Axel Springer Buys Bisnow
German media giant Axel Springer has acquired Bisnow, a prominent commercial real estate media and events company. Bisnow, which was backed by private equity firm The Wicks Group, has built a global audience in the CRE industry since its founding in 2005.
The acquisition of Bisnow is part of Axel Springer's broader strategy to significantly expand its footprint in the U.S. media market. This move follows a series of high-profile American acquisitions, including Politico for over $1 billion and Business Insider, positioning the German company as a major player in English-speaking digital journalism. The company's CEO, Mathias Döpfner, has been vocal about the ambition to become the leading digital publisher. Under the new ownership, Bisnow will be part of a newly formed Brew Media Group, alongside the business-focused media brand Morning Brew. This new entity will be led by Morning Brew's CEO, Robert Dippell, who himself has a history with the real estate media company, having previously served as its Chief Revenue Officer and as an Executive Advisor. The creation of Brew Media Group signals a clear intention to build a larger portfolio of U.S. media assets. The group is expected to actively pursue further acquisitions to scale its offerings and foster innovation across its brands in events, newsletters, and other digital products. Bisnow's current CEO, Gregg Mayer, and its executive team will remain in their roles to guide the company's next phase of growth. This sale marks a successful exit for the private equity firm The Wicks Group, which acquired Bisnow in May 2016. Since its founding in 2005, Bisnow has grown to host over 400 live events annually across 47 markets in North America and Europe. The acquisition comes after a significant corporate restructuring for Axel Springer. In a deal with private equity firm KKR, Axel Springer spun off its digital classifieds businesses, including its European real estate platforms. This transaction left Axel Springer as a debt-free, family-owned media company, positioning it for further growth and investment in its core journalistic brands. "This moment is a testament to the extraordinary work of our team and the strength of the Bisnow brand around the world," said Bisnow CEO Gregg Mayer. He added that Axel Springer's ownership "doesn't change who we are; it expands what we can achieve."
