Swiss Picture Agency Keystone to be owned by APA and SDA

Zürich/Berne/Vienna (Switzerland/Austria) 26 November (PROTEXT/ots) - APA -Austria Presse Agentur and Schweizerische Depeschenagentur (SDA) plan toacquire Keystone AG, the largest picture agency in Switzerland, as ofJanuary 1, 2008. Subject to antitrust approval the takeover will see APAtaking over about 60 percent and SDA about 40 percent. Keystone’s annualrevenues are about ten million Euros, the company has a staff of 90employees. Keystone is an independent, private joint-stock companycurrently owned by Walter Grolimund and Theodor Hummel. It was agreed notto disclose the purchase price.

With this acquisition, APA continues to pursue its growth andinternationalization strategy. "Keystone is a key company in the Swissmedia industry. With the acquisition of the majority share of one of thelargest picture agencies in Europe we are taking a decisive step forpositioning APA as regional information service provider in the centre ofEurope," explains Wolfgang Vyslozil, APA’s Chief Executive Officer.

With this investment, SDA, which previously has not operated any picturebusiness, can now cover the entire spectrum of multi-media news services."This takeover is very important for SDA and for the Swiss media, and weare very pleased with this solution," remarks Hans-Heinrich Coninx,President of SDA’s Board.

Walter Grolimund, CEO of Keystone is also convinced that the best possibledecision has been reached for Keystone’s future: "I am pleased that wemanaged to find a strong succession plan. Keystone will still be operatedindependently and is in a strong position for the future."

As part of APA’s internationalization plans, Keystone is the largestacquisition thus far. "In our ‘APA 2010’ strategy we planned growth throughacquisitions, and thus are expanding our business activity. The acquisitionof a majority share in Keystone will result in revenue increases of aboutone-fifth for the APA Group, and this will take place in an internationalgrowth market that is very exciting for us," remarks Peter Kropsch,Managing Director of APA and responsible for M & A management.

Walter Grolimund (Keystone) will stay with Keystone AG as operatingPresident of the Board of Directors; Wolfgang Vyslozil and Peter Kropschshall represent APA on the Keystone Board. SDA will be represented byMarkus Schwab, Chief Executive Officer of SDA and Editor-in-Chief BernardMaissen. Schwab will also act as Delegate of the Board of Directors.

About Keystone:

Keystone was established in 1953 and represents internationally renownedphotographers and the world's leading picture agencies for news, specialinterests, and stock images exclusively in Switzerland. Over 20 full-timeas well as numerous freelance photographers supply images for distributionto all of Switzerland's daily newspapers as well as most of the weekly andmonthly magazines, Internet portals and Swiss television through a networkof ten regional bureaus. A large number of advertising agencies andcommunication departments at the major banks, insurance companies, serviceand industrial enterprises complete Keystone's customer base. The range ofimages offered by Keystone encompasses catalogue and historical imagesbesides news and theme pictures. Today, over 2 million images are availablein Keystone's digital database for download; in addition, over 11 millionimages are on hand in the agency's archives.

About APA:

APA - Austria Press Agency is the national news agency and the leadinginformation service provider in Austria. The company iscooperatively-organized and owned by 16 Austrian daily newspapers and thenational public broadcasting company. The APA Group is active in thebusiness segments ‘news agency’, ‘information management’ and ‘informationtechnology’. APA’s editorial staff looks after real-time news services intext, pictures, graphics and video; its subsidiaries provide press releaseservices, databanks and media monitoring services, along with informationtechnology solutions. The companies of the APA Group provide their servicesto professional users in the markets ‘media’, ‘political institutions’ and‘corporates’. APA fulfills its tasks in independence and in accordance witha policy of reliability, speed, and fair balance. APA Group revenues areabout 43 million Euros, which it achieves with around 300 employees.

About SDA:

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA) is the national and largest newsagency in Switzerland. Working in the three languages of the country,German, French and Italian, it circulates information round-the-clock aboutpolitics, economy, society and culture. Its customers include nearly allthe Swiss media and some dozen foreign media. Moreover, about 250 privateand public clients use SDA information services. SDA is a privatejoint-stock company owned mainly by Swiss media companies and therefore hasa private legal status. Independence, solidarity and capacity forinnovation are the fundamental values of the more than 100 years old SwissNews agency. SDA Group revenues are about 21,9 million Euros, which itachieves with around 220 employees.

Inquiry information:

Barbara Rauchwarter

Head of Marketing & Communication

APA - Austria Press Agency

Tel.: +43/1/36060-5700

E-mail: barbara.rauchwarter@apa.at

Internet: http://www.apa.at

Bernard Maissen

Editor-in-Chief

Schweizerische Depeschen Agentur (SDA)

Tel.: +41/31/309 33 33

E-mail: bernard.maissen@sda.ch

Internet: http://www.sda.ch

Walter Grolimund

President and CEO

Keystone AG

Tel.: +41/44/200 13 00

E-mail: wgrolimund@keystone.ch

Internet: http://www.keystone.ch

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