Axel Springer Buys Bisnow
German media giant Axel Springer has acquired Bisnow, a prominent commercial real estate media and events company. The deal, backed by private equity firm The Wicks Group, marks a significant consolidation in the B2B media space.
The acquisition positions Bisnow within Axel Springer's newly created Brew Media Group, where it will operate as a separate and independent company alongside the business-focused media brand, Morning Brew Inc. The head of the new group will be Robert Dippell, who is also the CEO of Morning Brew. Bisnow's current CEO, Gregg Mayer, and his executive team will continue in their roles. This deal marks a successful exit for The Wicks Group, the New York-based private equity firm that acquired Bisnow in May 2016 for an estimated $50 million. At the time of that sale, Bisnow was producing nearly 300 events across more than 30 metropolitan areas. Today, the company hosts over 400 annual events in 47 markets across the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands. Founded in 2005 by Mark Bisnow, the company started as a digital media platform providing news and hosting live events for the commercial real estate industry. The company's estimated annual revenue is currently $54.3 million. The acquisition of Bisnow is part of Axel Springer's broader strategy to expand its footprint in the United States. The German media company has previously made significant investments in the American market, including the purchase of Politico for over $1 billion in 2021 and becoming the sole owner of Morning Brew in February 2025.
