CurtCo Acquires Assets of Gulfshore Media

Posted on October 15, 2004

CurtCo Publishing, parent of Robb Report, ShowBoats International and Worth magazines, in conjunction with financial sponsors Weston Presidio and TD Capital Communications Partners, has acquired the assets of Sarasota-based Gulfshore Media, publisher of Gulfshore Life and Sarasota magazines, as well as a number of other regional magazines geared to upscale readers in top Florida markets.

"The acquisition of the Gulfshore and Sarasota family of publications, with their exclusive readership and leadership in the nation's two most affluent demographic regions -- Naples and Sarasota -- is yet another step in our corporate strategy to deliver exceptional, targeted content to the ultra-affluent reader as well as offer our luxury partners and advertisers, new and powerful methods of communicating with their target markets. We intend to continue to extend our reach into affluent regional markets, in addition to vertical industries throughout the international luxury community," said CurtCo Media Chief Executive Officer William J. Curtis.

Gulfshore Media Chairman and Founder Dan Denton and President and Group Publisher Jimmy Dean, with their staff of more than 60 employees, will join CurtCo Media and continue in their present positions. Mr. Denton said that he and his management team were swayed by the fact that CurtCo and Gulfshore Media shared similar business philosophies. Plans call for the newly acquired titles to continue to operate from their existing headquarters in Sarasota and Naples as well as satellite offices in Jacksonville and Orlando.

The transaction marks the latest move in CurtCo's ongoing objective of acquiring and developing vertical titles within the luxury lifestyle categories, a goal that began with CurtCo's acquisition of Robb Report in 2001. This acquisition is the latest chapter in the expansion of the Robb Report franchise that includes the acquisitions of ShowBoats International and Worth magazines, as well as the development of The Robb Report Collection and the launches of Robb Report Vacation Homes, Robb Report MotorCycling, Robb Report Luxury Home, Robb Report Home Entertainment, and CurtCo's Digital TV.