Alta Comm. forms partnership to acquire HMP Communications.

Private equity investment firm Alta Communications (Boston, MA) has formed BG Media in a partnership with b2b publishing industry veterans Paul Mackler and Ken Fisher to acquire HMP Communications (Malvern, PA), a producer of journals, newsletters, books, meetings, conferences, continuing medical

Established in 1985, HMP is a provider of medical information, research, education and technology and practice advances delivered via journals, books, webcasts, custom digital products, podcasts, symposia, conferences, CDs and newsletters for medical professionals in the fields of cardiology, vascular disease, wound care, long-term care, diabetes, arthritis, dermatology, podiatry and specialized primary care. HMP publishes 13 journals including "Wounds," "Ostomy Wound Management," "ECPN," "Today's Wound Clinic," "The Journal of Invasive Cardiology," "Cath Lab Digest," "Vascular Disease Management," "EP Lab Digest," "The Annals of Long-Term Care," "Clinical Geriatrics," "Skin & Aging," "Podiatry Today" and "Arthritis Practitioner."

HMP also owns the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care, an annual conference, and its North American Center for Continuing Medical Education unit accredited continuing medical education for physicians, pharmacists, podiatrists, dieticians and nurses.

Mackler, former CEO of Cygnus Business Media, and President of Reed Exhibitions, said that HMP "will be the platform from which we will grow. We intend to pursue strategic bolt-on acquisitions that will enhance and strengthen the company's position in each market served." Fisher most recently served as CFO of Cygnus Business Media.

Other publishing portfolio companies of Alta Communications include Babcox Publications (Akron, OH), CDC Publishing (Vero Beach, FL), Davler Media Group (New York), MBI Publishing (Osceola, WI), New Times Media (Phoenix, AZ), Yankee Group (Boston, MA) and 1105 Media (Chatsworth, CA).