EMAP Makes New Media Investments

EMAP has this morning announced the acquisition of stakes in two internet-based companies for a combined sum of around £4 million. The company has acquired an 18% investment in US group, Alloutdoors.com, for $5.5 million and a 13.5% stake in Thematis in France for FFr6 million (£560,000).

Alloutdoors.com is currently the largest online site for the outdoor pursuits market, with around 350,000 registered users. The company is seeking to develop e-commerce facilities which will be tied in with EMAP’s own outdoor pursuits online activities.

French group Thematis is currently developing an entertainment-focused web-TV site called nouvo.com, which is due to launch this spring. Nouvo.com will be the first French web-TV site to target the 25-35 year old audience, with its mix of films, music, television, books, lifestyle and travel. The site will complement EMAP’s offline entertainment media in France.

Commenting on the investments, EMAP’s group finance director, David Grigson, says: “As with our previous digital initiatives, these latest investments complement our current offline activities in the markets they represent. We are seeking to build our digital investments in large, fragmented and growing markets where we can develop advertising and e-commerce revenues.”

EMAP: 020 7278 1452