The deal sees QSS transferring ownership from Reed Business Information, who will remain as a client for the long-term, to become part of the expanding Air Business group. The acquisition is further indication that Air Business is continuing to pursue its stated strategy of intelligent growth, claims the company.
Air Business is a well-established provider of global distribution and logistics services including international and UK mail delivery, fulfilment, data management, circulation audits, international and UK courier services as well as exhibition handling.
Of this latest acquisition, Adam Sherman (pictured), Air Business Group MD said that, “For a long time now we have been successfully positioning ourselves as a complete provider of services for clients and this is just another logical step towards that goal, allowing publishers to concentrate on their core business of writing and selling. We firmly believe that QSS is an excellent match for our organisation, each of us possessing high quality services that complement the other perfectly without crossover affording greater choice of complimentary services to our customer base.”
The Managing Director of QSS, Stuart Lacey, now reporting to Group Managing Director Adam Sherman, is equally enthusiastic about the new possibilities that the deal could open up down the road, “I know that this acquisition will truly benefit both groups, and our collective clients, as we continue to grow together to deliver high quality customer services for the publishing and wider industry.”
About Air Business
Air Business says: “In business since 1986, Air Business is a well-established and highly experienced distribution, logistics and fulfilment business which specialises in domestic and international mail solutions for the publishing sector.
The company has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of An Post, the Irish Post Office since 2002. With the financial backing of this organisation with annual revenue of over €800 million organisation, Air Business has the stability and resources to invest heavily in providing the excellent quality of service that customers expect.
Air Business is also the fastest-growing company in the magazine distribution market. Since 2005, the new management team has helped to achieve market-leading growth, rising from £8 million annual turnover to a projected £40 million in 2011 and beyond.
Air Business’ clients include: Informa, EMAP, Tesco, Spectator, Dennis Publishing, The Guardian, Private Eye, Progressive Media, The Tablet, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.”
About QSS
Quadrant says: “Quadrant Subscription Services (QSS) is one of the UK's premier publishing services bureaux. Since 1972 they have handled the subscription fulfilment and associated services for both free and paid-for magazines and journals. QSS also provide the same service for books, newsletters, digital and online products.”
