Hearst Acquires Men's Health Publisher, Expanding Print Holdings

(Bloomberg) -- Hearst Corp., publisher of 20 U.S. magazines including Good Housekeeping and Esquire, agreed to buy Men’s Health and other titles from Rodale Inc., betting that building a bigger stable of periodicals will help counteract the decline in print advertising.

Rodale’s Women’s Health, Prevention, Runner’s World and Bicycling were also part of the deal, along with a book-publishing business, according to an emailed statement. Terms weren’t disclosed, but the Wall Street Journal reported the transaction is valued at less than $225 million, citing an unidentified person familiar with the matter.

Hearst has continued to expand in publishing despite the challenge of competing with Google and Facebook Inc. for advertising. The closely held company, owner of the Houston Chronicle and the San Francisco Chronicle, acquired 11 Connecticut newspapers in June.

Allen & Co. advised Rodale in the transaction, with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz providing legal counsel.

To contact the reporter on this story: Crayton Harrison in Los Angeles at tharrison5@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Crayton Harrison at tharrison5@bloomberg.net, Elizabeth Wollman