosystem. At a time when AI is reshaping how information is created and distributed, Bisnow’s strength in live experiences and award-winning journalism provides a trusted platform for industry insight while fostering meaningful professional connections. Bisnow will join Morning Brew Inc. in the newly formed Brew Media Group. Robert Dippell will lead Brew Media Group in addition to his current role as CEO of Morning Brew Inc. Bisnow and Morning Brew Inc. will operate as separate, independently run companies as a part of Brew Media Group, which will actively pursue further targets in the U.S. to accelerate growth, scale its offerings, and enable cross-brand innovation across events, newsletters, and digital products. Dippell brings a deep understanding of Bisnow from his earlier work with the company, where he served as Chief Revenue Officer and Executive Advisor. Bisnow’s proven executive team, including CEO Gregg Mayer, will remain in place as Axel Springer supports the company’s next phase of growth. Gregg Mayer, CEO of Bisnow: “This moment is a testament to the extraordinary work of our team and the strength of the Bisnow brand around the world. Axel Springer recognizes not only our performance and leadership in commercial real estate, but also the culture, entrepreneurial drive, and industry relationships that set us apart. This doesn’t change who we are; it expands what we can achieve. Now, we have the opportunity to grow, invest in our people and brands, and build on the momentum we’ve created to supercharge our mission – to push the CRE industry to do more business.”
3. https://therealdeal.com/national/2026/03/03/axel-springer-buys-re-media-company-bisnow/ – Axel Springer is adding to its portfolio of media companies, buying real estate publication Bisnow. Axel Springer announced the acquisition of the commercial real estate editorial and events platform on Tuesday. The deal closed a day earlier. The acquisition price of Bisnow was not disclosed and a spokesperson for Axel Springer declined to provide it to The Real Deal. Axel Springer already counts Business Insider, Politico, and Morning Brew as part of its media portfolio. With the acquisition of Bisnow, Axel Springer will launch the Brew Media Group division, where Bisnow and Morning Brew will operate as separate companies; Morning Brew CEO and former Bisnow Chief Revenue Officer Robert Dippell will lead the group. “Bisnow expands Axel Springer’s U.S. footprint by adding B2B capabilities, event infrastructure, and commercial relationships,” Axel Springer Chief Operating Officer Claudius Senst said in a statement. Bisnow first launched in 2005 by Mark Bisnow and his son, Elliott. Mark sold the business to private equity firm Wicks Group in 2016 for $50 million. A profitable business, according to an Axel Springer spokesperson, Bisnow publishes more than 70 newsletters and connects to more than 1.7 million subscribers. It also has an events business, which hosts more than 400 live events annually across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and the Netherlands. The publication was on the market in 2023, according to A Media Operator, but nothing ever came of it. At that time, Bisnow was generating roughly $40 million in revenue with events representing a sizable 75 percent portion of that figure. A year before, tragedy struck the company when CEO Will Friend was killed after being struck by lightning while boating in North Carolina. He was 33 years old. Axel Springer’s self-professed mission “is to become the leading digital publisher of AI‑empowered media in the free world.” There are no plans for changes at either Bisnow or Morning Brew under the Brew Media banner.
4. https://www.ringier.com/ringier-acquires-the-shares-of-axel-springer-in-hungary-serbia-slovakia-estonia-latvia-and-lithuania/ – Ringier AG is further expanding its activities in Eastern Europe and enhancing its international portfolio of digital marketplaces and media: to this end, Ringier acquires all of the shares of Axel Springer in Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In Slovakia, the company founder will remain a minority shareholder. In the other countries, the Ringier Group will thus hold 100% of the shares. As part of its growth strategy, Axel Springer will focus on digital business in major strategic markets. The company’s investment focus in the News Media segment is on Germany, the US, and Poland. Accordingly, the successful joint venture between Ringier and Axel Springer in Poland will remain unchanged. Since Ringier Axel Springer Media AG was formed in July 2010, the joint venture between Ringier AG and Axel Springer SE has resulted in one of the largest and most modern media companies in Central and Eastern Europe, with some 3,100 employees. The comprehensive portfolio includes more than 200 digital and print products. In the first half of 2021, digital activities accounted for approximately 85 percent of adjusted EBITDA. Ringier is continuing its transformation into an international and diversified media company. With the acquisition of the shares of Axel Springer in the joint venture in Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Ringier is continuing its international growth and investment strategy in the field of digital marketplaces and media brands. Thanks to these significant investments, Ringier is strengthening its current activities in Romania and Bulgaria. Marc Walder, CEO of Ringier AG: “The acquisition of the Axel Springer shares in Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia, and the Baltic states is an important milestone in our business development. This transaction is an acknowledgment of our long-term commitment to being a modern media investor in Eastern Europe. The portfolio in these countries suits us ideally and will further strengthen the Ringier ecosystem. As part of our growth strategy, we will focus on our strategic core areas and large markets. This includes Poland with 40 million people. For them, we will further digitalize and expand our journalistic offerings and classifieds together with Ringier. I would like to sincerely thank our colleagues in Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and everyone at Ringier for the very good collaboration over the past few years.”
5. https://www.axelspringer.com/en/ax-press-release/leading-digital-publisher-axel-springer-acquires-business-insider – Axel Springer SE, the leading digital publisher in Europe, today announced a binding agreement to purchase approximately 88 percent of the shares in New York City-based Business Insider, the leading digital offering for business news in the U.S. This acquisition is a vital part of Axel Springer’s strategy to broaden its global reach, diversify its English-language offerings, and expand its commitment to digital journalism. The addition of Business Insider’s 76 million unique monthly visitors will increase Axel Springer’s worldwide digital audience by two-thirds to approximately 200 million users, making the company one of the world’s six largest digital publishers in terms of reach. The purchase price based on 100 percent of Business Insider amounts to USD 442 million (currently approximately EUR 395 million) on the basis of a cash and debt-free valuation of USD 390 million (currently approximately EUR 348 million). The valuation corresponds to an amount of USD 343 million (currently approximately EUR 306 million) for the 88 percent of the shares that Axel Springer is acquiring. Axel Springer already holds a stake of approximately nine percent in the company, and after this purchase, will hold a stake of approximately 97 percent. Bezos Expeditions, the personal investment company of Jeff Bezos, will hold the further shares. Henry Blodget, Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Editor-in-Chief, and Julie Hansen, Chief Operating Officer and President, will continue to lead Business Insider in their respective roles. They will also remain significantly invested in Business Insider through an extensive, long-term equity incentive.
6. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/29/axel-springer-buys-business-insider-henry-blodget – German publisher Axel Springer has acquired Business Insider in a deal valuing the company at $442m, making it one of the largest digital publishing acquisitions to date. Springer is paying $343m to acquire a further 88% of the company, having already taken a 9% stake during a funding round in January. The remaining 3% of shares are owned by the investment firm of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Springer publishes newspapers including Germany’s largest tabloid Bild. The deal is part of Springer’s attempts to grow its digital and global footprint, particularly in the English language. The company said the addition of Business Insider’s 76 million unique users would increase Springer’s total reach worldwide to more than 200 million, making it the sixth largest online publisher worldwide. Springer chief executive Mathias Döpfner said: “With the acquisition of Business Insider, we continue with our strategy to expand Axel Springer’s digital reach and, as previously announced, invest in digital journalism companies in English-speaking regions of the world.” “Combining our forces will allow us to unlock growth potential and expand Business Insider’s portfolio to new verticals, new locations, and new digital content. We look forward to working together with Henry Blodget, Julie Hansen, and the exceptional Business Insider team to continue shaping the future. At the same time, I am thrilled to have our close partner Ken Lerer joining us.”