Regional newspaper publisher Waz faces change of ownership
Der Zeitungskonzern Waz steht vor einem Eigentümerwechsel. Grossaktionärin Petra Grotkamp habe einer Erbengemeinschaft, die 50 Prozent an der Waz Mediengruppe hält, ein Kaufangebot gemacht, teilte ihr Anwalt Andreas Urban am Montag mit.
Agreement has been reached on the main terms of the acquisition. According to Manager Maganzin, the 67-year-old, who already holds 16.67 percent of the company, is offering half a billion euros for the share of the community of heirs. With this step, Grotkamp wants to create clear shareholder structures and ensure that the Waz Mediengruppe continues to be successful as a family business in the future.
Petra Grotkamp is the daughter of Waz co-founder Jakob Funke and wife of long-time publishing director Günther Grotkamp (84). Should she take control of Waz, it would be one of the largest transactions in the German newspaper industry, which has been struggling with falling advertising revenues and circulation for years.
The Waz Group (Westdeutsche Allgemeine, Neue Rhein/Neue Ruhr-Zeitung, Westfälische Rundschau) is the largest regional newspaper publisher in Europe. With its 15,000 employees, the group has an annual turnover of 1.1 billion euros. The Essen-based publishing house is owned 50 percent each by the descendants of its founders: the daughters of Jakob Funke and the three Brost grandchildren, whose shares are bundled in a holding company. (SDA)
