Swiss media group NZZ is set to significantly expand its influence in the country’s out-of-home market by increasing its stake in APG|SGA, Switzerland’s leading OOH provider, to 45 percent. The shares will be acquired from major shareholders JC Decaux SE and Belgian investor Pargesa Asset Management, who will effectively relinquish control of APG..
JC Decaux: NZZ to Increase APG Ownership to 45%
In two separate transactions with JCDecaux and Pargesa Asset Management, NZZ has agreed to purchase an additional 20 percent of APG|SGA AG shares. Once completed, NZZ’s stake will rise from 25 percent to 45 percent. JC Decaux will retain only around 5 percent, marking a near-complete exit from APG’s governance.
The deals are subject to shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for January.
Market Impact: Media Giants Control OOH
NZZ first entered APG in June 2024 by acquiring a 20 percent stake from JCDecaux. With this latest move, NZZ becomes the largest shareholder of Switzerland’s leading out-of-home provider.
This shift consolidates control of the Swiss OOH market among the country’s two biggest newspaper publishers: APG|SGA under NZZ and Goldbach/Clear Channel/Neo under TX Group. The strategic alignment underscores the growing importance of outdoor advertising in the portfolios of Switzerland’s leading media houses.
