"Do not disrupt continuity"
Media Companies: Despite holding a majority of the share capital, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung is foregoing the opportunity to exert greater influence over LZ Medien Holding.
Media company Despite holding a majority of the share capital, the Neue Zürcher Zeitung has decided not to increase its influence at LZ Medien Holding.NZZ has increased its stake in LZ Medien Holding from 46 to just under 51 percent. However, the Zurich-based media company emphasizes that its new status as majority shareholder is by no means associated with a stronger say in the Central Swiss company. It immediately proves this statement by not only making do with the two existing board seats, but also by not making any other personnel changes. "LZ Medien is a very successful company that is very well managed - of course we don't want to disrupt continuity in any way," explains Beat Lauber, Head of Regional Newspapers at the NZZ Group. With regard to the Board of Directors, on which the Zurich-based company is still in the minority, he points to similar circumstances at other regional newspaper holdings. "There are also constellations in which we hold the majority but are still in the minority on the Board of Directors. That's not a problem for us at all."
The timing of the majority takeover, which took place just six months after the installation of the Bern model and thus the defusing of the difficult situation at the daily newspaper Der Bund, is also irrelevant. "Bern and Lucerne have absolutely nothing to do with each other in this respect," says Lauber.
Lucerne's new strategy
At LZ Medien, Chairman of the Board Hans Kaufmann has been working on a new strategy, which is to be presented this year, not just since the takeover of the additional shares. However, this is not primarily about the Neue Luzerner Zeitung, which with
with a household coverage of over 60 percent has hardly any growth potential. "In addition to our press products, we also have a printing division and a specialist publishing house where further development is possible," explains Lauber. As an example, he cites the Multicolor print shop, which has been able to generate "very pleasing growth" in recent years thanks to new collaborations.
The necessary steps have also been taken in the advertising sector with the recent acquisition of a 30 percent stake in Anzeiger Luzern AG. The NZZ Group has an equal need for action in the three locations of Berne, St. Gallen and Lucerne, particularly with the free newspapers. "Better strategies can be developed together here," says Lauber. In general, he is of the opinion that the problems faced by regional newspapers, which are the same everywhere, should be discussed more jointly in future. "In the interests of a strong region and regardless of whether or not there are holdings."
Continuity maintained: As the majority shareholder of LZ Medien Holding, NZZ is content with the existing board seats.
Daniel Schifferle
The timing of the majority takeover, which took place just six months after the installation of the Bern model and thus the defusing of the difficult situation at the daily newspaper Der Bund, is also irrelevant. "Bern and Lucerne have absolutely nothing to do with each other in this respect," says Lauber.
Lucerne's new strategy
At LZ Medien, Chairman of the Board Hans Kaufmann has been working on a new strategy, which is to be presented this year, not just since the takeover of the additional shares. However, this is not primarily about the Neue Luzerner Zeitung, which with
with a household coverage of over 60 percent has hardly any growth potential. "In addition to our press products, we also have a printing division and a specialist publishing house where further development is possible," explains Lauber. As an example, he cites the Multicolor print shop, which has been able to generate "very pleasing growth" in recent years thanks to new collaborations.
The necessary steps have also been taken in the advertising sector with the recent acquisition of a 30 percent stake in Anzeiger Luzern AG. The NZZ Group has an equal need for action in the three locations of Berne, St. Gallen and Lucerne, particularly with the free newspapers. "Better strategies can be developed together here," says Lauber. In general, he is of the opinion that the problems faced by regional newspapers, which are the same everywhere, should be discussed more jointly in future. "In the interests of a strong region and regardless of whether or not there are holdings."
Continuity maintained: As the majority shareholder of LZ Medien Holding, NZZ is content with the existing board seats.
Daniel Schifferle
