Network18 consolidates publishing businesses

MUMBAI: Raghav Bahl-promoted Network18 has demerged and consolidated the publishing business of Infomedia18 under ?Network18 Publishing? as per the scheme of demerger approved by the High Court of Delhi in 2011.

The printing press business will continue to remain with Infomedia18.

As per scheme of arrangement, Network18 was to issue and allot to the shareholders of Infomedia18 as on the record date, 7 (Seven) equity shares of Rs 5 each of Network18 for every 50 shares of Rs 10 each of Infomedia18. Meanwhile, shareholders of Infomedia18 will continue to hold their original shareholding in Infomedia18.

With the scheme in place, Network18 Publishing will encompass three divisions of Infomedia18?s publishing business - Business to Consumer (B2C) magazines, Business to Business (B2B) magazines and Business Directories Division (BDD).

In B2C, the titles that will now come under the Network18 Publishing umbrella are Overdrive, Overdrive Hindi, Entrepreneur, Better Photography, Better Photography Hindi, Better Interiors, CHIP, T3, AVMAX. In B2B- Search, Auto Monitor, Modern Machine Tools, Chemical World, Modern Plastics & Polymers, Modern Packaging & Design, Modern Medicare, Modern Pharmaceuticals, Modern Food Processing, Smart Logistics and Aftermarket will be part of Network18 Publishing. Meanwhile in Business Directories- Multi-city editions of Yellow Pages Business Directories, Machine Tool Guide, Indian Exporters Guide, Construction and Interior Design Guide, Industries State Guide and Motor Pumps & Valves directories will be now under Network18 Publishing.

Additionally, Network18 Publishing will also manage production and circulation operations for titles from the Forbes India stable which currently includes Forbes India and Forbes Life India.

Network18 Group CEO B Sai Kumar said, "We believe that the special interest and B2B spaces will be one of the key drivers for publishing in India, both in print and new media. With Network18 Publishing, we?ve aligned our assets to capitalize on this trend both from a community building as well as a commercial perspective. Going forward, as publishing models develop, this alignment will significantly enhance our market proposition."

Sandeep Khosla, who was earlier CEO-Publishing at Infomedia18 will be heading the new devision as its CEO.

Khosla added, "As Network18 Publishing, our growth strategy will evolve in line with an increasingly multi-platform publishing environment. Considering the strong traction of our brands in key consumer and business communities, our focus will be on leveraging this across areas including print, new media, on-ground activation and value-added services. We hope to build on this further by maximising synergies with group platforms and in the process deepen engagement with our audiences and aid monetisation of our brands."