PA Group secures 25% stake in motoring business

31 March 2016: PA Group, the parent company of the Press Association, has taken a 25% stake in Baize Group, a leading provider of motoring editorial, events and PR services for the automotive industry.

The investment is part of PA Group’s long-term strategy to diversify its business and become the preeminent provider of multimedia content to customers across a range of sectors.

Baize Group is the top company formed by the restructure of Blackball Media, publisher of the award-winning Car Dealer Magazine. Within the new structure, the company’s PR and video services will be channelled into a new PR company called On Cue Communications. Blackball Media will continue to focus on growing Car Dealer Magazine, as well as the company’s successful motoring editorial service and burgeoning events business.

Clive Marshall, Chief Executive Officer of PA Group, said:

“Baize Group is a fantastic business which includes the award-winning Car Dealer Magazine, motoring editorial services, a fast-growing motoring events and awards business and the provision of specialist PR and video services to the motoring industry. We are delighted to have the opportunity to invest in Baize Group and to support the founder James Baggott and his colleagues as they look to capitalise on the huge demand for their products and services.”

James Baggott, Chief Executive Officer of Baize Group, said:

“I am absolutely thrilled at this investment from PA Group and the exciting changes for the company I started in my conservatory eight years ago. It’s been an incredible journey so far and with the help and support of such an established name as PA I am sure we will go from strength to strength. We have exciting plans to expand all areas of the business and now we have the right management and structure in place to make them a reality.”

The new structure will also see Clive Marshall assume the position of Chairman of Baize Group.

This deal by PA Group is the latest in a range of investments in specialist media companies. During 2015, the Group took full ownership of Globelynx, a business which enables live broadcast interviews direct from experts’ own offices, and Sticky Content, a digital copywriting and content marketing company. PA Group also encompasses the specialist communications consultancy, TNR (now PA Mediapoint).