M&A Activity • May 16, 2008
M&A Activity
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In order to increase traffic and revenues on the Internet, Eniro and Aller have reached an agreement regarding the portals Passagen, Spray and Suomi24. With the agreement, Eniro's Internet strength is complemented by Aller's media expertise. The ambition is to provide the leading Internet portals in Sweden and Finland.
The agreement will entail establishing a new company in Sweden. The portals Passagen and Spray will be transferred to this new company which will be 50-percent owned by Eniro and 50-percent owned by Aller. Aller will have control over the new company through majority of votes and presidency in the Board. In Finland, Aller will purchase 50 percent of the shares in Suomi24 and Eniro will through majority of votes and presidency in the Board retain control over Suomi24. In total, the transactions will result in capital gains for Eniro of about SEK 80 M before taxes.
Eniro and Aller already have a strong relationship based on the agreement relating to the Norwegian Internet portal sol.no that was reached at the end of 2006. With the partnerships in Sweden and Finland, this relationship is being expanded and strengthened.
"Through the partnership with Aller, we are strengthening our Internet portals in the Nordic countries with the objective of becoming the leading player. I am very pleased with this partnership," says Joachim Jaginder, acting President and CEO of Eniro.
"This makes us to a large and strong player at the advertising market. We also see possible synergy effects considering the technical platforms", says Martin Hansson, CEO of Aller Förlag.
Passagen is an Internet portal with such services as personal web sites, discussion forums, blogs, dating, news, chat, Alias personal profiles and entertainment. Passagen was established in 1995 and currently has about 850,000 unique visitors per week, with personal web sites and discussion forums as the most frequently used services.
Spray is an Internet portal that includes such services as e-mail, dating, personal web sites and entertainment. Spray also has a web hotel. Spray was founded in 1995 and currently has about 650,000 unique visitors per week, with Spray Mail and Spray Date attracting the greatest number of users.
Suomi24 is Finland's largest online community with more than one million unique visitors per week. Suomi24 offers such services as dating, discussion forums and chat, as well as e-mail.
In total, Eniro will receive about SEK 90 M for the sale of 50 percent of the shares in Suomi24. In addition, Eniro will pay about SEK 40 M to acquire a 50-percent ownership in the newly established Swedish company. The agreement also includes capital contributions from the parties to both companies, which for Eniro will total about SEK 15 M. In summary, the transactions will result in capital gains for Eniro of about SEK 80 M before taxes. The positive cash flow effect for Eniro is expected to be a net of about SEK 35 M.
For more information:
Joachim Jaginder, Acting President and CEO Eniro, +46 8 553 310 15, +46 70 555 15 83 Åsa Wallenberg, Head of Investor Relations Eniro, +46 8 553 310 66, +46 70 361 34 09 Martin Hansson, CEO Allers förlag Sverige, +46 42 17 37 10 Susanne Willfors, Business Development Director Allers förlag Sverige, + 46 42 17 38 50
Eniro is the leading search company in the Nordic media market. Eniro makes it easy to find people, businesses and products using directories, directory assistance, Internet and mobile services. Eniro´s core markets are the Nordic countries and Poland.
Eniro is listed on the OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm and has some 4,650 employees. In 2007, revenues amounted to SEK 6,443 M, with EBITDA of SEK 2,266 M. Operating revenues and EBITDA exclude discontinued operations.
The Aller group has history of 135 years and is one of the Nordic region's leading media groups with operations in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland. The group is owned by Carl Allers Etablissement AS (CAE), based in Copenhagen, Denmark. During 2007 the revenues amounted to SEK 4, 100 M. Its core business is the publication of magazines and websites. Aller Förlag in Sweden has 700 employees and head office in Helsingborg.
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