Signature Publishing, which was acquired by Claverley Group in January 2023, has merged into Kennedy Publishing with effect from Monday (1 January 2024).
The merger will see Kennedy’s portfolio of pre-school, primary, and pre-teen magazines grow to 63 titles across the UK and Ireland, as well as in global territories including Australia, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.
“The merger provides an excellent opportunity for us to diversify and expand our already tremendously successful portfolio,” said Dean Barber, managing director of Kennedy Publishing.
“It enables us to continue delivering valuable learning opportunities to our young readers, cementing the company’s position as the second-largest children’s magazine publisher and building on a solid foundation to set us up for sustained growth for years to come.”
Kennedy Publishing was established in 2005 and its portfolio includes own-brand magazines as well as successful licensed titles through partnerships with major entertainment brands. Claverley Group acquired the business in 2018.
Claverley, which provides publishing, print, and B2B marketing services to a growing customer base, also acquired Lyonsdown, a speciality digital media production company, last summer.
This followed the Wolverhampton-based group’s acquisition of B2B publisher HPCi Media in late 2021, and print management firm Cubiquity in 2018.
Also Precision Colour Printing’s parent company, in September 2023 Claverley Group exited regional publishing with the sale to National World of Midland News Association, which publishes the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, and Press Computer Systems, which provides SaaS technology solutions to publishers.
According to its most recently filed accounts at Companies House, for the year ended 31 December 2022, Claverley Group achieved a turnover of £115m, up from £92m in the prior year.
Commercial printing contributed £36.1m of this total, up from £26.4m, with print management and procurement up to £19.1m from £11.2m a year earlier. The group employed over 600 staff in 2022.
