SPH Magazines Acquires Leading It Media Company Hardware Zone Pte Ltd

HWZ is the leading IT media company in Asia, providing marketing channels and services to the information communications, technology and interactive entertainment industry. It has operations in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, China and Australia, publishing prolific IT magazine titles , namely HWM, GameAxis Unwired and PHOTOVIDEOi, along with operating popular online portal www.hardwarezone.com which has monthly pageviews of more than 35 million.

Mr Loh Yew Seng, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SPHM said, “We’ve been interested in expanding our magazine portfolio to include IT publications and HWZ is the perfect match for us. HWZ’s entrepreneurial management team has done a commendable job in growing HWZ to what it is today. HWZ will be able to complement SPHM’s existing online and print media portfolios especially in the IT verticals.”

Commenting on the investments by SPHM, Jackie Lee, CEO of HWZ said, "We are very excited to be joining Singapore’s leading newspaper and magazine publisher as we bring together complementary visions of growing beyond print and beyond Singapore. Tapping onto their extensive reach locally and regionally, we are confident and bullish that our brands and products will continue to grow further."

The online magazine business strategy of HWZ will complement the strong print magazine business of SPHM and this will boost SPHM’s profile in the region as a major publisher with multi-platforms to offer readers and advertisers.

The acquisition of HWZ represents a further step in SPHM realising its ambition of becoming a major magazine publisher in the region, following the 2004 acquisition of the titles under Blu Inc, and other acquisitions in Singapore and Thailand. Mr Arthur Seet, Chairman of SPHM said, “HWZ is a young company with strong management, we believe that given SPHM’s publishing expertise and resources, HWZ has significant potential to grow further.”

Issued by SPH Magazines Pte Ltd
Co. Regn No.: 196900476M

For more information, please contact:

Mr Francis Mah / Ms Lye Peixian
Assistant Manager / Executive
Corporate Communications Division
Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
DID: (65) 6319 1028 / 6319 1225
Fax: (65) 6319 8150
Email: mahys@sph.com.sg / peixian@sph.com.sg

About SPH Magazines Pte Ltd
A leading publisher in Singapore and the region, SPH Magazines Pte Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of media giant Singapore Press Holdings Limited.
With a proven track record for sterling editorial content & award-winning designs, SPH Magazines raises the bar as a dynamic magazine publisher. In its stable are over 80 titles in English and Chinese, covering lifestyle, fashion, beauty, society, bridal, health, men’s lifestyle, movies, automobile, parenting, décor and business. All the newsstand publications, including flagship title Her World, and other well-known titles such as Female, The Peak, Home and Décor, Nuyou and Torque are among the highest-circulating titles and best-read in their respective lifestyle category.
In addition, an established editorial unit provides excellent custom publishing services to major corporate clients by producing custom lifestyle magazines, newsletters and other collateral to meet their business needs.
With a vision to continue growth regionally, SPH Magazines is set to become Asia’s publishing powerhouse. It has editorial offices in China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Magazines in its fold have achieved strong market presence in their respective sectors, as well as distinguished track records and solid reputations.
At SPH Magazines, the promise is to deliver its best to meet the diverse needs and interests of readers and advertisers.

About Hardware Zone Pte Ltd
As the leading IT media company in Asia, Hardware Zone Pte Ltd is a provider of marketing channels and services to the information communications, technology and interactive entertainment industry.
Hardware Zone Pte Ltd publishes prolific IT magazine titles across Asia, namely HWM, GameAxis Unwired and PHOTOVIDEOi, operating in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Philippines, Indonesia and Australia along with popular online portal www.hardwarezone.com which has to date, a monthly viewership of more than 35 million page impressions.
Capitalising on its editorial strength and creative marketing strategies, Hardware Zone Pte Ltd offers to marketers integrated media solutions and effective reach to IT consumers via our magazines, Internet products, research, direct marketing services, education and training, as well as events management. http://www.hwzcorp.com