L'Agefi responds to growing losses with redesign
Agen Holding, a media and healthcare group based in French-speaking Switzerland and formerly known as the Agefi publishing group, posted a loss of 3.4 million Swiss francs in the first half of the year. The newspaper division reported a loss of 0.58 million Swiss francs. The daily newspaper L’Agefi is now set to undergo a redesign.
The media and healthcare group Agen Holding, formerly the Agefi publishing group, posted a loss of CHF 3.4 million in the first half of the year. In the same period of the previous year, the loss amounted to CHF 0.25 million. In addition to investments in the clinic division, the press division also contributed to the loss-making result: It posted a loss of 0.58 million francs in the first half of 2007 after a minus of 0.25 million francs in the same period of the previous year. The daily newspaper L'Agefi is now to be redesigned. According to a press release, the paper is to become a leading title in the business and financial press in French-speaking Switzerland once again. The other magazines are also to be modernized in the near future. The press division, headed by COO Eric Valette, editorial director Yves Claude Aubert and Agefi editor-in-chief Sylvie Gardel, is to benefit from the acquisition of Profil in the first half of the year and the redesign of the publication Evasion. In addition, a new website is currently under construction.
In response to speculation about an imminent divestment of the press division, which has been loss-making for some time, Agen Chairman of the Board of Directors Reymond Loretan told SDA that measures had been taken to strengthen the press division. "At the moment, however, we are keeping all our options open," said Loretan. A balanced result should be achieved towards the end of the year. Next year, the division is aiming for sales of CHF 12 million and an operating result of CHF 1 million.
In response to speculation about an imminent divestment of the press division, which has been loss-making for some time, Agen Chairman of the Board of Directors Reymond Loretan told SDA that measures had been taken to strengthen the press division. "At the moment, however, we are keeping all our options open," said Loretan. A balanced result should be achieved towards the end of the year. Next year, the division is aiming for sales of CHF 12 million and an operating result of CHF 1 million.
