OpenGate Capital Inks Partnership with Kliger Media Associates and Launches New Division, OpenGate Media Group, Focused on Media Acquisitions and Expanding Custom-Publishing Solutions

Publishing Veterans Jack Kliger and David J. Fishman Join as Partners

LOS ANGELES, CA, and NEW YORK, NY – October 22, 2013 – OpenGate Capital, a global private buyout firm, announced today the formation of OpenGate Media Group, a new division focused on the acquisition of media companies as well as the expansion of the firm’s existing publishing and media-related activities such as TVGuide Magazine. The new division includes a partnership with Jack Kliger and David J. Fishman as Partners. Kliger and Fishman are media industry veterans and managing members of Kliger Media Associates, and were recently named as CEO and COO respectively of TVGuide Magazine LLC.  Kliger and Fishman have worked closely with OpenGate Capital since 2009 after the firm acquired TVGuide Magazine.

The newly formed media group reflects OpenGate Capital’s commitment to the media industry and their successful track record in creating value within underperforming publications and new or underdeveloped digital media assets. The combination of Kliger Media Associates’ media industry expertise and OpenGate Capital’s acquisition and operations acumen, creates an efficient platform for the pursuit of media assets in need of significant rejuvenation or strategic repositioning, and others that will benefit from the division’s collective experience in creating thriving, sustainable and profitable media companies.

Andrew Nikou, OpenGate Capital’s founder, Managing Partner and CEO stated, “TVGuide Magazine was, at first, an opportunistic acquisition for OpenGate. We saw a great brand with great potential and quickly realized there was a lot of hidden value. We reshaped the publication and hit a home run,” said Nikou. “Fast forward five years, OpenGate has six printing, paper production, and media businesses in the portfolio and today TVGuide Magazine is viewed as the authoritative voice in what to watch on TV, and it is providing custom publishing solutions to television personalities and brands. From this hard work, we have built a team of experts that have navigated through the print-to-digital media upheaval and now have the systems, products and people that can create real value in other media assets,” concluded Nikou.   

OpenGate Capital’s portfolio of media, publishing and print-related businesses include TVGuide Magazine, PennySaver USA, Fleurus Presse, Kotka Mills, NorPaper and Fusion Paperboard. Combined, these businesses represent nearly $1 billion in gross consolidated revenues for OpenGate Capital.

Robert Lezec, a Partner with OpenGate Capital that has operational oversight for TVGuide Magazine and other OpenGate portfolio companies, stated, “The formation of OpenGate Media Group allows us to build on the success we have had with TVGuide Magazine over the past five years. As an independent publisher, TVGuide Magazine has been profitable for the past three years while the magazine industry continues to experience significant upheaval. We will take the same prudent strategy that is applied to OpenGate’s other portfolio companies and apply it to the new media assets we will either acquire or manage.”   

 “OpenGate Media Group has several clear advantages,” said Jack Kliger. “First, TVGuide Magazine has an efficient infrastructure in place that will enable the media portfolio of this division to grow. Secondly, the platform can facilitate partnerships with international brands that want to develop a presence in the North American Market.” A recent example of the division’s strategy is Sandra Lee Magazine which has been producing both print and tablet editions through TVGuide Magazine since 2012.Kliger went on to say, “OpenGate Media Group will be developed through the combination of our established operations and OpenGate Capital’s global deal origination team to source and ultimately acquire the right types of businesses for our group in the publishing and media space.”

David J. Fishman stated, “An integral part of OpenGate Media Group’s strategy includes an increased presence on digital media platforms through product launches and acquisitions, especially where content is focused on entertainment.”

About OpenGate Capital

OpenGate Capital is a global private investment firm specializing in the acquisition and operation of businesses seeking revitalization through growth and operational improvements. Established in 2005, OpenGate Capital is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and maintains offices in Paris, France and São Paulo, Brazil. OpenGate’s seasoned professionals possess the critical skills needed to acquire, transition, operate and build successful businesses. To date, OpenGate Capital has executed more than 30 transactions ranging from corporate divestitures to turnaround acquisitions, industry consolidations and other special situation investments. The OpenGate portfolio of wholly owned businesses generates nearly $3 billion in revenue and includes businesses from a wide range of industries and geographic markets. For more information, please visit www.opengatecapital.com

About Kliger Media Associates

Kliger Media Associates is a New York-based media consulting and investment company. Its clients have included Alpha Media, Inc., publishers of Maxim digital properties and Maxim Magazine, and Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc., publisher of several niche websites and enthusiast magazines.  Jack Kliger is the company’s Founder and Managing Partner.