DPG Media will become the largest Dutch magazine publisher as a result of an agreed deal to buy Sanoma’s publishing interests in the Netherlands and Belgium for €460m. The Finland-based Sanoma has long been the largest Dutch publisher of magazines, with brands including Libelle, Margriet, Donald Duck, vtwonen and Veronica, serving more than 1m subscribers.
The company, which last year had revenues of €424m and employs almost 900 people, also owns online news platform NU. nl, the largest news site in the Netherlands, with a claimed monthly reach of 8m. After successive deals (including with DPG Media) Sanoma’s Belgium publishing comprises just home and decor magazines which are included in this transaction.
DPG owns four Dutch daily newspapers including the AD, Trouw, the Parool and the Volkskrant. The enlarged company will have revenues of some €1.1bn and employ more than 3,500 people. The deal is subject to Dutch competitions approval.
