PubliGroupe Expands Its Stake in The Guide Company
In July 2004, PubliGroupe acquired a 30 percent stake in the share capital of the media company The Guide Company. That stake is now being increased to 64 percent—a move of strategic importance.
In July 2004, PubliGroupe acquired a 30 percent stake in the share capital of the media company The Guide Company. That stake is now being increased to 64 percent, as PubliGroupe announced on Monday. The remaining shares will remain with the existing majority shareholders; the parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The expansion of this stake is of strategic importance for PubliGroupe’s PubliDirect division, particularly for the cross-media guides and contract publishing business segments, PubliGroupe further stated.
The Guide Company produces content for city and event guides for print media, electronic media, and mobile services. In addition, The Guide Company offers customized guide solutions (contract publishing) for companies and publishers. With approximately 25 employees, the company generated sales of about 4 million Swiss francs in 2005.
As part of the acquisition of a majority stake, Robert Schmidli, CEO of the PubliDirect division and a member of PubliGroupe’s Executive Board, will assume responsibility for the operations of The Guide Company as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The previous Chairman of the Board, Ursin Mirer, has stepped down from his positions and will continue to serve the company in an advisory capacity. PubliDirect publishes and markets directories through its subsidiaries LTV Gelbe Seiten and local.ch in Switzerland and Amitel in France.
The Guide Company produces content for city and event guides for print media, electronic media, and mobile services. In addition, The Guide Company offers customized guide solutions (contract publishing) for companies and publishers. With approximately 25 employees, the company generated sales of about 4 million Swiss francs in 2005.
As part of the acquisition of a majority stake, Robert Schmidli, CEO of the PubliDirect division and a member of PubliGroupe’s Executive Board, will assume responsibility for the operations of The Guide Company as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The previous Chairman of the Board, Ursin Mirer, has stepped down from his positions and will continue to serve the company in an advisory capacity. PubliDirect publishes and markets directories through its subsidiaries LTV Gelbe Seiten and local.ch in Switzerland and Amitel in France.
