MC Ediciones and Focus Ediciones, a subsidiary of the Edipresse Group, have reached an agreement to merge their magazine operations in Spain. The merged company will be 70.1% owned by the current shareholders of the MC Ediciones group and 29.9% owned by the Edipresse Group. With over 70 brands, the MC Ediciones group dominates the market in terms of editorial content. Founded in 1985 and based in Barcelona, it is 90% owned by the Cadena family
The Board of Directors of Edipresse just learned with great sadness the sudden decease of Mr Paul Reutlinger. Mr Paul Reutlinger was a Member of Edipresse’s Board of Directors since 1999. His professional skills and human qualities were highly appreciated. Mr Reutlinger had a brilliant career within Swissair from 1959 to 1996, reaching the position of Executive Vice President Marketing. Then, from 1996 to 2000, he was the CEO of Sabena.
Edipresse SA is buying real estate assets located in Lausanne, Morges and Geneva from Lamunière SA for a value of CHF 59 million. This transaction enters into the framework of the Edipresse Group’s strategy to develop its activities in the real estate sector. The Edipresse Group is an international media and communications company based in Switzerland. Active in newspapers, magazines and electronic publishing, the Group employs 2800 people and publishes over 180 titles and websites in 15 countries and territories.
2009 results in brief:
- The merger agreement of Swiss operations with Tamedia was set in motion;
- CHF 32 million loss in 2009, due to non-recurring expenses amounting to nearly CHF 47 million (restructuring costs and impairments);
- Return to profitability as of 2010.
Lausanne and Zurich, April 23, 2010 – The companies, Edipresse and Tamedia, have legally completed their merger’s first phase. Tamedia thus becomes a 49.9% shareholder of the company PPSR SA which owns most of Edipresse’s operations in Switzerland.
As part of Edipresse Group's management structure reorganization, Gregory Blatt, Managing Director for Marketing, Communications and Strategy will leave the company at the end of January 2010. Pursuant to this date, Gregory has accepted to maintain several mandates for Edipresse Group, in particular overseeing the commercial and marketing activities of the company’s Spanish subsidiary Focus Ediciones.
Edipresse Group has sold its 33% stake in the Spanish magazine publishing company RBA Edipresse to its joint-venture partner RBA Holding. RBA Holding thus becomes 100% owner of RBA Edipresse. The amount of the sale was not disclosed. The transaction still has to be formally submitted to the Spanish competition authorities for approval. This transaction fits into the overall strategy of the Edipresse Group to disinvest from the Iberian market and the assets it does not control.
The Edipresse company has sold to Mister Jacques Lathion, the Rhône Media group’s main individual shareholder, all of its stake in Rhône Media SA as well as its stake in the Editions Le Nouvelliste SA company. The parties involved have agreed to keep the sale price confidential.
The consultations with staff representatives, which followed Edipresse Switzerland’s announcement on October 9th about the termination of a hundred or so positions, led to an agreement on October 27th. They allowed support measures for terminated staff to be defined, such as severance pay, assistance in professional reintegration, and support funds in serious cases. In accordance with the Management’s commitments, the agreement also satisfies the need for equity between all of the company’s sectors.
In a media market undergoing fast structural changes, Edipresse Suisse must cut its cost level to ensure its future and is planning to shed about hundred jobs. The consultations with the staff representatives will begin next week. Edipresse Suisse also proposes creating a Support Fund for cases of hardship. The deep structural changes in the media are continuing and accelerating due to the economic crisis. In particular, the print media are suffering in 2009 from the swift decrease in advertising revenue.
Edipresse Switzerland
33, avenue de la Gare
CH - 1001 Lausanne
Phone +41 (0)21 349 45 00
Fax +41 (0)21 349 42 22
Sylvia Wuersten
Press & Public relations
Edipresse Group
33, avenue de la Gare
CH - 1001 Lausanne
Phone +41 (0)21 349 45 45
Fax +41 (0)21 349 45 40
