Does Springer want to buy Valora?

 Axel Springer Verlag has strengthened its position in Switzerland in recent months. Following the acquisition of Handelszeitung, the major German group, parent company of more than 170 newspapers and magazines in 33 countries, also took over the Jean Frey Group at the beginning of the year and is now grouping its activities under Axel Springer Switzerland. Now Finanz und Wirtschaft claims to have learned from three sources that Springer is interested in acquiring parts of the Valora retail group. According to insiders, the situation of this group, which has been a permanent construction site for years, will change fundamentally in the next six to twelve months after extremely slack business months. Springer is said to be particularly interested in the two group divisions Retail and Press & Books. These acquisitions would make perfect sense for the expansion of activities in Switzerland: With the newsstand business combined under Retail, the publisher could control an important distribution channel for its titles. The Press & Books division would also be interesting in this respect, as Valora already distributes 6,000 different press titles in Switzerland, Austria and Luxembourg through this subsidiary. So far, however, both sides have denied any contact.