BBC Worldwide and Dennis Publishing combine to create a new player in the publishing services market

BBC Worldwide and Dennis Publishing combine their magazine subscriptions businesses to create a new player in the publishing services market.

BBC Worldwide Limited (BBCW) and Dennis Publishing Limited (Dennis) today announce the creation of a new 50:50 joint venture company comprising the two established magazine subscription fulfilment companies, Galleon Limited and Customer Interface Limited.

The joint venture will be better placed than either company alone to compete within the magazines subscriptions fulfilment market, and to develop and enhance the companies’ range of additional marketing services that have helped both companies earn strong reputations for flexibility towards publishers’ needs. BBCW and Dennis share a vision for the venture to grow beyond the traditional service offering of magazine fulfilment houses.

From the perspective of existing clients, including the two shareholders, there will be no immediate changes to the operations of Galleon and CI. Maintaining and improving service standards for existing clients remains the priority of the venture, and service enhancements will be introduced in full collaboration with the businesses’ publishing partners.

Mandy Thwaites, Managing Director of Galleon, will be the Managing Director of the combined business. David Neale, Executive Chairman of Customer Interface, will be the new venture’s Finance Director. Tom Turcan is appointed as Chairman, Executive Management, and the venture will be called "Galleon CI".

Alastair Ramsay, Managing Director of Dennis, says "We are thrilled to be moving ahead with this venture. Magazine subscription management is increasingly important to our business, as it is to all publishers, and we believe that Dennis and Customer Interface coming together with BBC Magazines and Galleon will create a compelling offer that addresses the future needs of UK publishers."

Peter Phippen, Managing Director of BBC Magazines, says "We believe the combination of Galleon and Customer Interface will raise the standard in the magazine fulfilment business, and facilitate investment in an exciting new range of services not presently available to UK magazine publishers. Subscriptions are of increasing importance. The UK magazine industry is currently behind some other industries in this area, and we want to change that."

ENDS

Notes:

Galleon CI was created in April 2005 as a 50:50 joint venture between BBC Magazines (previously owner of Galleon Ltd) and Dennis Publishing (previously 50% shareholder in Customer Interface Ltd). Its operations are presently based in Somerton ( Somerset), Bristol, and Sittingbourne (Kent).

Galleon CI provides magazine subscription fulfilment and marketing services to its shareholders and to third party companies. Titles supported include Private Eye, the Spectator, Time Out, Investor’s Chronicle, Money Week and many others, including shareholder titles such as Radio Times, Top Gear, Maxim and The Week. Independent publishing clients include Puzzler Media, H Bauer, Highbury House and Haymarket.

Enquiries:

Galleon CI Tom Turcan 01795 414520