Frontline has announced today the acquisition of Gold Key Media, the Publishing and Venue Services division of COMAG.

Gold Key Media Ltd becomes a fully owned subsidiary of Frontline Ltd on 1 November 2017 and will continue to be led by the existing, highly experienced management team.

Frontline has acquired Gold Key Media from COMAG, the 65:35 joint venture with Hearst UK and Condé Nast.

With an exciting mix of market-leading dynamic distribution services, Gold Key Media creates bespoke solutions supplying newspapers and magazines in print and digital format to the business, leisure, travel, luxury and event industries across the world.

Established in 2001, Gold Key Media has grown to represent over 300 international publishers, distributing over 60 million newspaper and magazine copies per annum across a complete range of international venues and global events.

Frank Straetmans, CEO of the Frontline Group, said:

“With the integration of Gold Key Media into the Frontline Group, we are bringing together market-leading and complementary distribution services to the Magazine and Newspaper industries. We believe Frontline and Gold Key Media are a perfect match in terms of industry expertise as well as entrepreneurial mind set.

There is an ideal strategic fit as we continue to progress our vision to develop new commercial opportunities for venue and publisher clients.

I’m delighted that the incredibly talented and successful Gold Key Media team will be joining the Frontline Group at such an exciting time for both businesses. Together, we will continue to develop new routes to markets and to strengthen the position of Gold Key Media as a valuable and innovative marketing and distribution partner to the UK media industry.”

Chris Horn, Managing Director and founder of Gold Key Media, said:

“This is a tremendous result for Gold Key Media. Allowing us to continue to invest in our business and to develop the innovative, audience engagement activities that we are world-renowned for. Our clients remain our priority as we evolve our services to meet the ever-changing demands of the publishing / media landscape.”

Leading business and financial advisor Grant Thornton UK LLP advised Hearst UK and Condé Nast on the sale. By the end of 2017 all COMAG operations will have ceased.

About the Frontline Group:

Frontline Ltd is a Joint Venture between Bauer Media, Immediate Media and Haymarket Media Group. It currently provides distribution services under the Frontline and Seymour brands. Together they are the largest Magazine distributor in the UK, providing solutions to over 200 publishers, selling over 300 million magazines. Seymour International is the largest exporter of magazines to over 90 overseas territories.

For further information please contact:

Eleanor Crossman at MWW PR on Tel: 0207 046 6080 Mobile: 07732 111223 Email: ECrossman@mww.com