Virgo Publishing acquires assets of Pulver Media

Business Publisher, Oct 1, 2008

Virgo Publishing (Phoenix, AZ), now a portfolio company of private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners (Washington, D.C.), has acquired the media assets previously owned by Pulver Media (New York) through a foreclosure from equity firm TICC Capital Partners (Greenwich, CT). No terms were given.

The assets include a range of databases, trade marks and the rights to 'WON Magazine," a bimonthly publication launched in 2003 for professionals in the VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) industry. According to reports, TICC shut down the company and seized all assets and bank accounts earlier this year. In an SEC filing, TICC said that Pulver Media "indicated that it was projecting a sudden and dramatic decline in projects revenues and earnings" for 2008. The sale does not include Pulver.com, still being operated by Pulver Media founder Jeff Pulver.

Virgo said its new products, which will expand on the VON brand, will be focused on IP communications technologies and business strategies for service providers and enterprises worldwide. A beta launch of a new web site is scheduled for later this month with an e-mail newsletter to follow in November. A new bimonthly print magazine will debut with a January/February issue. In addition, a conference and expo is being planned for 2009.

Virgo Publishing produces b2b magazines and related conferences across four vertical markets.

Virgo's Telecom division includes four titles, including "xChange," "Phone ," "Billing & OSS World" and "New Telephony." It also includes two trade shows, Channel Partners Conference and Billing & OSS World Conference & Expo. Virgo acquired "Billing & OSS Today" and the Billing & OSS World Conference from Telestrategies Inc. in September 2007.

Virgo Publishing group publisher Mike Saxby said "on the anniversary of our successful acquisition of the Billing & OSS World properties, we are confident our team can produce results in yet another growing area of the telecommunications business, IP communications.

Arlington acquired Virgo in February of this year from Seaport Capital (New York). Prior to the current deal, Virgo produced 10 trade shows and 17 trade magazines, including title such as "Modern Car Care," "Inside Self-Storage," "EndoNurse," "Food Product Design" and "Supply Side Cosmeceuticals," their related web site and online training and accreditation programs.