Reed Business Information

Reed Business Information, commonly abbreviated as RBI, was a business-to-business information and publishing division associated with Reed Elsevier and its successor, RELX. It developed and operated specialist media brands serving professional audiences in sectors such as aviation, agriculture, construction, hospitality, technology, broadcasting, publishing and the wider business market. Its portfolio combined print magazines with websites, directories, research services, lead-generation products, events and industry data. The business grew out of the expansion of Reed International, whose publishing activities included IPC Business Press and the American trade publisher Cahners Publishing. Reed International acquired Cahners in 1977, adding a substantial North American trade-media operation. After Reed International merged with Elsevier in 1993, the resulting Reed Elsevier group managed a broad portfolio spanning scientific, legal, business and consumer information. RBI represented the group’s specialist trade-publishing interests and became one of the best-known suppliers of vertical business media. Its brands were designed around professional communities rather than mass audiences. Publications and digital services typically combined editorial coverage with advertising, subscriptions, directories, market intelligence, recruitment, conferences or other commercial services. This model gave RBI detailed knowledge of particular industries, but it also exposed the business to structural changes in advertising, the migration of readers from print to digital channels and the fragmentation of specialist media markets. During the 2000s and 2010s, RELX progressively reduced its exposure to traditional print business magazines and concentrated on higher-value digital information, data, analytics and events. RBI sold or closed numerous titles and businesses, particularly in North America, while retaining or developing selected specialist brands. Transactions included the sale of BuyerZone, eMedia and a majority interest in Reed Construction Data in 2014; the disposal of Dutch and international agricultural media in 2019; the sale of Flight International and FlightGlobal to DVV Media Group in 2019; and the sale of Farmers Weekly and related assets to MA Agriculture, part of the Mark Allen Group, announced in late 2019. The available reference material does not establish a single current operating structure for Reed Business Information as an independent brand. Several properties historically associated with RBI were sold, closed, transferred into other RELX operations or reorganized under different corporate names. Consequently, RBI is best understood as a historically significant trade-publishing business and portfolio within the Reed Elsevier/RELX organization, rather than as a clearly identifiable standalone international consumer brand today.

Reed Business Information emerged from the trade-publishing activities developed by Reed International. Reed’s publishing expansion included IPC Business Press, which produced specialist journals for professional and industrial audiences. In 1977, Reed International entered the United States trade-publishing market by acquiring Cahners Publishing, a major publisher founded by Norman Cahners. The acquisition gave Reed a large portfolio of American business magazines and strengthened its position in vertical professional media. Reed International merged with Elsevier in 1993 to form Reed Elsevier. The combined group owned businesses in scientific, legal, educational, consumer and professional publishing. Its business-to-business activities were organized around specialist brands and publications serving defined industries. RBI became associated with a wide range of titles and services in aviation, agriculture, construction, technology, broadcasting, hospitality and other commercial fields. The traditional RBI model was based on specialist editorial content supported by advertising, subscriptions, directories, exhibitions, recruitment and data products. As business readers increasingly moved online, the division expanded websites and digital services while the parent group sought to reduce dependence on print advertising. This formed part of a broader RELX strategy that shifted capital toward electronic information, analytics, professional tools and events. The portfolio was progressively rationalized. In the United States, weak advertising conditions and the structural decline of print trade magazines led to sales and closures of numerous titles. Earlier divestments included major North American publications, while Variety, described in the reference material as the company’s last remaining North American title, was sold in 2012. RBI subsequently sold BuyerZone, eMedia and a majority stake in Reed Construction Data in 2014. Further disposals affected long-established specialist brands. In 2019, RBI sold Dutch agricultural media and selected international agricultural assets, including Poultry World, to Doorakkeren BV. In August of that year, Flight International and FlightGlobal were sold to DVV Media Group. In December, RBI announced the planned sale of Farmers Weekly, its website, related platforms, events and awards to MA Agriculture, part of the Mark Allen Group. These transactions reflected the transformation of RELX from a diversified print publisher into a more concentrated information, analytics and events company. Because the reference material does not provide a definitive account of RBI’s subsequent legal status or a complete list of assets still using the name, its present status is recorded as unknown. Historically, however, RBI was an important Reed Elsevier/RELX platform for professional publishing and industry-specific information.

• 2019

  Agricultural and aviation titles are sold

  [1]RELXen.wikipedia.org

  RBI sold selected agricultural media to Doorakkeren BV and Flight International and FlightGlobal to DVV Media Group.

• 2014

  Specialist information assets are divested

  [1]RELXen.wikipedia.org

  BuyerZone, eMedia and a majority interest in Reed Construction Data were sold as the portfolio was streamlined.

• 2012

  Variety is sold

  [1]RELXen.wikipedia.org

  The sale marked the disposal of the last remaining North American title identified in the reference material as part of the relevant portfolio.

• 1993

  Reed International merges with Elsevier

  [1]RELXen.wikipedia.org

  The merger created Reed Elsevier, the corporate group under which Reed Business Information operated as a business-to-business publishing activity.

• 1977

  Reed International acquires Cahners Publishing

  [1]RELXen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition expanded Reed’s presence in American trade and business publishing and added a major portfolio of specialist professional magazines.

Specialist, sector-focused business information for professional communities, combining editorial media with digital data, directories, lead generation, events and commercial intelligence.

• Aviation trade media

  Flight International

  A specialist aviation publication serving professional readers across commercial aviation, aerospace, defense and related industries. It formed part of RBI’s aviation information portfolio and was distributed through print and digital channels before being sold to DVV Media Group in 2019.

• Aviation information website

  FlightGlobal

  An aviation-focused digital information and media brand associated with Flight International and the wider RBI aviation portfolio. Its coverage and professional audience served aviation companies, operators, manufacturers and industry analysts. The brand was sold to DVV Media Group in 2019.

• Agricultural trade media

  Farmers Weekly

  A specialist agricultural media property comprising a magazine, website and related platforms, events and awards. It served the farming and rural-business community and was the subject of a planned sale to MA Agriculture, part of the Mark Allen Group, announced in 2019.

• Construction data

  Reed Construction Data

  A construction-information business providing data and research products for participants in the construction sector. RBI sold a majority stake in the business in 2014.

• Business buying marketplace

  BuyerZone

  An online marketplace and buyer-information service that connected business purchasers with suppliers. It was among the specialist RBI assets sold in 2014.

• Technology market research

  eMedia

  A provider of research and information aimed at technology buyers and vendors in the United States. The business was sold by RBI in 2014.

• 2019

  Sale of aviation media brandsM&A

  Background

  RELX continued to reassess its specialist publishing assets as it concentrated more heavily on information services, analytics and events.

  Action taken

  Flight International and FlightGlobal were sold to DVV Media Group.

  Aftermath

  The aviation titles left the RBI portfolio and continued under new ownership.

  Source

• 2019

  Sale of agricultural media portfolioM&A

  Background

  RBI reduced its agricultural publishing holdings as part of the continuing disposal of print-oriented business media.

  Action taken

  Dutch agricultural media and selected international agricultural assets, including Poultry World, were sold to Doorakkeren BV; a planned sale of Farmers Weekly and related assets to MA Agriculture was also announced.

  Aftermath

  The transactions further narrowed RBI’s historical agricultural-media portfolio.

  Source

• 2014

  Divestment of BuyerZone, eMedia and Reed Construction Data stakeM&A

  Background

  The disposals formed part of the wider effort to streamline RELX’s business-to-business media portfolio and emphasize digital information and analytics.

  Action taken

  RBI sold BuyerZone, eMedia and a majority stake in Reed Construction Data.

  Aftermath

  The transactions reduced RBI’s portfolio of standalone specialist media and data businesses.

  Source

• 2009

  North American trade-publication portfolio rationalizationStrategy

  Background

  RBI and its parent company faced a deteriorating advertising market and the long-term shift from print trade magazines toward digital media.

  Action taken

  RBI announced the intended sale of most of its North American trade publications while retaining selected properties, including Variety at that time.

  Aftermath

  Additional titles were sold or closed in 2010, and Variety was later sold in 2012.

  Source

1. 1RELXen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Reed Business Information corporate websitereedbusiness.co.uk