Neal Vitale

Neal Vitale
CEO ﾕ 1105 Media

Vitale is one of the most active M&A players of the past year, growing a $75 million publishing company into a $110 million company in just eight months.

Neal Vitale launched one of the fastest growing b-to-b media companies last April. 1105 Media, a company formed through the acquisitions of 101Communications and Stevens Publishing, launched two new magazines and made five follow-on acquisitions in just eight months. The company has grown from $75 million in revenue to $110 million in just one year.

Vitale says the past year has been good for him and the company on a number of levels. "I'm pleased with the team we acquired out of the box," he says. "The 101 and the Stevens management teams are easy to work with and competent, which has allowed us to move quickly and expand our company with a number of moves in a very short period of time."

In addition to 101 and Stevens, 1105 acquired the Contingency Planning and Management Group, Post-Newsweek Tech Media, Fawcette Technical Publications and the CPM Group. Vitale says the company was able to integrate its acquisitions quickly because all of the products are concentrated in the public, government and IT sectors.

So, what's next? Vitale says "tons" of acquisitions are in the company's future. "I can't say they're going to be happening on Date A or B, but there's no shortage of opportunities out there," he adds. The company will be looking to grow not only in its traditional sectors, but in vertical sectors as well, Vitale says.

Vitale says the company also plans to continue building out its multiplatform strategy by expanding its events and online offerings. In terms of revenue, 1105 Media is currently 50 percent print products, with events and online offerings equally comprising the remaining 50 percent.

"It is not so much moving away from print, as it is building up the other pieces while you continue to support print," he says. "Obviously, there are a lot of opportunities to build online, but we have launched new print products and they have shown growth. Not as much growth as you would see in other platforms, but growth nonetheless."

VITAL STATS:
He expects to continue growing organically by expanding of online products and events, and is eyeing a "ton" of acquisition possibilities.

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