TF1 Group Moves in to Buy aufeminin Stake from Axel Springer

The TF1 Group has submitted a binding offer to acquire the Axel Springer Group’s majority stake in the female-focused digital media group aufeminin.

The French broadcast group has agreed to pay €37.74 a share for the stake, for a total investment of €365 million ($428 million). With the aufeminin Group, TF1 Group would acquire a leading digital player with a portfolio of women-oriented brands and content. This includes aufeminin, My Little Paris and Merci Alfred, Marmiton, Netmums, Onmeda, Etoile Casting and Livingly Media (Livingly, Zimbio, StyleBistro, Lonny).

Gilles Pélisson, the chairman and CEO of the TF1 Group, said: “This acquisition, once completed, will be a major step forward in the transformation of the TF1 Group. I salute the creativity of the teams from aufeminin who will be joining us: they have demonstrated unique talent in building their brand portfolios with their communities. Thanks to the innovations developed by aufeminin and My Little Paris in particular, we will be able to reach all kinds of audience via powerful and unifying verticals, and to offer new advertising solutions to brands. Backed by our own know-how, the aufeminin Group will be able to successfully pursue its international expansion.”

Dr. Andreas Wiele, the president for classifieds and marketing media at Axel Springer, added: “In the course of the past ten years, together with its management we have expanded aufeminin into a successful group with large audiences and diversified revenue streams. TF1 is the logic acquirer to take aufeminin’s growth particularly in its core areas e-commerce, video, programmatic and content sales on the French market to the next level. This strategic value is also reflected by the premium of 46 percent on the share price. I sincerely thank Marie-Laure Sauty de Chalon, her outstanding management team and all employees for their ever-excellent work.”

Marie-Laure Sauty de Chalon, chairwoman and CEO of aufeminin, commented: “We are very proud to have developed our communities into iconic brands that have helped us quadruple our audiences, revenues and profits during our international phase with Axel Springer. We strongly believe that this new chapter with the TF1 Group will allow our people to continue to imagine and create, offering advertisers the power, affinity and influence that will help them build stronger and more lasting brands.”