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BH - Biglari Holdings


accutronman

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Maxim probably has the highest market share within its niche. I wonder what Sardar has planned for the magazine? Do a major online push? Are there significant revenues, and more importantly, profits online for the magazine?

 

BH earned $140m GAAP in 2013 and $20-$30m GAAP or so 2010-2012. Lets just say he paid about $30m for the magazine. He also likely (hopefully) paid a small multiple too. So lets say Maxim currently earns $4m/year give or take a million. That seems pretty small in terms of the rest of BH and is also in a dying industry. Getting back to its niche, how likely will it be that he can double the profits from the magazine and in what time frame? Does he know much about the magazine industry? He obviously knows many things I don't. I am very curious to see what he does with this. I hope more information is disclosed.

 

Anyone have anymore thoughts?

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what I really want to spend my morning doing, is photo-shopping a mag cover for the next issue of BIGLARI with Sardar flanked by two scantily clad women, chowing down on a Steak-N-Shake burger on the front porch of a Cracker Barrel, but alas I have better things to do.....or do I?

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what I really want to spend my morning doing, is photo-shopping a mag cover for the next issue of BIGLARI with Sardar flanked by two scantily clad women, chowing down on a Steak-N-Shake burger on the front porch of a Cracker Barrel, but alas I have better things to do.....or do I?

 

Make it him standing in the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel, so you can show him standing next to his Lamborghini and the girls laying on top of it.  Also, don't forget that the Biglari Magazine logo is his signature.

 

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http://nypost.com/2014/03/01/texas-investor-scoops-up-maxim/

 

"Alpha Media has finally found a buyer for its beleaguered Maxim magazine — Texas investor Sardar Biglari. Terms were not disclosed but sources said San Antonio-based Biglari Holdings paid between $10 million and $15 million. The laddie magazine lost an estimated $7 million last year on revenue of about $35 million, sources said."

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Ok. Now, let’s show the entrepreneur in each of us:

 

If you were in Mr. Biglari’s shoes, what would you do with MAXIM, and how would you use its publishing infrastructure? For $10 to $15 million you got hold of a publishing infastructure already present in 75 countries... now what?

 

Any ideas?

 

Gio

 

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Ok. Now, let’s show the entrepreneur in each of us:

 

If you were in Mr. Biglari’s shoes, what would you do with MAXIM, and how would you use its publishing infrastructure? For $10 to $15 million you got hold of a publishing infastructure already present in 75 countries... now what?

 

Any ideas?

 

Gio

 

Given his taste in cars, I assume he bought Maxim for the same reason Donald Trump bought the Miss Universe pageant . . . and I don't think it was for a cash return

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Ok. Now, let’s show the entrepreneur in each of us:

 

If you were in Mr. Biglari’s shoes, what would you do with MAXIM, and how would you use its publishing infrastructure? For $10 to $15 million you got hold of a publishing infastructure already present in 75 countries... now what?

 

Any ideas?

 

Gio

 

I'd increase targeted online marketing and marketing on university campuses, and stop doing business in the most unprofitable of those 75 countries.

 

And try to flip it to Playboy or another strategic buyer as soon as I possibly could.

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Ok. Now, let’s show the entrepreneur in each of us:

 

If you were in Mr. Biglari’s shoes, what would you do with MAXIM, and how would you use its publishing infrastructure? For $10 to $15 million you got hold of a publishing infastructure already present in 75 countries... now what?

 

Any ideas?

 

Gio

 

I would focus my time and energy on moving 585 million of shareholder equity forward. To increase my cult following and leverage that to get more deals. I surely wouldnt waste my time on such a small deal. I would try to keep my promise to shareholders on acquiring a insurance company. I would cut cost to the bare bone and keep whatever profit is left knowing i'm in a dying industry. 

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Why would biglari waste this time and energy on something that won't move the needle.

That's exactly what I'm wondering. Surely this will take up a decent amount of his time. What are the repuational costs for him if he fails? And the upside if he is succesful... right back to how will this move the needle?

 

 

 

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Why would biglari waste this time and energy on something that won't move the needle.

That's exactly what I'm wondering. Surely this will take up a decent amount of his time. What are the repuational costs for him if he fails? And the upside if he is succesful... right back to how will this move the needle?

 

Maybe take Maxim name and go into hard core porn market? Not kidding.

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Why would biglari waste this time and energy on something that won't move the needle.

That's exactly what I'm wondering. Surely this will take up a decent amount of his time. What are the repuational costs for him if he fails? And the upside if he is succesful... right back to how will this move the needle?

Since he is keeping the management team I don't think it will take too much of his time. I'd bet he's definitely looking beyond print, and in that sense it could move the needle over time. He clearly likes good brand names and he got a pretty good one for ~$10 million. It could be a steal if he can get the magazine into the black by $5M/year and then leverage the brand and infrastructure into other areas. I would imagine the product licensing opportunities alone cold move the needle 5 years from now. I don't think it's a slam dunk but for $10M there are multiple levers to pull for it to wind up being a real bargain a few years down the road. I like the risk-reward at the bargain price he got it for even if at first glance it appears odd.

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Why would biglari waste this time and energy on something that won't move the needle.

That's exactly what I'm wondering. Surely this will take up a decent amount of his time. What are the repuational costs for him if he fails? And the upside if he is succesful... right back to how will this move the needle?

Since he is keeping the management team I don't think it will take too much of his time. I'd bet he's definitely looking beyond print, and in that sense it could move the needle over time. He clearly likes good brand names and he got a pretty good one for ~$10 million. It could be a steal if he can get the magazine into the black by $5M/year and then leverage the brand and infrastructure into other areas. I would imagine the product licensing opportunities alone cold move the needle 5 years from now. I don't think it's a slam dunk but for $10M there are multiple levers to pull for it to wind up being a real bargain a few years down the road. I like the risk-reward at the bargain price he got it for even if at first glance it appears odd.

 

If he actually got it for ~$10m then yes, that was sounds like quite a good buy. Especially if he can make profitable soonish then leverage the brand some how. I suppose he must have some sort of plan for it. Fun to follow to say the least.  :)

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It could be a steal if he can get the magazine into the black by $5M/year and then leverage the brand and infrastructure into other areas.

 

It is precisely those “other areas” I am trying to figure out… what are they? A_Hamilton suggested hard core porn… ;) well, besides that one, which are the plausible “other areas”?

 

Gio

 

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ragu, any comment?

 

gio,

 

Can't say I saw that one coming! It looks to me like BH weren't involved in the initial bidding.

 

After the collapse of the Darden Jr. "bid", there was a potential second bid for around $20 million:http://nypost.com/2013/12/20/darden-not-alpha-enough-to-nail-maxim-mag/

 

I can't find anything on why that might have not gone through. It'll be interesting to hear from Sardar at the AM as to how this came about.

 

Currently unprofitable business and desperate sellers might have been enough for the purchase price to have been a bargain. I can't see this in the BH umbrella for the long-term though and I suspect a sale might happen a few years down the road.

 

As for plans, there's potentially this: http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/maxim-magazine-plans-cable-tv-network-report-1200609750/

 

Best,

Ragu

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