Bath-based media group Future has extended its reach into the specialist consumer market by acquiring five titles from rival publisher Haymarket, including the world’s biggest football magazine FourFourTwo.
Future, which has shuffled its portfolio of titles over recent years through a raft of acquisitions and disposals, is to pay up to £14m for the Haymarket brands, which also include What Hi-Fi?, Stuff, Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome. 
Future said the five – which generated a combined revenue of £12m in the financial year to last June – were respected titles and would diversify its revenues, strengthen its position in audio visual and expanding it into new vertical markets, including sport and outdoor leisure.
Acquiring FourFourTwo puts Future into the football market during a World Cup year while Stuff extends commitment to the men’s lifestyle market and What Hi-Fi? bolsters its existing brand leadership in consumer technology to lead in audio visual.
Future’s existing tech brands such as TechRadar, PC Gamer and GamesRadar+.
Future CEO Zillah Byng-Thorne said: “This acquisition is a further demonstration of our strategy to develop evergreen content that connects with communities and further diversifies our revenue streams.
“These titles are well established brands with strong market positions that expand and enhance our presence in existing verticals and extend our reach into new communities.
“We have a strong track record of integrating and leveraging acquisitions and we are confident that this deal will be earnings enhancing and drive further growth in operating profitability and cash generation.”
Haymarket describes FourFourTwo as the world’s smartest football media brand as well as the biggest, with the three values of Insight, access and humour. Published in 17 markets, it also has a digital portfolio that includes an iPad magazine app, a website offering advice on playing the game better and a global website.
Future posted a 43% leap in annual sales to £84.4m last November after a major root-and-branch restructuring lasting several years and including scores of jobs losses at its Bath headquarters along with the disposal and acquisition of titles.
Acquisitions have included Team Rock, which it bought for £800,000 and brought titles such as Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog into its portfolio, along with Imagine Publishing for £14.2m, which added 18 periodical magazines and 300 bookazines across the knowledge, history, science, games, tech and creative vertical.
It also paid £32m for Centaur Media’s home interest division adding the three key brands of Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living and Real Homes.
