What Will BNP Do with Stagnito?

I had heard at the ABM Spring Meeting in May that Stagnito was for sale. A few weeks later, we printed an analysis of Ascend’s food books (Stagnito) in min’s b2b. A few weeks later, the volume was turned up on the rumor, and we discussed it here. But it wasn’t until late June that we pegged BNP as a possible strategic buyer.

Now that it’s happened, and a directly competitive strategic has taken over the growing Stagnito business (growing according to Cam Bishop, CEO of Ascend; although the properties are down in ad pages: 1.44%, according to our exclusive group publishers’ coverage, which begins this week in min’s b2b), what is to be done with Stagnito?

I’ve been in contact with a source inside the company, and, apparently, the mood in the trenches is not one of jubilation. There is some uncertainty as to what will happen with the brands. The Stagnitos have already said their goodbyes to the staff. And I can’t help but think of how some of the integration between previously competitive brands at Penton has gone–so far.