Media Business Insight, publisher of Screen International, had been bought by Mobeus Equity Partners backing a management-led buy out of five media brands from the Top Right Group.

MBI has an £11m turnover and 70 staff working across five brands, Screen International, Broadcast, shots, ALF and BRAD.

Between them the MBI group covers the media sector across film, broadcasting, advertising and marketing and media services.

Mobeus has provided a combined debt and equity package to support the management buyout of the media company which includes online and print subscription brands and an awards and conferences operation.

The transaction represents Mobeus’s first investment of 2015, following £32m investment in 2014 in six companies, and seven investments realised generating cash profits of more than £60m to investors.

Mobeus was introduced to the transaction by Tenzing PE who have invested in the business.

Conor Dignam, CEO of MBI, said: “We were looking for partners and backers who shared our vision for the future development of the great brands we have in MBI.

“Mobeus stood out with its ability to mobilise quickly, use its previous sector expertise to rapidly get to grips with our business and deliver on what they promised against a challenging timetable. We are looking forward to working alongside Mobeus over the coming years.”

Chris Price, Investment Director at Mobeus, commented: “We are delighted to back an experienced and successful team who have proved their ability to deliver sector leading multi-platform information resources and events.

“From our first meeting we felt that we had identified our primary requirement in MBI, namely a business run by enthusiastic and committed people.

“We look forward to supporting Conor and his team over the next few years as together we invest in the business to build on its market leading positions.”

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