Lagardere Active acquires 4 radio stations in Russia

Lagardere Active acquires four new radio stations in Russia and steps up its development in Eastern Europe

Lagardere Active, through its subsidiary Lagardere Active Radio International (LARI), has just acquired four new commercial radio stations in Russia. The stations, located in Moscow and St. Petersburg, include Radio 7, Eldoradio, Kanal Melodia and Melodia Moscow. In addition to these four stations, LARI already holds two radio networks via its Russian subsidiary Europa Media Group (EMG): Europa Plus and Retro FM.

The four new stations have been wholly owned since September 2003 by RBMH Broadcast Media Holdings (RBMH), an entity created by Warburg Pincus.

LARI has operated in Russia since 1990. As a result of this acquisition, it is now (through its subsidiary EMG) the leading operator of private radio stations in Moscow and St. Petersburg with an audience share of 18.6 and 19.6% respectively. More than 1,000 towns in Russia and other CEI countries will now receive EMG’s programmes, which draw a combined audience of over 15 million daily listeners. Georges Polinski, founder and chairman of Europa Plus, will direct the new combined entity.

LARI now has 22 radio stations attracting more than 33 million daily listeners in seven countries: Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Germany and South Africa.

LARI is also the leading operator of radio stations in Eastern Europe.

“This transaction represents an important step in our development and confirms our commitment to becoming a major player on the Russian radio scene. We are looking forward to working with the existing teams. With their help, we plan to continue and step up the development of our radio stations in Russia,” stated Jean Christophe Lestra, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lagardere Active Radio International.

Lagardere Active, a Lagardère SCA subsidiary, is a major player in radio, television and new media. Its radio stations include Europe 1, Europe 2, RFM and 22 stations outside France. Its TV division operates 11 special-interest television channels, among them MCM and Canal J, and 16 production companies, including GMT Productions, DEMD Productions and DMLS TV. It is also active in the new media segment. Marketing operations for these various media are handled by Lagardère Active Publicité. Lagardere Active also holds 34% of the capital of CanalSat.