Lagardere S.C.A.
12 December 2006
Agreement to acquire Newsweb
Lagardere SCA announces the signature on December 12, 2006 of an agreement to
acquire 75.2% of the shares and voting rights of Newsweb, one of France's
leading web content producers, at a price of €24.70 per share. This represents a
premium of 10.5% over the 1-month average share price and of 17.7% over the
6-month average share price, and values 100% of Newsweb at €74 million.
In accordance with French stock market regulations, Lagardere will file a
standing market offer proposal with the Autorite des Marches Financiers for the
remaining Newsweb shares not acquired under the agreement at €24.70 per share,
the same price as for the controlling interest.
This acquisition increases the Lagardere Group's footprint in fast-growing new
media activities. The deal fits with the Group's long-term strategy of
accelerating its presence and expertise in digital content.
In 2005, Newsweb reported revenues of €6.7 million and EBITDA of €1.5 million
(on a proforma basis). In the first half of 2006, the company generated EBITDA
of close to €1.3 million on revenues of €4.3 million.
Newsweb sells real-time information produced by its in-house editorial staff and
monetizes the traffic generated by its websites (including a variety of blogs),
in three areas: sport, cars and the stock market. The company operates five
websites: Sports.fr, Sport4fun.com, Football.fr, Autonews.fr and Boursier.com.
In the first half of 2006, 57% of revenues came from the sale of advertising
space on the company's websites, and 43% from the sale of content to third-party
distributors such as web portals and sites, telecoms operators, the press and
interactive television. In the 10 months to October 2006, the five websites had
cumulative audience figures of 22.4 million unique visitors (2.4 million in
October 2006).
Newsweb's activities complement the Lagardere Group's businesses in three areas:
• Content: Newsweb enhances the offering of several of Lagardere's press and
digital assets, including Onze Mondial (football), Auto Moto, Europe 1
(sport and stock market), JDD and Paris Match;
• Advertising sales agency: Newsweb will augment Lagardere's digital
offering;
• Digital expertise: the know-how, skills sets and technical/commercial
franchises brought in by the Newsweb teams will boost Lagardere's push into
the production and commercialization of digital content.
The principal shareholders of Newsweb are its founders, plus a number of
institutional investors, most of whom have backed the company since it was
formed. Newsweb has been listed on Alternext since January 23, 2006, and its
shares were transferred to the public offer category on August 4, 2006.
Lagardere was advised by BNP Paribas (financial) and Bredin Prat and Fidal
(legal).
Paris, December 12, 2006
The Lagardere Group is a market leader in the media sector (books, distribution/
retail, press and audiovisual).
The Group also has interests in the high technology sector via a 14.87% stake in
EADS.
The reference market for Lagardere shares is Euronext Paris (Eurolist -
compartment A).
Press Contacts
Thierry Funck-Brentano tel. +33 (0)1 40 69 16 34 tfb@lagardere.fr
Arnaud Molinie tel. +33 (0)1 40 69 16 72 amolinie@lagardere.fr
Investor Relations Contact
Laurent Carozzi tel. +33 (0)1 40 69 18 02 lcarozzi@lagardere.fr
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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