BIA Digital Partners Exits Hoffman Media

BIA Digital Partners announced has exited its investment in Hoffman Media. BIA Digital Partners provided $6.5 million in 2004 and 2006 for an acquisition and growth capital, and to provide liquidity for a minority investor, the firm said Thursday. Hoffman Media repaid the BIA Digital Partners investment in 2009 and redeemed out the BIA Digital Partners ownership through a series of redemptions from 2007 through 2012, generating a return for BIA Digital Partners of 2.5x and a 27% internal rate of return.

PRESS RELEASE

BIA Digital Partners, a private investment firm, announced today the exit of its investment in Hoffman Media, LLC (“Hoffman Media” or the “Company”). BIA Digital Partners provided $6.5 million in 2004 and 2006 for an acquisition and growth capital, and to provide liquidity for a minority investor. Hoffman Media repaid the BIA Digital Partners investment in 2009 and redeemed out the BIA Digital Partners ownership through a series of redemptions from 2007 through 2012, generating a return for BIA Digital Partners on its invested capital of 2.5 times and a 27 percent internal rate of return. Hoffman Media financed the repayments and redemptions through cash on its balance sheet, senior debt borrowings, and non-core asset sales.

Hoffman Media was founded in 1983 by Phyllis Hoffman DePiano. Based in Birmingham, AL, Hoffman is a leading special-interest publisher targeting the women’s market and the large base of advertisers who seek a print, online and interactive medium to reach this attractive demographic. Current brands include Cooking with Paula Deen, Phyllis Hoffman Celebrate, Southern Lady, Taste of the South, TeaTime, The Cottage Journal Seasons, and Victoria. In addition to publications, Hoffman Media has a consumer event business and an established ancillary products division.

“On behalf of the team here at Hoffman Media, we very much value the role BIA Digital Partners has played in our growth since 2004,” said Phyllis Hoffman DePiano, founder and president of Hoffman Media. “They are a pleasure to work with and were supportive of our dynamic business. When we met Scott Chappell and the BIA team, we were sub-$10 million in revenue and had some great ideas we wanted to execute. Through their capital fueling our growth, we grew revenue 500 percent, became more profitable, and were able to more than triple the size of our talented workforce.”

“Phyllis and the executive management team at Hoffman Media have done a great job growing their company over the past eight years,” stated Scott Chappell of BIA Digital Partners, who stepped down from the Hoffman Media Board of Directors in conjunction with the exit. “They have created an exciting set of content directed at the women’s demographic, utilizing print, online, and live distribution channels. We appreciate the partnership we have enjoyed with Hoffman Media and know they have a bright future. It is gratifying that we were able to achieve our exit through a recap whereby management shareholders re-acquired virtually all of the ownership of the company. Thus the investment and exit has been a win-win for Hoffman Media and for BIA Digital Partners.”

Eric Hoffman, Chief Operating Officer of Hoffman Media commented, “We really appreciate the role Scott and the BIA team played in our development. From recruiting board members including former Time Inc. CEO Don Logan, to helping with M&A activity, to assisting with capital raising, they have been a steady and supportive investor. We are delighted they enjoyed such a successful exit. As management shareholders, we look forward to even greater performance in the future.”

Additional information on BIA Digital Partners II LP is available by contacting Scott Chappell at (703) 227-9600 or schappell@bia.com, or visit our website at www.biadp.com.

About Hoffman Media

Hoffman Media, LLC (HM) is a privately held, leading special-interest publisher based in Birmingham, Ala. The company specializes in publications targeted to the women’s market and the large base of advertisers who seek a print, online and interactive medium to reach this attractive demographic. In addition to publications, HM has a growing consumer event business and an established ancillary products division. For more information, please visit www.hoffmanmedia.com or contact Eric Hoffman at 205-262-2127 or ehoffman@hoffmanmedia.com.

About BIA Digital Partners

BIA Digital Partners is a private investment firm, managing approximately $280 million.  Financing is available for acquisitions, organic growth, recapitalizations and leveraged/management buyouts among other purposes. BIA Digital Partners maintains a focus on expansion-stage companies operating in the media, telecommunications, consumer internet and technology-enabled business and consumer services segments.  Investments range from $5 to $20 million and larger with co-investors and are typically in the form of subordinated debt with warrants or preferred equity.