Alma Media buys Finland’s largest fee-based online dating service

Alma Media Corporation Press release August 2, 2012 at 13:00 (EEST)

ALMA MEDIA BUYS FINLAND’S LARGEST FEE-BASED ONLINE DATING SERVICE

Alma Media has bought e-kontakti.fi, Finland’s largest fee-based online dating service from the Swedish company Intodate International AB. The purchase of the service that has become the market leader within only three years will support Alma Media’s strategy of growth through the expansion of its digital services in particular. The parties have agreed not to disclose the value of the deal.

E-kontakti.fi has quickly risen to the position of Finland’s largest fee-based online dating service, with approximately 35,000 active members and 11,000 paying members. Last year, the revenue of e-kontakti.fi was MEUR 1.9. The revenue is expected to grow this year. The revenue is entirely comprised of membership fees.

E-kontakti.fi will become part of Alma Media’s online business development and service unit Alma Diverso and will from August 1, 2012 be reported under the Digital Consumer Services segment.

-Alma Media is renewing its business portfolio and looking for growth through expanding the offering of digital consumer services. The online dating service is a perfect complement to Alma’s present service portfolio. In addition, the large online visitor flows created by our publishing operations and the existing marketing channels will be very useful in growing the service further, says Minna Nissinen, Director, Alma Diverso.

There are 1.1 million single people between the ages 18 and 60 in Finland, making up 26% of the entire population. According to the TNS Gallup Forum 2012 study, approximately 4% of Finnish adults have used online dating services during the past month. 22% of all Finns have at some point created a profile on an online dating service or visited a service to learn more. The acceptability of using online dating services when looking for a companion is increasing all the time, creating a basis for continued growth of the services.

Alma Media’s online dating service Neffit.fi will merge into e-kontakti.fi.

For more information, please contact:

Minna Nissinen, Director, Alma Diverso, tel. +358 40 766 6726

Alma Media in brief

Alma Media is a dynamic media company whose best-known products are Aamulehti, Iltalehti, Kauppalehti and Etuovi.com. Alma Media employs approximately 3,000 professionals. The company’s revenue in 2011 totalled MEUR 316.2 with an operating margin of 13.3 per cent. Alma Media’s share (ALN1V) is listed in the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Exchange. Read more at www.almamedia.com.

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