Sanoma Men's Magazines Acquires Auto Trader

AUTO CENTRAL - August 13, 2008: Sanoma Men's Magazines, part of Sanoma Magazines' Dutch operations Sanoma Uitgevers has acquired the shares of European Auto Trader B.V. European Auto Trader is the publisher of the magazines Auto Trader, Classic Trader, Motor Trader, Transport Trader and Caravan & Camper Trader in the Benelux region. Its online site Auto Trader is one of the largest websites focused on used cars with one million unique visitors per month. By acquiring Auto Trader, Sanoma Uitgevers enforces its leading position in the automotive media market.

The acquisition fits Sanoma Uitgevers' strategy to service customers as much as possible within specific interest areas like parenting, food, home and cars. For Sanoma Uitgevers, this acquisition is an important step in realising its ambitions in digital media.

The net sales of European Auto Trader B.V. in the financial year 2007/2008 amounted to EUR 9.5 million. Auto Trader is located in Maarssen, the Netherlands, and employs 68 persons (full-time equivalents.

Auke Visser, CEO of Sanoma Men's Magazines, is happy with this acquisition: "Auto Trader fits the digital media ambitions of Sanoma Men's Magazines in the automotive segment. Next to our well-known car magazine AutoWeek, we have also been active with magazines, websites and events for a long time - just consider Formule1, Truckstar with its large, annual festival and magazines like Moto '73 and Motor.

"Since 1998 we have been very active in the automotive segment online. A site focusing on used cars like Auto Trader was missing from our portfolio. Auto Trader and AutoWeek are a perfect match. We have worked together for years already online, and now we are able to deepen this co-operation," Eric Ariëns, Sanoma Men's Magazines' Publisher Automotive, adds.

"We are convinced that we can realise our growth ambitions even better as part of a strong party like Sanoma Uitgevers. Together with AutoWeek, we will form a very strong, market leading platform for buying and selling cars for garages as well as for individual consumers, " Paul Wessels, Managing Director of Auto Trader comments the deal.