AZ Medien want to take over Oltner Tagblatt completely

AZ Medien AG already owns a majority stake in Dietschi AG. Two years ago, it initially acquired a 33% stake in the share capital. In May 2014, it was then offered additional shares by various shareholders, increasing its stake to over 50 percent. The offer to the remaining Dietschi shareholders runs from today, Friday, until August 6, 2014.

Co-owner of Radio 32 again

With the purchase of Dietschi AG, AZ Medien AG will once again become a co-owner of Radio 32. At the end of 2012, the Aargau-based media company had to sell its then 11.3 percent stake in the Solothurn local radio station to Gassmann AG (Bieler Tagblatt) because it already owned two radio stations, Radio 24 and Radio Argovia. Its lawyers are currently clarifying whether AZ Medien AG may retain Dietschi AG's 21.9 percent stake in Radio 32, said AZ publisher Peter Wanner when asked by the sda news agency. If the Federal Office of Communications were of a different opinion, this stake would be sold. All products and investments of Dietschi AG will be continued, AZ Medien AG also said on request. In addition to Radio 32 and the Oltner Tagblatt with a circulation of 14,800 copies, Dietschi AG's portfolio also includes the Oberbaselbieter Zeitung, a weekly free newspaper with a circulation of 44,000 copies.

Takeover talks initiated

The Board of Directors of Dietschi AG recommends that the minority shareholders accept the offer from AZ Medien. The Board has already initiated takeover talks. The aim is to secure the long-term future of the company and its publications. Dietschi made a loss in the last financial year. According to the press release, the reason for the red figures was depreciation on the newspaper printing press. The Oltner Tagblatt is printed by Dietschi AG itself. Dietschi AG sold a business division last year. It sold the commercial printing division to the then Dietschi CEO Thomas Müller in a management buy-out on September 1, 2013. (SDA)