Tamedia and Goldbach Group pursuing strategic partnership

Zurich, 22 December 2017 – The goal of the strategic partnership between Tamedia and Goldbach is to become one of the marketing companies with the most extensive penetration in Switzerland. In addition, they are planning to further develop their activities in Germany and Austria. With its over 50 media and digital platforms, Tamedia reaches a large target group-specific part of the Swiss population and is well positioned in every linguistic region. The Goldbach Group, on the other hand, is a leader in the marketing of electronic media in Switzerland. Based on their excellent reach, Tamedia and Goldbach intend to develop new technologies and innovative forms of advertising for their clients. Furthermore, together with Neo Advertising AG, in which Tamedia also holds a majority interest, the companies are planning to expand the out-of-home advertising segment. 

Public offer to purchase shares of the Goldbach Group AG

Therefore, Tamedia Ltd and the Board of Directors of the Goldbach Group AG have come to an agreement regarding a public take-over bid. Today, Friday, 22 December 2017, Tamedia has issued a preliminary announcement to purchase all of the 6‘091‘352 shares issued by the Goldbach Group AG (ISIN CH0004870942) for a price of CHF 35.50 in cash for each registered share of the Goldbach Group AG. This amounts to a purchase price of approximately CHF 216 million for 100 percent of the shares. If the take-over should be achieved by the delivery of more than 50 percent of the shares, Tamedia expects to delist the Goldbach Group from the SIX Swiss Exchange.

With Dr. Beat Curti and Veraison Sicav the two largest shareholders of the Goldbach Group have agreed the tender of their shares to Tamedia. Dr. Beat Curti and companies he controls are holding today a total of 19.84 percent of the shares (excluding options) of the Goldbach Group AG. Veraison Sicav, represented by the Veraison Capital AG, holds 19.09 percent of the company's shares. 

Continuation of Goldbach as an independent company

In addition to the parent, Goldbach Group AG, the Goldbach Group includes the TV marketing company Goldbach Media (Switzerland) AG, in which the RTL subsidiary IP Deutschland GmbH and the ProSiebenSat.1 subsidiary SevenOne Media (Schweiz AG) each hold 23 percent, and the digital advertising marketing company Goldbach Audience (Switzerland) AG, in which IP Deutschland and SevenOne Media each hold 24.95 percent. Other significant investments in Switzerland include swiss radioworld AG, in which IP Deutschland and SevenOne Media each hold a 23 percent stake, and Goldbach lnteractive (Switzerland) AG, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Goldbach Group AG. 

The Goldbach Group, with a staff of approximately 340 in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, will continue operating as an integrated marketing company within the Tamedia media group at its current location in Küsnacht. Michi Frank will remain in the position of CEO of Goldbach. He is scheduled to become a member of the Management Board of Tamedia and will continue to oversee Goldbach with the current management team. Goldbach will act as the competence centre for TV, video, audio and third-party digital advertising under the umbrella of Tamedia. The ad sales and marketing services strategy of Goldbach is expected to be advanced in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Opportunity for the advertising and media market in Switzerland

Christoph Tonini, CEO of Tamedia: “The combination of Tamedia, Goldbach and Neo Advertising provides us with the opportunity to offer our clients in Switzerland and abroad extensive 360-degree choices in the future in the areas of TV, radio, print, online and out-of-home advertising. This is an opportunity for the Swiss media market, as it is not least to the benefit of our journalistic offers. In the digital sector in particular, as well as in the two neighboring countries Austria and Germany, we aim to continue pursuing the growth course we have embarked on together and, with our new partners ProSiebenSat.1 and RTL, to each consider investments in Swiss program content.”

Michi Frank, CEO Goldbach Group, adds: “Goldbach is doing very well, but it should be assumed that the market will change significantly in the coming years. Digitalisation is shaking up the advertising market and with Admeira the competitive pressure is growing. In view of this, the Board of Directors has decided to enter a strategic partnership. With Tamedia we are in an optimal position to contribute to these changes in the Swiss advertising market and to support our partners and clients with leading technical solutions. I look forward to working with Tamedia.”

The acquisition plans will be submitted to the Swiss Federal Competition Commission.

Media conference and analyst information

A media conference with Tamedia CEO Christoph Tonini and Jens Alder, Chairman of the Goldbach Group AG, and Goldbach CEO Michi Frank will be held today, Friday, 22 December 2017, at 10:45 a.m. at Tamedia, Werdstrasse 21 in Zurich.

Additionally, a teleconference will be held in English for analysts and investors at 11:45 a.m. Tamedia CEO Christoph Tonini, Jens Alder, Chairman of the Goldbach Group AG, Goldbach CEO Michi Frank, Tamedia CFO Sandro Macciacchini and Goldbach CFO Lukas Leuenberger will take part in the teleconference.

The dial-in numbers for the conference are as follows:

Switzerland and continental Europe: +41 (0) 58 310 50 00

United Kingdom: +44 (0) 207 107 06 13

United States: +1 (1) 631 570 56 13

Please dial in a few minutes before the start of the conference.