Ringier and KKR Partner to Invest in the Growth of Ringier’s Digital Businesses Back to Press Releases

Ringier and KKR Partner to Invest in the Growth of Ringier’s Digital Businesses

July 14, 2014

ZURICH & LONDON & NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Ringier, Switzerland’s leading international media enterprise, has agreed on a long-term relationship with KKR, a leading global investment firm. In the future, the two companies will work together to develop Ringier’s Swiss digital businesses in the fields of online classifieds and marketing.

KKR will acquire 49 percent of the shares in each of Ringier Digital AG’s subsidiaries Scout24 Schweiz AG and Omnimedia AG. Scout24 Schweiz AG comprises online marketplaces for motor vehicles (autoscout24.ch, motoscout24.ch) and real estate (immoscout24.ch) as well as the anibis.ch general classifieds marketplace.

AutoScout24 is the number one among Switzerland’s online portals for new and used cars, while ImmoScout24 is the country’s leading online real-estate platform and anibis.ch is the largest general classifieds marketplace. Through its various platforms, the Scout24 Group operates the most comprehensive Swiss network of online marketplaces. In aggregate, these platforms attract some 21 million visits each month. Omnimedia AG is one of Switzerland’s leading digital marketing companies. In addition to offering its national and regional clients target-group-specific online advertising concepts, Omnimedia has exclusive marketing rights for Ringier’s Swiss Scout24 platforms.

In the words of Marc Walder, Ringier AG’s Chief Executive Officer, “As a family-owned company, we take great care in choosing our business partners. We are proud to be working with KKR, one of the world’s leading investment firms that has a strong track record in the media and technology sectors, on the further development of our digital business. Today, Ringier already generates 30 percent of its revenues in this field. We aim to increase that share to 50 percent over the next three-to-four years.” Walder will be appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of Scout24 Schweiz AG.

As Philipp Freise, Member and Head of the European Media & Digital investment team at KKR, explains, “The key objective of this investment is to put our entrepreneurial capital to work in this partnership with Ringier. We see significant potential in Scout24 Schweiz and Omnimedia. Both have established strong national positions in the attractive Swiss market. We look forward to working with Ringier to realize the full potential of these high-quality companies. KKR’s global network of advisors and technology investment professionals will be a resource to the companies in that endeavour.”

KKR has comprehensive experience in digital media. The firm’s most recent investments in this area include BMG Rights Management (a joint venture with Bertelsmann), Fotolia, ProSiebenSat.1, GoDaddy, InternetBrands and Mitchell International.

As an owner-managed investment firm, KKR already has a broad and substantial track record of successful collaborations with leading family-owned companies, both as a minority and a majority shareholder. KKR also utilizes its international network and financial expertise to support its partners in both strategic and operational matters. The investment in Scout24 Schweiz und Omnimedia is made by the KKR European Fund III.

In the years ahead, the goal is to further expand the very good market position the two companies have already established. Switzerland’s online sector has substantial potential for growth when compared to international benchmarks. While online advertising accounts for a very low share of the overall advertising mix, Swiss consumers are avid users of broadband and mobile internet. Combined with substantial purchasing power and an innovation-oriented economy, these factors provide for a sound foundation for Ringier’s digital growth strategy.

As Thomas Kaiser, Ringier AG’s Chief Digital Officer, with management responsibility for the Ringier Digital division and member of Scout24 Schweiz AG’s Board of Directors, puts it, “The partnership with KKR provides our teams with an excellent opportunity to work with leading experts on accelerating the growth of the online marketplaces and to augment our leadership in the Swiss online classifieds market. We will be working with our existing successful management team on seizing this opportunity.”

In the words of Bob Bellack, co-founder of Cars.com and a future member of Scout24 Schweiz AG’s Board of Directors, “The potential, which the Swiss online classifieds market offers, is fascinating. I am looking forward to working with the management team to apply leading best practices in online classifieds from the U.S. market to Scout24 Schweiz and Omnimedia. This will enable the companies to provide an ever better offering to their customers and users.”

This transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Financial details are not being disclosed.

Ringier AG, Corporate Communications

The media release is available for download on:

www.ringier.com => Media => Press Releases

Ringier is a diversified media enterprise operating in 14 countries and employing some 7,500 people. Established in 1833, Ringier today operates media brands in the print, TV, radio, online and mobile arenas. The company also runs successful publishing, entertainment and internet businesses. Now in operation for more than 180 years, Ringier is noted for its pioneering spirit and individuality and is committed to independence, freedom of expression and diversity of information. Ringier is a Swiss family-owned company whose principal operations are located in Zurich.

Ringier Digital is a business division of Ringier AG. Its activities encompass digital marketplaces, e-commerce and digital marketing. Ringier Digital AG, whose registered offices are in Flamatt in the Swiss canton of Fribourg, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ringier AG. Ringier Digital AG’s participations in Scout24 Switzerland AG and Omnimedia AG are registered at its offices in Flamatt.

KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages investments across multiple asset classes including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit and hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation at the asset level. KKR invests its own capital alongside its partners’ capital and brings opportunities to others through its capital markets business. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKR’s website at www.kkr.com.

Media Relations
Ringier AG
Phone: +41 44 259 64 48
Email: media@ringier.com
or
KKR UK:
RLM Finsbury
Nina Suter
Phone: +44 207 251 3801
Email: nina.suter@rlmfinsbury.com
or
KKR Deutschland:
Hering Schuppener
Dominik Veit
Phone: +49 69 92 18 74 87
Email: dveit@heringschuppener.com
or
KKR USA:
Kristi Huller
Phone: + 1 212 230 9722
Email: kristi.huller@kkr.com

Source: KKR


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