On November 26 2006, RBA Revistas and Edipresse Hymsa announced an agreement to merge their magazine activities. Since then both companies have been actively working through all the formalities and legal processes, while at the same time putting into place a new structure which will lead the way to the creation of the foremost magazine publishing company in Spain in terms of the number of titles, circulation, audience and gross turnover.
The merger has now been formally completed and the new company, RBA Edipresse, is fully operational. As the joint portfolios of RBA and Edipresse are very complementary, positive synergies will be quickly realized. RBA Edipresse will command a leadership position in the People and Celebrity, Science and Discovery, Decoration, Women's Up-Market, Women's Advisory, Health and Wellness, Needlework and Dressmaking and Cooking segments.
RBA Edipresse is 67% owned by RBA Group while the Edipresse Group maintains the remaining 33%. The shareholders' agreement will give both partners equal rights for major decisions.
RBA Edipresse will be chaired by Ricardo Rodrigo, Chairman of the RBA Holding, and Pierre Lamunière, Chairman of the Edipresse Group, will be Vice-Chairman of the new company. Also joining the Board are Tibère Adler, Chief Executive Office of the Edipresse Group, Juan Manuel Rodrigo, Chief Executive Officer of RBA Edipresse and Ana Rodrigo, Managing Director of RBA Edipresse.The first Board meeting will take place in Barcelona on Friday 5 July 2007.
RBA Edipresse publishes such leading titles as National Geographic, El Mueble, Arquitectura y Diseño, Cosas de Casa, Casas de Campo, Casa al Día, Única, Cuerpomente, Mente Sana, Saber Vivir, Línea Saludable, Integral, Cosas de Cocina, Cocina Sana. Lecturas, Sorpresa, Clara, In Style, Cocina Fácil, Comer Bien, Comer y Beber, Habitania, Grupo Labores del Hogar, Rutas del Mundo and Tu Bebé. In addition, the new company holds 50% in Semana, the other 50% remaining in the ownership of the Montiel family
The Edipresse Group is an international media and communications company headquartered in Switzerland. The Group is active in newspapers, magazines and electronic publishing. It publishes over 180 titles and websites, and employs 3,500 people. Edipresse is present in 20 countries and territories; the company has operations in Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, France, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, and several Asian countries such as China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. www.edipresse.com
RBA Group is a family group with one hundred percent Spanish capital. This independence gives the company the freedom to operate in a highly competitive market. In fifteen years, the RBA Group has grown spectacularly, becoming a leader in all the activities in which it operates: magazines, part works and specialized books. www.rba.es
For further information, please contact:
Edipresse Group
Gregory Blatt, Managing Director Marketing, Communications and Strategy
Tél. +41 (0) 21 349 45 51 – Fax +41 (0) 21 349 45 36 Email
