21 August 2023
The Railway Industry Association (RIA), the voice of the UK rail supply community, has today announced that it has completed an acquisitions purchase agreement with the owners of well-known media business and profile-raising platform Rail Business Daily (RBD), to acquire a number of RBD assets, including the Rail Business Daily newsletter, the monthly magazine Rail Director, and the RBD Community.
The agreement sees RBD retain its advisory and marketing services businesses along with Rail Recruiter, all of which will be rebranded, and will continue to work closely with RIA’s newly-acquired assets.
Darren Caplan, RIA Chief Executive, said: “We at the Railway Industry Association are excited to be acquiring the widely-read RBD Daily newsletter and Rail Director magazine, and the RBD Community. The acquisitions will enable RIA to grow its reach and augment our ability to do even more to help develop a bigger and better UK rail supply sector in the coming years.
“RBD’s Chairman David McLoughlin, its Chief Executive Simon Taylor, and the RBD team, have done an impressive job to develop a strong instantly-recognisable brand, and attractive, professionally-designed, media and communications channels and platforms, including excellent content. This acquisition will ensure the wider rail supply community continues to get first class intelligence and features on what’s going on around the sector whilst also providing RIA and RBD Community members with new benefits, which will be announced in due course.
“As part of the acquisition we are delighted to welcome into the RIA family Dean Bruce as MD of the newly-acquired assets, along with other talented members of the RBD media and Community teams. All of us in Team RIA look forward to working with and integrating with them in the months ahead.”
David McLoughlin, Chairman of RBD, said: “When RBD Chief Executive, Simon Taylor, and I came up with the idea for Rail Business Daily we always knew that at some point in time we would want to pass the business baton over to an industry partner that could take our ideas away and make them bigger, better and stronger. In RIA we believe we have found that perfect partner.
“There is no doubt about it that the two brands are stronger together and the positive power that RIA will bring will help to take the media business and the RBD Community to a completely different level. We would like to thank RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan and Chairman David Tonkin for their pragmatism and professionalism in working with us on this deal and we wish RIA and RBD every success together in the future.
“We also look forward to continuing to work with our advisory, marketing services and recruitment customers who, thanks to the generosity of the RIA leadership team, will still have access to RBD media products – enabling us to deliver the same great service in exactly the same way.”
Notes to editors
1. The assets purchase agreement was signed on 18 August 2023 at RIA’s Westminster HQ. There will be a three month ‘bedding in period’ with the owners of RBD working directly with RIA to make sure that there is a smooth transition into the business.
2. Since its establishment in 1875, the Railway Industry Association has become the voice of the UK rail supply community in the UK. Eligibility for membership to RIA is simple in that it is open to all companies in the railway supply industry with a UK presence.
3. The RBD Daily newsletter reaches 73,000 industry influencers and decision-makers six days a week. Rail Director is distributed online and sent to the entire Rail Business Daily database monthly. The RBD Community currently has more than 250 members.
4. Pictured: RBD Chief Executive, Simon Taylor (L) and RIA Chief Executive, Darren Caplan (R).
5. Contact: RIA Public Affairs & PR Manager, Toby Williams, who can be reached on [email protected] or 020 7201 0777 / 07792 643 170.
Key Q&As
1. What assets are RIA acquiring from Rail Business Daily (RBD)?
- RBD Community;
- The RBD Daily newsletter;
- The monthly Rail Director magazine;
- The RBD website; and
- Accompanying RBD social media channels including its LinkedIn pages.
2. Will RBD Daily and Rail Director change?
- No, the brands will be the same and both will remain editorially independent, a platform for all.
3. Will the RBD Daily 7am newsletter change?
- If you currently receive the newsletter, you will see no changes.
- It will be sent out at the same time and will contain the same types of articles.
4. I have a subscription for Rail Director magazine – will this be affected?
- Your subscription will continue as before, you will receive your copy of the magazine every month in the post.
5. What does this mean for current advertisers in RBD Daily and Rail Director?
- Advertisers will see no change.
6. I want to advertise in the RBD Daily newsletter and/or Rail Director – who do I talk to now?
- As before, you can talk to the RBD sales team about advertising – Christian Wiles and Amy Hudson – they will be happy to help.
7. I have a retainer with RBD – is this affected?
- No, your retainer will not be affected, and your account manager will continue to deliver the same as before – please speak to them.
8. I have an advertising package in place with RBD on in Rail Business Daily/Rail Director (a series booking). What does this mean for me?
- Of course, your advertising booking will be honoured – please speak with Fiona Broomfield if you have any additional questions (details below).
9. What does this mean in terms of RBD Marketing, Advisory and Recruiter?
- RBD Marketing, Advisory and Recruiter are not part of the acquisition and will continue to deliver for their customers independently with a name change in due course.
- The rebranded RBD Marketing, Advisory and Recruiter will continue to use the channels newly acquired by RIA.
10. What does this mean for RBD Community members?
- There will be no change for RBDC members, though in time there will be some combined RBDC/RIA benefits.
11. As a current RBDC member, how much would the cost be if I joined RIA?
- There is still a joint membership offer in place, which means a £250 discount will be applied towards your RIA membership fee .
12. What does this mean for RIA members?
- There will be no change for RIA members, though in time there will be some combined RIA/RBDC benefits.
13. As a current RIA member, how much would the cost be if I joined RBDC?
- There is a joint RIA / RBD Community membership offer, the annual subscription fee for this for Entry Level Members is a total of £950 (including a £350 saving)
- If interested, please contact RIA Member Relations Director Rose Garber, at [email protected] and 020 7201 0777.
14. How much is the acquisition worth?
- This is a commercially sensitive acquisition and so the fee is undisclosed.
15. Further contact
- If you would like to discuss this with a RIA team member, please ask for RIA Member Relations Director Rose Garber, at [email protected] and 020 7201 0777; and
- If you would like to discuss this with an RBD team member, please ask for RBD Community onboarding lead Fiona Broomfield, at [email protected] and 01924 665361, or membership benefits delivery and Rail Director / advertising delivery lead Jo Millington at [email protected] and 01924 665361.