Mecklermedia Corp.
today announced the acquisition of One Inc., the organizer of ISPCON trade shows and publisher of Boardwatch Magazine,
for $29.5 million in cash and stock.
Littleton, Colo.-based ISPCON is the biannual trade show of the Internet
service provider (ISP)industry, and also hosts attendees from national
backbones such as MCI and Sprint, as well as smaller ISPs. In
addition the show draws an audience from sectors such as local
telcos, long-distance carriers, cable-television operators, paging
companies, CLECs, and satellite companies.
“The ISP industry is the most dynamic
vertical growth area of the Internet industry, and the properties we are
acquiring are the leading trade show, print and Web site resources for
the ISP professional and related personnel,” said Alan M. Meckler,
Chairman and CEO of Mecklermedia Corp. “There are currently
over 4,800 ISPs in the United States and thousands more around the
world. The number of ISPs is growing.”
“Overseas, we will quickly add ISPCON shows to our portfolio
beginning with an Australian event in August 1998 and a UK event in
October 1998,” Meckler said. “Also, we will combine the acquired Web site
with our ISP
position on Internet.com, making
Mecklermedia the center for ISP information in unique visitors, page views
and content.”
Boardwatch Magazine focuses on the Internet, World Wide Web,
BBSs, and the communications industries, and, while aimed primarily at ISPs,
also attracts readers in the software-development community.
“Boardwatch magazine
is a profitable monthly magazine with a paid circulation of approximately
25,000, which is integral to the promotion and success of the ISPCON
events,” Meckler said. The magazine’s editorial and sales functions will
remain based in
Colorado.
Jack Rickard, the president of both
ISPCON and Boardwatch, will continue with Mecklermedia as a monthly
columnist for Boardwatch and as a
weekly columnist for Internet.com. Rickard will also serve as an advisor
for the ISPCON trade
shows.
“Through Mecklermedia’s
international
team of over 20 overseas trade show partners, we gain the potential to
quickly expand our presence globally at precisely the time that growth in the
number of ISPs in Europe, Latin America, India, and Asia is taking off —
areas of intense interest to our existing advertisers and exhibitors,” said
Rickard.
