VCP Sells Shares in Serbian Publishing House to Ringier

Belgrade-based publishing house that issues Blic, 24sata and Alo! has been sold by Vienna Capital Partners to Swiss majority stakeholder Ringier. The deal includes a transfer of 25.1 percent of shares to Ringier. Further details of the transaction have not been revealed.

Vienna Capital Partners will look for new investment opportunities in the Central European market.

Ringier Serbia (www.blic.rs)
Blic, 24sata and Alo! have grown to some of the largest published and most read newspapers in Serbia. Blic itself is the most read daily newspaper in Serbia, with offshoots established in 2004 and 2005 including Blic Zena, developed for the female market, and Blic Puls, a magazine dedicated to people. Blic has also moved into the Bosnia and Herzegovina market with a local edition of its paper.

24Sata was established in 2006 and leverages its advertising revenue as the first fee daily newspaper in the country.

Alo! Is one of the highest-selling tabloid newspapers in Serbia.

Ringier AG (www.ringier.com)
Founded in Zofingen, Switzerland, in 1833, Ringier AG is the largest media company in the country. Domestically, it controls the majority of major media, both in print and electronic formats, as well as a large portion of the entertainment sector.

Ringier has recently moved into the CEE and Asian markets, purchasing large shares in many media outlets. The company has 7000 employees throughout the Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, China and Vietnam.

It publishes 120 newspapers and magazines throughout these markets. In addition, it produces 20 television programs, 50 websites and 11 printing plants.

Vienna Capital Partners (www.vcpag.com)
Vienna Capital Partners is a leading investment and advisory firm headquartered in Austria. The company works primarily in the markets in Central and Eastern Europe, helping its clients capitalizes in a variety of sectors. Vienna Capital Partners specializes in direct investment and corporate finance. It operates offices in Vienna, Zagreb and Warsaw.