Lagardère Active to dispose of 100% of its stake in Hachette Filipacchi Burda Poland (HFBP)

Lagardère Active

announced today a new stage in its rationalization plan, as presented by its Chairman Didier Quillot last January, with the disposal of its stake in Hachette Filipacchi Burda Poland (HFBP). This transaction is subject to approval by the Polish anti-trust authorities.
Hachette Filipacchi Medias and publisher Burda Eastern Europe are in final negotiations for the transfer of Hachette’s stake in HFBP. This Company, founded in early 2006 to consolidate the Polish operations of Burda and Hachette Filipacchi, publishes the following magazines: Elle, Elle Decoration, Samo Zdrowie, Burda, Dobre Rady, Sol i Pieprz, Moj Piekny Dom and Moj Piekny Ogrod.
Jean de Boisdeffre, Director of HFBP and Chief Operating Officer of Lagardère Active International, stated: “This transaction is in keeping with the group’s new strategy of pursuing its development in certain countries in licence mode, with powerful partners. Burda, in Poland, has all the qualities required to optimally manage our brands, thus becoming one of the group’s preferred partners in Central Europe.”
Christian Fiedler, CEO and Chairman of HFBP, stated for his part: “Thanks to this transaction, we are extending a productive collaborative effort with Hachette Filipacchi Médias. In Poland, Burda Eastern Europe will thus continue to expand its operations and strengthen its market position with new projects.”

After Norway last April, Sweden at the beginning of September and now Poland, other countries will shortly make the transition from operating mode to licence mode by the end of 2007, as previously announced.

Lagardère Active (periodicals and audiovisual) is one of the four major corporate brands of Lagardère SCA, along with Lagardère Publishing (books), Lagardère Services (distribution and services) and Lagardère Sports. Lagardère Active generated sales of 2.1 billion euros in 2006.