Publigroupe acquires stake in German online network Fantastic Zero

 Publigroupe has acquired a 39% stake in the German online entertainment network Fantastic Zero (FZ). The Munich-based company was founded in 2007 and develops entertainment sites in the fields of games, film, technology and music. Fantastic Zero bundles and markets these sites. The aim is to reach a young, male target group with minimal wastage. For Publigroupe, the investment opens up attractive marketing opportunities abroad. It is therefore in line with the strategy of increasing growth in the interactive sector and in international markets, explains Thomas Kaiser, CEO of Publigroupe's Digital & Marketing Services business segment. The fact that Fantastic Zero acts as both a publisher and a marketer opens up a good opportunity for cooperation with the online marketing service provider Zanox, added Publigroupe CEO Hans-Peter Rohner in a press release on Monday. Zanox bought Publigroupe a year ago together with Axel Springer.
The seller of the 39 percent stake in Fantastic Zero is a subsidiary of Wunder Media GmbH. Publigroupe will receive the option to acquire a majority stake from majority shareholder Holtzbrinck E-LAB, as detailed in the press release. The transaction is subject to approval by the German competition authorities.