MERGERS AND AQUISITIONS: HEARST DEAL TO BUY ELLE DECOR GOES THROUGH

Photo courtesy of Elle Decor
The newest issue of Elle Decor

Hearst has just acquired Elle and Elle Decor from French publishing company Lagardère, a statement has just confirmed. The transaction includes publishing rights to fashionable Elle (except for the French edition), with 102 titles in 15 countries-- the U.S., Russia & Ukraine, Italy, Spain, U.K., China, Japan, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Mexico, Taiwan, Canada and Germany and extensive digital operations, with 50 websites and numerous mobile and tablet applications. Included in the whopper deal are 10 global editions of Elle Decor,Woman’s Day, Car and Driver, Road & Track and Cycle World in the U.S.; Red in the U.K. and Holland.

The $887M deal puts Hearst at the forefront of the shelter magazine category, adding Elle Decor to their stable that includes House Beautiful, Veranda, Country Living.