Incisive buys VNU’s UK division

Incisive Media has bought the entire UK branch of VNU.

The business information publisher confirmed that it acquired VNU Business Publications, home of Accountancy Age, Financial Director and Computing.

Last year private equity firm, 3i, bought VNU's business publications for €320m (£210m) after the Dutch publishing giant was acquired by a private equity consortium for £5bn.

The deal with 3i means Incisive has almost doubled in size since its buyout from Apax Partners for £199m in December 2006. Incisive's most recent purchase was MSM International, publisher of financial titles, in December 2006.

VNU BPL, established in the UK in 1980, has a portfolio of 10 publications, 22 websites and six events together covering B2B IT, special interest computer and business finance. VNU's revenues for the full year ending December 2006 were £42.5M.

Incisive's chief executive, Tim Weller, said: "I am delighted to be able to announce our second acquisition since our management buy-out in December 2006. This acquisition gives Incisive Media a leading presence in the B2B Accountancy and Corporate IT and Special Interest Computer markets. It will also substantially accelerate our existing online aspirations as we leverage VNUNet's proven, successful and highly developed content management system."