Telenor Media becomes the second biggest directory publisher in France

Press release
Fornebu
3 minute read
Telenor Media has purchased French Yellow Pages company Annuaire Phone Edition (APE), making Telenor Media the second biggest directory publisher in France.
"Our purchase of APE means that we have achieved our aim of becoming the second largest directory publisher in France. We've now established a very sound basis for continued growth in the French market for local directories," says Jesper Simonsen, Director of Telenor Media's international business unit. He adds that this purchase is an element of Telenor Media's international strategy to bolster the company's position as a leading European information company.

Through its purchase of APE, Telenor Media now publishes directories throughout France. Telenor Media already owns the French subsidiaries Annuaires Téléphonique de Bretagne and Soleil Publicité.

This year, APE, which is France's second biggest telephone directory company, is publishing twelve yellow pages directories with a total print run of 2.5 million. The company has 150 sales representatives and offices in eight French cities.

Michel Mani, managing director of APE, states that he is very satisfied that APE is now entering a new stage with such a solid international owner as Telenor Media.

"For APE it is very positive to become part of a well-reputed international company allowing continued growth," he says.

About Telenor Media:
Telenor Media has a very strong position in the Norwegian directory market. The company delivers a number of branded goods such as "Telefonkatalogen" (The Telephone Directory), "Gule Sider" (Yellow Pages), "Lokalveiviseren Ditt Distrikt" (The Local Guide to Your District) and BizKit. These branded goods can be delivered in various forms (as printed directory, on the Internet, by telephone and on CD-ROM).

Since 1995 Telenor Media has developed comprehensive international activities. The company makes printed and electronic telephone directories and commercial directories for twelve European markets. Through purchases, co-ownerships and other new business start-ups Telenor Media is now represented in France, Spain, Russia, Iceland, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Ukraine. The company is planning further international expansion and intends to focus on countries with major growth potential. Telenor Media intends to build on the experience and expertise gained in the Norwegian and European markets to develop international operations.