ProSiebenSat.1 acquires leading online travel providers
Munich, December 9, 2013. The ProSiebenSat.1
Group is further expanding its e-commerce activities. Through its
subsidiary Seven Ventures, the TV group has acquired all the shares
of Comvel GmbH, which operates the travel portals weg.de and
ferien.de, from the investor Media Ventures. Founded in March 2005
and headquartered in Munich, this company is one of Germany's most
successful online travel agencies. Timo Beyer and Wolfgang Lehr
will continue to serve as the managing directors of the online
portals. The transaction is pending, subject to the approval of the
German Federal Cartel Office.
"The Internet travel market is one of the biggest e-commerce
markets, and one that benefits tremendously from TV advertising,"
explained Dr. Christian Wegner, Member of the Executive
Board of ProSiebenSat.1. The total German travel market
has a volume of 52 billion euros; the online travel market accounts
for 40 percent, or about 20 billion, of that total. Wegner went on
to say: "Travel brands are practically made for TV, as a highly
visual and emotional medium, and therefore they represent a special
point of emphasis for our e-commerce strategy. Both portals
complement our travel portfolio ideally. Together with our other
Internet investments, including the dynamic travel provider Tropo,
as well as Wetter.com, Billiger-Mietwagen, MyDays, Holiday-Insider
and Reise.com, we can serve any and needs of people planning their
vacations."
Timo Beyer, CEO Comvel: "We are thrilled to
contribute our know-how as one of the biggest online travel portals
to the ProSiebenSat.1 Group in the future. This strong partnership
and the synergies that can be exploited with the companies of
SevenVentures will promote the further growth of our business and
solidify and expand our position in the tourism market."
ProSiebenSat.1's "House of Travel"
The TV group already holds investments in various areas of the
travel sector. For example, Tropo is a dynamic
organizer of affordable, high-quality trips, including all-included
travel packages and last-minute trips. Reise.com
is an online travel agency (OTA) that bundles and sells the travel
packages of different organizers. Whereas online travel agencies
like reise.com and weg.de sell the travel packages of different
organizers, a dynamic travel organizer like Tropo packages various
travel services and quotes up-to-the minute prices for attractive
all-included travel packages and last-minute trips. Users of
Billiger-Mietwagen.de, the biggest portal for
rental car rate comparisons in Germany, can compare rental car
offerings worldwide and book them directly on the website. The TV
group's own weather portal Wetter.com is the
widest-reach website offering weather and climate information in
Germany. The portal MyDays is one of the leading
vendors of experience gifts and events in Germany. In addition,
SevenVentures holds an equity interest in
Holiday-Insider.de.
About SevenVentures
SevenVentures is the venture arm of the ProSiebenSat.1 Group, one
of the leading media companies in Europe and Germany's largest
television network. In essence, SevenVentures pools companies and
start-ups that can grow their business with the support of
ProSiebenSat.1, as well as majority holdings in strategically
important companies. Besides offering TV advertising time,
SevenVentures can utilize the services of its own "ecosystem"
consisting of the creative agency SugarRay and the digital agency
Booming, to help growing young companies conduct integrated
advertising campaigns centered on the lead medium of TV.
SevenVentures is Germany's leading media investor, holding numerous
investments in different market segments.
About weg.de
The portal weg.de is one of Germany's best-known online travel
portals. It has repeatedly won the top spot in the rankings of
independent comparison surveys. It covers all aspects of the travel
and tourism market. It is known for its outstanding service quality
and user friendliness. Weg.de offers a full range of travel
packages, from all-included trips with hotel and flights, to ocean
cruises, rental cars and ski trips. Customers are most impressed by
the clarity and user-friendliness of the travel portal and by the
outstanding quality of the service and advice provided. Founded in
Munich in March 2005, weg.de is a brand of COMVEL GmbH. COMVEL
GmbH, in turn, is owned by Europe's fastest-growing tourism
company.
Contact:
Sabine Segerer-Utz
Corporate Communications Specialist
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG
Medienallee 7
D-85774 Unterföhring
Tel. +49 [0]89 95 07-8921
Fax +49 [0]89 07-98921
E-Mail: Sabine.Segerer@ProSiebenSat1.com
Markus Prosch
Head of Communications, Sales & Diversification
ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG
Medienallee 7
D-85774 Unterföhring
Tel. +49 [0]89 95 07-8920
Fax +49 [0]89 95 07-8826
E-Mail: Markus.Prosch@ProSiebenSat1.com