Ringier
Dufourstrasse 23, Zürich, Zurich, 8008, Switzerland
Overview
Ringier AG is the largest internationally operating Swiss media company, producing over 120 newspapers and magazines. It also runs printing plants, several radio and TV stations and well over 80 web and mobile platforms with a worldwide staff of approximately 8,000 employees. With its 180-year history, Ringier stands for a pioneering spirit and individuality as well as independence, freedom of expression and diversity of information. The company’s hallmarks are excellence in products, journalistic quality and exceptional entertainment. Founded in Switzerland in 1833, Ringier has been family run for five generations. Located in the heart of Zurich, the Pressehaus on Dufourstrasse has served as Ringier AG headquarters since 1978. More than 1,000 employees visit this location every day. In 1833 Johann Rudolf Ringier purchased a printing works facility in the Swiss town of Zofingen and began by printing regional gazettes and school curriculums. The small workshop soon evolved into a national newspaper-publishing house. Schweizer Illustrierte was first published in 1911 using letterpress. It was Switzerland's most successful people magazine and remains so to this day. In 1959 Ringier took the Swiss public by surprise launching the country's first tabloid, Blick. The concept of the publication’s style prompted violent controversy among readers but proved very successful. Ringier first ventured into the television business in 1984, founding the local TV programming company, Zürivision. In 1987, Ringier expanded abroad for the first time, to Asia. The company's first activities in Eastern Europe took place in 1990. Although the Internet only began gaining momentum as a mass medium towards the end of the 1990s, Ringier recognized its potential as early as 1996, and began to conquer the electronic media with the Blick Online and CASH Online websites. Ringier adopted a corporate strategy based on three areas of business: publishing, digital business and entertainment in 2009. Launching a joint venture unique to the company’s history in 2010, Ringier partnered with German publisher Axel Springer to found Ringier Axel Springer Media AG to boost business in Central Europe.
- Total investments
- 2
- Lead investments
- 1
- Investments · 12mo
- 0
- Active investors
- 8
Sector focus
- Classifieds
- Media and Entertainment
- News
- Publishing
- Social Media
- Venture Capital
Investment portfolio
- LiveScore Group
Led · Equity · Sep 2022
LiveScore Group provides real-time sports scores and free-to-air live streams to users across roughly 200 territories and operates consumer betting products including LiveScore Bet and Virgin Bet. The company was founded in 2019 by Noel Hayden and is led by industry veteran Sam Sadi. Its product suite combines scores, streaming and sportsbook offerings across multiple markets (LiveScore Bet serves customers in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands). Following the recent investment the company intends to use funds to accelerate growth across key Central and Eastern European territories. The article reports a £50M investment that values the company’s gaming and media business at £500m. Ringier’s sports media footprint and planned M&A and new product launches are presented as strategic complements to LiveScore’s expansion plans.
- Foodspring
Participated · Equity · May 2017
Foodspring sells superfood and sports foods through its online shop, including protein shakes, organic chia seeds, and coconut oil. The company reports seven-figure monthly sales and employs 80 people. It is active across multiple European markets and Asia, operating in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, China and the United Kingdom. Foodspring plans to add new products and continue its expansion in Europe using the new funding. The description focuses on its direct-to-consumer product assortment, geographic reach, and current operating scale.