Dowden Health Media sold to Lebhar-Friedman

Business Publisher, April 16, 2005

Lebhar-Friedman (New York), the producer of information serving the retail and food service industries, has acquired Dowden Health Media (Montvale, NJ), a producer of medical journals, consumer magazines, newsletters and physician education programs. No terms of the deal were given. Dowden was represented by DeSilva & Phillips (New York).

Dowden assets include: Contemporary Surgery, a paid-circulation monthly journal for general surgeons; Journal of Family Practice, a paid-circulation monthly for family physicians; Current Psychiatry, a paid circulation monthly for psychiatric specialists; Mayo Clinic Proceedings, a paid circulation monthly for internal medicine specialists; and, OBG Managament, a controlled circulation monthly for OB/Gyns. Also, the company's Medical Decision Point division produces a variety of CME-accredited and non-accredited workshops, print programs and web sites for professional, patient and consumer markets.

Lebhar-Friedman president/ceo Roger Friedman said the purchase of Dowden "brings us closer to those goals (diversification of revenue streams and increased opportunities) by providing deeper access to the rapidly growing healthcare market, a market with which we are already familiar through our Drug Store News products."

Current Lebhar-Friedman properties include: Chain Store Age, a monthly for executives with home centers, supermarkets, drug chains, and discount and department stores; Drug Store News, published 17 times a year for professionals at chain and independent drug stores, discount stores and wholesalers; DSN Retailing Today, produced nine times a year for executives at department stores, clubs, super centers and specialty chain stores; Home Channel News, published 22 times a year for executives selling hardware and home improvement products to consumers and building professionals; Nation's Restaurant News, a weekly for the food service industry; and, Chain Store Guide, an online information service. The company's Consumer Health Publications division produces custom consumer magazines for such companies as Wal-Mart, Rite Aid and Walgreens.