Hearst Corporation Sells Cycle World to Bonnier Corporation

Hearst Corporation has announced the sale of Cycle World to Bonnier Corporation, one of the largest consumer-publishing groups in the U.S. serving passionate, highly engaged audiences. The announcement was made jointly by Terry Snow, CEO of Bonnier Corporation, and David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Cycle World joins Bonnier’s (www.bonnier.com), impressive collection of top brands in the U.S. that include Popular Science, Parenting, Field & Stream and a number of special-interest active lifestyle titles.

“With its very loyal audience of motorcycle enthusiasts, Cycle World will be a great addition to Bonnier’s portfolio of special-interest magazines,” Carey said. “We are pleased to be working with Terry and his team on this transaction.”

Bonnier, which formed in 2007, has grown to more than 50 brands, mainly through acquisitions. The company has also become an industry pioneer for its approach to emerging digital platforms. Bonnier was one of the first to launch a magazine title on the iPad with Popular Science in April 2010, and has followed that up with aggressive R&D innovations.

“Our company excels at serving passionate special-interest audiences, so Cycle World is a solid strategic fit,” Snow said. “The Cycle World brand holds a position of leadership and respect in the motorcycle industry. That means a lot for us as we look to enhance the connection that marketing partners can have with this audience.”

Founded in 1962 and based in Newport Beach, Calif., Cycle World publishes a monthly magazine as well as a website, events, licensed content, research initiatives and mobile apps. It was the first motorcycle brand to publish a mobile app with the launch of the Cycle World iPhone app in 2009.

Cycle World will be moved under Vice President and Group Publisher Eric Zinczenko’s Outdoor Group and its current staff will remain. Mark Hoyer leads the editorial team as vice president of brand content and editor in chief of Cycle World. Hoyer has worked for the brand since 1999. Andrew Leisner leads the business side as vice president of integrated sales & marketing. A former professional motorcycle racer, Leisner has worked his entire career in motorcycling with a wide range of responsibilities, including publishing, advertising, sponsorship sales and promotions.

Race Winning Brands (RWB) and its portfolio of brands (BoostLine Products, CORSA Performance, Dart Machinery, Diamond Racing, Haltech, JE Pistons, Manley Performance, MGP, PAC Racing Springs, ProX Racing Parts, Rekluse, RevMax Performance, Transmission Specialties, Trend Performance, Volant and Wiseco Performance Products) is announcing its transition to a Unilateral Retail Pricing Policy, reflecting its commitment to maintaining the quality and reputation of its products in the performance components industry. The implementation of Minimum Retail Price (MRP) for its portfolio of brands is aimed at addressing challenges such as counterfeit product sales, advertising and selling practices that focus solely on price.