Pluralis B.V. today announced that Central International Kft., an affiliate of Central Group, a leading independent media publisher in Hungary, had purchased a 13.43% stake, carrying 20.38% voting rights, in Gremi Media S.A. Pluralis B.V. remains the largest shareholder of Gremi Media S.A. (with a 38.62% stake, carrying 36.62% voting rights), confirming its long-term engagement in Gremi Media.
Following the exercise of the option announced on 25 August, Pluralis B.V. welcomes Central Group as a minority shareholder and strategic partner for the further development of the company. Pluralis is convinced that Central involvement will ensure the long-term growth of Gremi and will bring new opportunities and synergies with its strong media expertise.
Pluralis, founded by a group of prestigious European media companies, democracy-supporting foundations and impact investors, invests in news companies that provide independent, quality reporting in countries in Europe where a plural media is at risk.
Central Group is Hungary’s leading independent media publisher, predominantly focused on lifestyle and female content, reaching over 6 million print and online readers every month.
Gremi Media S.A. is the publisher of the business daily Rzeczpospolita, Parkiet monthly and numerous news and sport websites.
“We are delighted to welcome Central Group as a co-investor in Gremi,” said Thomas Leysen, Chairman of Mediahuis and Pluralis Supervisory Board Chair. “Gremi is already one of Poland’s leading media companies and the addition of Central Group to the shareholding will further strengthen the company’s position. Pluralis and Central Group have richly complementary expertise in media management and strategy to support Gremi’s continued growth, especially in digital development and lifestyle content.”
“We are proud to have invested in Gremi Media, one of the most distinguished Polish news companies, committed to independent journalism and high-quality, reliable content production,” said Zoltán Varga, majority owner of Central Group, Chairman and CEO of Central Media. “At Central Group, we see it as our mission to support independent and trustworthy media in the V4 countries and to serve as a strong bastion of quality for our partners and readers. With our entry to Poland, we are now active in media publishing in all V4 countries and this acquisition demonstrates our commitment to Poland as the largest market in the region. We look forward to starting a strategic cooperation and would be delighted to assist in Gremi’s next phase of development, broadening its product offering with a focus on lifestyle content, increasing its customer reach and technological transition.”
Central Media is one of Hungary’s leading independent media companies. In its diverse portfolio, it is present with Hungary’s best-known and most-loved brands: entertainment, informative, lifestyle magazines, as well as digital products that reach a wide range of readers. Among them are Nők Lapja, National Geographic, nlc, Marie Claire, 24.hu, Nosalty, Vezess, Gyerekszoba and Házipatika, as well as its newest brand, REFRESHER, which primarily targets millennials and the Z generation. Central Media is a major investor in REFRESHER ‘s Slovak and Czech entities.
With 14 print magazines, more than 20 special editions and book magazines, and 19 online publications, Central reaches more than 6 million people a month.
About Pluralis B.V.
Pluralis B.V. is a Dutch limited liability company duly organised under the laws of the Netherlands with its seat in Amsterdam. The company’s shareholders, investors and partners are a group of prestigious European media companies, democracy-supporting foundations and impact investors, including: King Baudouin Foundation, Tinius Trust, Oak Foundation, Mediahuis, Media Development Investment Fund and Soros Economic Development Fund, as well as other impact investors and family offices.
About Gremi Media S.A.
Gremi Media S.A. is one of Poland’s leading media groups, focusing on economic and business news and holding a digital portfolio of services for professionals and senior managers. It is the largest media platform in the business-finance-law sector with the largest economic newsroom in Poland and a reputation for credibility. It publishes titles including Rzeczpospolita and Gazeta Giełdy i Inwestorów “Parkiet” daily newspapers, as well as their dedicated websites. With online television channels tv.rp.pl and parkiet.tv, Gremi Media presents daily broadcast commentaries on and analyses of all major political, economic and legal events.
For more information contact: