ME MO RY 1976 77 78 yesterday

1976 and are rescued. A new newspaper group is born. today

2006 VUMmedia is active in virtually all media: newspapers, e-media, magazines, freesheets, radio, television, telecoms. The future beckons. Today. You browse. Read. Watch. Listen. Surf. Phone. You remember.

Or you forget. VUMmedia in 2006 8 Results 118 VUMmedia in 2005 120 Activities 12 Consolidated balance sheet 122 Het Nieuwsblad/ 14 Income statement 123 De Standaard 16 Consolidated companies 124 Les Editions de l’Avenir 18 Jobat 20 Organisation 126 VUM E-media 22 Group structure 127 VUM regie 24 Printing Division 26 Management 128 Passe-Partout 28 Board of Directors and Sydes 30 Executive Committee 129 Nostalgie 32 VUM Management Caviar 34 Committee 130 Woestijnvis 36 Sydes Management Committee 132 Memory 38 Editions de l’Avenir From 1976 to 2006 40 Management Committee 134 The rescue of Passe-Partout Management De Standaard 44 Committee 136 Newspapers and society 58 Printing Division 68 Adresses 138 New media 78 The takeover of Het Volk 88 The arrival of Mediabel 98 Passe-Partout 108 Innovation 116 79 80 81 82 VUM MEDIA IN 2006 today

In 2005, VUMmedia reaped the benefits of the growth and investment policy pursued in past years. This was especially true of the Printing Division, which posted a record result. But the group’s other units also performed well. All in all, VUMmedia was able to report solid sales growth and matched the record operating result achieved in 2004.

ith growth of theless managed to increase ing facilities for Les Editions de 2.2% last year, its market share. With sales of l’Avenir and De Standaard. WDe Standaard was nearly 100,000 copies per day, 2005 also saw a breakthrough not only the fastest climber in Vers l’Avenir – along with its sis- in news consumption via the the Belgian newspaper market, ter titles – is an important play- Internet in general, and via the but also the only grower in the er in the Walloon newspaper websites of VUMmedia in par- Dutch-speaking newspaper market. The editorial staff will ticular. Having had a presence market. As well as a new layout, shortly move into brand new on the Internet for ten years now, the paper also launched a totally and highly functional premises De Standaard paved the way for revamped and extended Busi- in Namur. The purchase of the the impressive growth achieved ness & Finance section, accom- new building represented an by VUMmedia in this medium. panied by the new Standaard.biz investment of 9 million euro. Het Nieuwsblad Online took a website. The editors of the trade jour- big leap forwards in 2005. With In the segment of popular nal ‘Grafisch Weekblad’ have over two million unique visitors Dutch-speaking newspapers, all recognized the Printing Division per month, VUMmedia is by far titles recorded some reduction of VUMmedia as ’s big- the biggest on-line publisher in of sales. Het Nieuwsblad, which gest printing group. The heatset, and Belgium. successfully launched a smaller coldset and sheet-fed printing Advertising revenues showed format in October, maintained works all achieved excellent re- a further increase in 2005 com- the best position in this market. sults. The production of Centre pared with 2004. The loss of Together, Het Volk and Het d’Impression Rhisnes (CIR), the revenues due to the fact that gen- Nieuwsblad form the largest sister printing works in Namur, eral shareholders meetings need newspaper grouping in the will gradually be transferred to no longer be announced in the country, selling 286,981 copies Groot-Bijgaarden in the next press as well as the changeover every day. few years. This move involves an to a modular system in national In a period when newspapers investment of 30 million euro display advertising was offset by found the going more difficult, in three new printing presses, further growth in Jobat revenues Les Editions de l’Avenir never- with new and extended print- and regional advertising. In the

9 VUMmedia seeks to bring products to the market that stand out for their quality: to publish the best newspapers, produce the finest printed matter and make the best radio and television.

advertising markets too, the has been substantial. VUMme- Radio Nostalgie has proved a real Internet continued to make an dia’s regional freesheet business success story, doubling its audi- impact, with the ‘Multichannel’ increased its readership for the ence over the last five years. The concept of Jobat and Spotter second year running, by no less latest survey results from CIM tell among the most important than 23%. This was also trans- the same story. developments. By turning the lated into solid sales growth and Sydes, the private equity com- classifieds into a multimedia a rising market share, in both pany of VUMmedia, ended the project, VUMmedia has been the local and national advertis- year on a successful note after ob- able to extend its market leader- ing markets. taining approval for the Arkafund ship in the printed media to The audiovisual activities of investment fund, launched in the on-line arena as well. VUMmedia can also look back partnership with Dexia and the The launch of Spotter.be on a very interesting year. Since ARKimedes fund. ARKimedes was a first on three counts: it the premiere of the film ‘Den- is an initiative of the Flemish was the first time that the nis van Rita’, the production government, aimed at providing group’s Dutch-speaking and company Caviar – created from growth capital for Flemish SMEs. French-speaking newspapers the merger of Pix & Motion had joined forces to establish a and Roses are Blue – has been 2006 sees an important anniver- national classified ads website; the talk of the Flemish film sary: on 28 June 2006, VUMme- never before had a country-wide industry. dia will have existed for 30 years. bilingual classified ads brand For Woestijnvis, the transfer of In this annual report we take a been launched in print and on- football rights to Belgacom and closer look at how the group has line at the same time; and the the public-service broadcaster developed over the last 30 years, third new feature of the project posed a major opportunity. based on several interviews. The was the cooperation between The production company was story of VUMmedia is articulated the group’s newspapers and given responsibility for the TV around three central themes Passe-Partout freesheets. The production of football matches which remain at the core of the contribution of Passe-Partout as in Belgium’s top division. company to this day. Belgium’s largest press medium In the world of Belgian radio,

10 From left to right: Marc Appel, Bruno de Cartier, Thomas Leysen, Jo Van Croonenborch.

• The social role of our news- papers in the community. Rigorous and responsible journalism coupled with edito- rial independence remain our most cherished values. Our papers continue to invest in high-quality content and make an important contribution to public debate. • A passion for innovation. Numerous innovations, for the benefit of readers and adver- a multimedia news business. Thomas Leysen tisers alike, have allowed the VUMmedia plans to continue Chairman VUMmedia group to stand out in a mature building on these themes in the Jo Van Croonenborch advertising market. By consis- years ahead. VUMmedia seeks CEO VUM tently developing our technol- to continue bringing products Bruno de Cartier ogy, we have provided the best to the market that stand out for CEO Mediabel possible support for our titles their quality: to publish the best Marc Appel and products – from pre-press newspapers, produce the finest CEO Sydes systems, through printing printed matter and make the works, to the Internet. best radio and television. Our • The desire to explore new stable and long-term oriented frontiers. Through a com- shareholder base is a major asset bination of growth, mergers, in this respect. acquisitions and investments, the group has evolved from a pure newspaper publisher into

11 VUM MEDIA IN 2006 AC TIVI TIES HET NIEUWSBLAD HET VOLK today NEWSPAPERS ‘Half the size, twice as handy.’ Het Nieuwsblad and Het Volk aim the Sunday paper was launched in That is how Het Nieuwsblad, to be the first with the news, but autumn 2003, Het Nieuwsblad has Het Volk and De Gentenaar pure facts and background infor- been the only Flemish newspaper described the switch to tabloid mation are not enough on their to appear seven days a week. But format on 3rd October last year. own. Research shows that readers even while the presses roll, news also want to be entertained. keeps flooding in and debate con- The format change was largely Besides the news sections (with tinues. Over a million unique visi- in response to reader demand. quick-off-the-mark reporting of tors per month view the websites Readers had already got to know domestic and international news, of Het Nieuwsblad, De Gentenaar and like the tabloid sized Plaza business news and regional report- and Het Volk to keep track of the supplement and Het Nieuwsblad ing) and Sportwereld, the daily Life latest news. op Zondag. Extensive research and section is a vital part of the news- In a little over two years, interest a large scale survey showed that paper. This daily ‘newzine’ focuses in the websites of the popular readers welcome the smaller for- on entertainment, relationships, newspapers has grown spec- mat with open arms. And so in the health, television and culture. tacularly. In 2004, 12,000 unique autumn we bowed to their wishes. Life also plays host to the young visitors viewed 100,000 pages per The largest newspaper group people’s pages Zoepa and Yo! day. By the start of 2006, 104,000 in Flanders, with over a million which appear every day, attracting visitors were viewing 820,000 readers daily, now offers the most a new generation of readers. Last pages per day. More and more compact and convenient titles in summer young readers responded readers are finding their way to the Flemish newspaper market. enthusiastically to our ‘Zak’ the different forums, where they The new format follows changes campaign and extensive reporting can join in with topical or simply to the form and content which of the summer festivals. This also enjoyable discussions, or they are have given these popular titles a helped give our popular titles a having fun in our games area. new vitality these last two years. ‘feel-good factor’. We like to enjoy Sports and local news remain our life and our papers reflect that. newspapers’ particular strengths. For nearly three years now, since

Het Nieuwsblad | Het Volk Het Nieuwsblad | Het Volk net reach market share (circulation) of Dutch- (readership) language popular newspapers (%)

1,100,000

1,080,000 27% 1,060,000 36,5%

1,040,000

1,020,000 36,5% 1,000,000

1.900,000 source: CIM source: CIM

03 04 05 Het Nieuwsblad | Het Volk | De Nieuwe Gazet | Belang van Limburg 15 DE STANDAARD today NEWSPAPERS Last year more people bought With the switch to a smaller great compassion and sympathy and read De Standaard than format in 2004, De Standaard was for the victims and their families’. ever before. In September, CIM one of the first compact qual- De Standaard took two impor- confirmed that the number of ity papers in Europe. Last year tant steps in October with the readers had grown by another the editorial staff chose to make introduction of a daily pull-out 20,000. The count now stands rather more subtle changes to the Business & Finance section, at 318,000 – a historic record. format, such as a new typeface plus the launch of a new website and a more stylish layout, which (www.standaard.biz). With more The same survey revealed that, of also make the newspaper more pages of newsprint and with the all the Flemish newspapers avail- readable. After all, there is no new ‘spinoff website’, De Stand- able in pdf format, De Standaard reason why quality journalism aard aims to report, analyse and has the greatest reach. This takes should not benefit from a clearer comment on the business news the total readership of De Stand- structure and a more attractive better than ever before. aard to 330,000. page lay out . These additions have not been The sales figures tell the same The fact that a newspaper at the expense of other news. story. In both percentage (+ 2.2%) doesn’t have to be dull and boring De Standaard rests on three and absolute (+ 1,834) terms, De in order to be taken seriously was solid foundations, reflected in Standaard was Belgium’s fastest made clear by the award made the structure of the newspaper: growing newspaper title in 2005. to one of our journalists for his a general news section (Belgian De Standaard sold an average of critical and reliable reporting on politics, home and international 85,702 newspapers per day, 4,222 the Dutroux affair. A study group news, the regions, comment and a of them on-line. And for the second at University praised the ar- healthy dose of sport), the pull-out year running, its market share in ticles in De Standaard ‘which were Culture & Media section, and the the segment of quality newspapers striking for their calm, sober and revamped Business & Finance increased. reasonable tone, but also showed section.

De Standaard De Standaard | market share reach (circulation) of Dutch-language (readership) quality newspapers (%)

320,000

300,000 22%

280,000 48% 260,000

240,000 30%

220,000

200,000 source: CIM source: CIM

03 04 05 De Standaard 17 LES EDITIONS DE L’AVENIR

18 today NEWSPAPERS Increasing the market share and – since last year – Le Jour section with national and inter- in a period when newspapers Liège. national news and a local section are generally finding it harder: In 2005 Les Editions de l’Avenir entirely devoted to regional news that’s the challenge Les Editions sold approximately 100,000 is indeed our hallmark. The reader de l’Avenir lived up to in 2005. newspapers per day. From Arlon survey was also enthusiastic And how! For a time last year to Wavre and from Comines about Télékila, the weekend leisure we had the second largest paid to Welkenraedt we reached an supplement launched in October circulation in the French-speak- average of 408,000 readers. The 2004 and given a new look in ing market. findings of a survey carried out in spring 2006. November 2005, both on paper We took this as a ‘green light’ Les Editions de l’Avenir achieved and via the Internet, involving 5,311 from our readers, now that the this performance by building on regular and occasional readers, newspaper is about to undergo a its particular strength: publishing were very gratifying: average complete transformation. In 2007 information from the immediate reader satisfaction is 7.7 out of 10. Les Editions de l’Avenir will switch surrounding area. Wherever our Three quarters of respondents to the smaller tabloid format. In paper appears, it assumes a local read the newspaper for more than addition to the format change, character – more urban in Liège, half an hour on average. This is a a new editorial approach will be more rural in the Sambre-Meuse rewarding result for the editorial introduced following on from the area. Our newspaper ‘bonds’ with staff, who make every effort to get developments introduced in past its surroundings with enthusiasm even more involved, to present months. based on a close relationship more information and to increase With a new structure, a new with its readers. Furthermore, it their readership all the time by graphic format and new colours, is embodied in a whole series of creating more points of interest. Les Editions de l’Avenir will appear publications: Vers l’Avenir, L’Avenir The survey also confirmed even more up-to-the-minute. At the du Luxembourg, Le Courrier de something else concerning the same time we will be launching an l’Escaut, Le Courrier, Le Jour identity of our paper: the way the on-line version to promote contact Verviers, Le Jour Huy-Waremme paper is divided into a national with a new generation of readers.

Vers l’Avenir Vers l’Avenir reach market share (circulation) of French- (readership) language popular newspapers (%)

420,000

410,000 27,5% 31,5% 400,000

390,000

380,000 41% 370,000

360,000 source: CIM source: CIM

03 04 05 Les Editions de l’Avenir Sud Presse La Dernière Heure 19 JOBAT today RECRUITEMENT 2005 was a year of product specialist websites concerned only attainable through Jobat. development and innovation for with ICT, sales, finance and human In addition, the Jobat website Jobat. Since 10 September the resources. In this way, Multichan- has been completely revamped. recruitment medium has been nel reaches potential candidates Behind the fresh new look, the given a new logo, an updated through their field of interest. site benefits from state-of-the-art and expanded newspaper and a So what is in it for advertisers? technology. With its clear structure revamped website. In addition, The concept is specially designed and no-nonsense approach, it is Jobat developed a new concept: to trace potential job-seekers as one of the most effective of all job Multichannel. quickly and efficiently as pos- sites. The new Jobat website is a sible. All jobs advertised in the useful tool for any professional With the Multichannel concept, Jobat newspaper and on the Jobat looking for a career move or practi- Jobat once again sets the trend website are also placed on the spe- cal information. in job advertising. Companies are cialist websites at no extra charge. The Jobat newspaper has been always looking for the best pos- The same offers also appear in transformed as well. Based on sible candidates, but finding strong an adapted editorial environment qualitative research, both the candidates is becoming more and on general websites such as De form and the content have been more difficult. The market is more Standaard Online, Het Nieuwsblad updated to suit the wishes and competitive and talent is scarcer. Online and Skynet. style of today’s professionals. A Multichannel automatically brings Another new feature is the new logo, a dynamic format and jobs to the best candidates via the Response Pack Target, whereby adapted editorial content give Internet. Since those people are advertisers can also recruit in substance to the baseline: Jobat not always actively looking for a specialist print media. Countless career-maker. Jobat aims to have new job – making them difficult to active and potential job-seekers a successful career of its own – by reach via a regular jobsite – Jobat can be reached with this unique continually developing new recruit- now advertises employment op- combination of recruitment media, ment concepts for tracking down portunities on specialist websites. general media and specialist me- the right candidates more quickly In the last few months Jobat has dia (both printed and on-line). and more efficiently. created a network of leading The result: maximum outreach,

Jobat Jobat turnover growth Jobat Multichannel (%) unique visitors (on a daily basis)

150% 130,000

140% 120,000

130% 110,000

120% 100,000

110% 190,000

100% 180,000

190% 170,000

03 04 05 oct nov dec jan feb 2006 2005 21 VUM E-MEDIA today INTERNET VUM E-media added a fourth ranging classified ads website are launched at the same time. The mainstay in the autumn of 2005 ImmoSpotter, AutoSpotter and site was divided into two main with the launch of the classi- TravelSpotter. The new travel chan- sections. The revamped e-krant al- fieds portal www.spotter.be, ha- nel builds on the success of the lows visitors to read De Standaard ving previously earned a reputa- vakantiegids.be website. on-line. ‘Nieuwsportaal’ provides tion as an Internet pioneer with The classifieds have also ac- an extended news summary 7 days the websites of De Standaard, quired a multimedia dimension: a week – not just from the paper’s Het Nieuwsblad and Jobat. customers can place their ads own editorial staff, but from other both in the printed newspaper and international news websites as These three titles went on-line on-line, because the Spotter brand well. as long ago as 1995, since when also extends to the papers. Shortly afterwards, De Stan- each has gone its own – succes- Spotter was not the only project daard also launched the website sful – way. VUMmedia spent a developed by VUM E-media in Standaard.biz, which keeps track long time observing the market 2005. In the spring, De Standaard of the latest business news. Here, for on-line classifieds to see how it and Het Nieuwsblad were the first visitors can find not only business was evolving, before finally going Belgian newspapers to put TV news listed by sectors, but also all out to develop a website in this images on their website. Sport- stock market prices, funds and in- area too. The result was not only wereld, the sports website of Het formation about personal finance. a new website, but also a new Nieuwsblad, entertained visitors Visitors clearly appreciate these national brand: Spotter. It became with excellent live reporting on the innovations by Het Nieuwsblad a real group project, with VUM, Spring Classics and Tour de France and De Standaard. Het Nieuwsblad Passe-Partout and Les Editions cycling events. In all, the results of Online has managed to double the de L’Avenir all working together on no fewer than 1,000 cycling com- number of hits to 1.1 million unique this common goal. The Dutch- petitions were published on-line, visitors per month, while interest language version of Spotter.be with detailed information about in De Standaard Online has risen was launched in September and 500 teams and 6,000 riders. by 50% to 1 million unique visitors the French-language version in When De Standaard appeared per month. November. in its new form at the start of The main channels of this wide- October, an all-new website was

De Standaard Online and Nieuwsblad.be unique visitors per month De Standaard Online (scale on the left) Nieuwsblad.be (scale on the left) total (scale on the right) 1,200,000 2,000,000

1,100,000 1,900,000

1,000,000 1,800,000

1,900,000 1,700,000

1,800,000 1,600,000

1,700,000 1,500,000

1,600,000 1,400,000

1,500,000 1,300,000 source: CIM

jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep oct nov dec

23 VUM REGIE today ADVERTISING The growth of interactive media best position to give sound advice advertising market. Both DSM and and fragmented media con- to their clients. Our regional media Cãtchy achieved the highest sales sumption mean that traditional consultants also do a great job in ever. The DSM specials on glossy media are becoming increas- their advisory role and reap the paper are very popular with nation- ingly bound up with Internet benefits of a long-term relationship al and international advertisers. applications. This makes for an with the client. The result: a rising We also find that the best places effective combination, allow- market share in a highly competi- in the magazine are highly sought ing consumers to experience a tive market. after by luxury brands, so are brand in different ways. Advertisers are always look- always snapped up very quickly. ing for new and creative ways of Thanks to the magazines, VUM VUM regie was among those em- putting their message across. VUM regie has succeeded in attracting bracing this integrated approach regie is only too pleased to help new clients which would otherwise and itself began to sell advertising them. Together with the Scripta never advertise in newspapers. on the web. It also works closely organisation, a national joint-ven- Naturally VUM regie also re- with the external advertising ture of publishing groups, VUM sponds to changes introduced by network Adlink. The interaction be- regie offers creative and alterna- the newspapers to their form and tween the two organisations brings tive advertising formats. content. In the autumn we made a new dynamism to the market. In 2005 VUM regie gave up the the most of the new tabloid format With a combination of high-qual- millimetre-column and opted for of Het Nieuwsblad and Het Volk. ity daily newspapers, targeted fixed advertising formats. Advertis- De Standaard opted for an inter- magazines and trend-setting news ers can now choose from no fewer national look and launched a new portals, VUMmedia is a genuine than eighteen modules. This gives Business & Finance section linked multimedia pioneer. them a flexible means of creating to the successful business portal The account managers at VUM an attractive and effective cam- Standaard.biz. On the strength of regie now sell all products and so paign in our newspaper titles. these developments, VUM regie act as strategic partners to the Last year our magazines made set up an extra unit specifically to advertisers. They are also in the an important breakthrough in the market financial advertising.

National reach of Regional reach of DSM Cãtchy financial advertisements display advertisements turnover turnover (readership) (readership) growth (%) growth (%)

350,000 1,400,000 130%

300,000 1,300,000 120%

250,000 1,200,000 110%

200,000 1,100,000 100%

150,000 1,000,000 090%

100,000 1,900,000 080%

150,000 1,800,000 070%

source: CIM source: CIM 04 05 04 05 VUM

De TijdDe 25 Concentra Persgroep De StandaardDe PRINTING DIVISION today PRINT In 2005 the editors of the trade In 2005, as in previous years, efficient lines of communication. journal ‘Grafisch Weekblad’, printing activities made a signifi- As we publish newspapers our- published by Rai Langfords, cant contribution to the growth selves, we understand the needs acclaimed the Printing Division and profitability of VUMmedia. The of our client-publishers better than of VUMmedia as the undisputed investment in a new 48-page press anyone. Punctuality, speed and leader among Belgian printing at the heatset printing works of accuracy are vital for them. What is works. Het Volk Printing last year resulted more, we give clients of the Print- in a sharp rise in the number of ing Division a valuable guarantee: The division has thus won recogni- sold revolutions. that at least once a year we will tion from outside professionals for The Printing Division aims to submit a proposal to clients who the excellent progress it has made play to its strengths even more publish periodicals, for making in recent years in both the Belgian effectively in the future, and has production more cost-efficient or and Dutch markets. This progress therefore established new lines producing a better product for the has been achieved through invest- of communication with existing same price. ment in growth, and turned printing and potential clients. The supply Thanks to the consistent invest- into a core business of VUMmedia. of high-quality printed matter at ment policy adopted in recent VUMmedia’s Printing Division competitive prices and with the years, the Printing Division is at comprises Het Volk Printing in shortest possible turnaround the technological forefront. More Erpe-Mere, Sofadi in Vorst and times is its top priority. A new in- new investment is planned from the newspaper presses in Groot- novation is the checking of proofs mid-2006, worth around 30 mil- Bijgaarden. Based on the ‘focused via the internet, known as ‘remote lion euro. The newspaper printing factories’ principle, heatset, coldset proofing’. This not only shortens works in Groot-Bijgaarden will and sheet-fed are brought together turnaround times, but also offers be equipped with three new KBA on one site. Printing is a process publishers a number of quality presses and will have additional industry in which cost-leadership is guarantees. capacity in plate handling and vital. All operations are measured, The fact that we are the largest dispatch. and made more efficient wherever printing group in Belgium doesn’t possible. prevent us from having short and

Printing Division heatset press activity (number of revolutions)

700,000,000

600,000,000

500,000,000

400,000,000

300,000,000

200,000,000

100,000,000

98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05

27 PASSE-PARTOUT today FREESHEETS During 2005 Passe-Partout now that the audiovisual landscape Editorial content fills more than further consolidated its position is becoming so fragmented with half the pages. The emphasis is as Belgium’s biggest press title, the introduction of digital televi- on interviews with well-known with over four million copies sion and the break-up of the radio and less well-known local people, per week. For the second year market. reports, culture, film reviews, inno- running the readership grew Steps are now also being taken vations and lifestyle. The compre- by 23%, with increased market to consolidate the network in hensive events calendar is clearly share in both the local and na- West Flanders. Ticket has been aimed at people who like to go out. tional advertising market. acquired in Westhoek, and three Each edition comes out every separate editions will be started up two weeks in 25-55,000 copies It’s no accident that Passe-Partout in West Flanders during the course distributed via more than 3,000 attracts both Dutch-speaking and of 2006. The new editions cover display stands located in busy French-speaking readers. Last year the regions of Veurne-Diksmuide, spots such as supermarkets, we continued to invest in the de- Poperinge-Ieper and Roeselare. For hotels and restaurants, bakeries, velopment of a professional news the other regions, a management filling stations, car parks, public team, delivering local and regional agreement has been concluded buildings, cinemas and so on. news in an accessible and easy-go- with the existing local weekly Passe-Partout and Pas-Uit/ ing style. In this way the paper has papers Atlas and Tips. Keskispas are local as well as finally put paid to the down-market Over the last year and a half, national, therefore they serve image of freesheets. Passe-Partout has also appealed national advertisers as well as local The results of this new approach to a new, more image-conscious businesses. For a corner shop, one are clear to see. According to a segment through an additional edition will be enough. National survey by CIM, the readership has network of fourteen lifestyle advertisers, on the other hand, can grown by nearly half in the last two magazines. There are now twelve target their advertisements at a years to over 3.3 million. This is the editions of the Flemish paper Pas- particular population. This unique kind of thing that advertisers like to Uit and two editions of its French- combination has allowed Passe- hear. The Passe-Partout network speaking counterpart Keskispas. Partout to increase its turnover is now one of the country’s most Pas-Uit and Keskispas are highly steadily year by year. In 2005 it effective mass media – especially informative regional magazines. grew by over 10%.

Passe-Partout turnover (euro)

60,000,000

50,000,000

40,000,000

30,000,000

20,000,000

10,000,000

97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05

29 SYDES today INVESTMENTS The approval of Arkafund as Approval in principle was granted the managements of numerous a venture capital fund within in the autumn of 2005. The actual businesses. A good example is its ARKimedes (Management NV) launch of Arkafund finally took involvement in VBM, the operat- at the end of 2005 was the place on 11 January 2006. ing company behind the regional culmination of a year’s prepara- In barely more than a week, television station ROB-TV. Prior tion by Sydes. The launch of the ARKimedes attracted 110 million to that, VBM had never really suc- new fund is an important step euros from Flemish investors. Most ceeded as a business. After the in the development of Sydes as of this money was invested in the acquisition of nearly 100% of the a private equity company within eight approved investment funds shares at the beginning of 2005, a VUMmedia. – among them Arkafund. Sydes Sydes manager was given the job thus finds itself in the company of of turning the business around. As long ago as 2002, Sydes took reputable private equity invest- The organisation was made ‘lean, a close interest in the Flemish ment funds such as Fortis PE, KBC mean and clean’ according to a government’s initiative to find new PE, ING PE and GIMV, which have rigorous, step-by-step plan. The financial schemes to stimulate likewise received approval. programme offering and studio business enterprise. One such Arkafund has capital of 20 mil- infrastructure were thoroughly scheme is ARKimedes, a project lion euros available to invest, half analysed and updated on the basis for setting up venture capital of it coming from ARKimedes. of research. The programming was funds. Sydes (also appointed as fund made more news-oriented and the Subject to well-defined criteria, manager) and Dexia contribute decor was brightened up. A major these funds may invest in SMEs 25% each. Arkafund will mainly be sports programme was added at with the aim of providing growth concerned with providing expan- weekends. The results were not capital. In mid-2005 Sydes submit- sion capital for modernisation long coming: both viewer satisfac- ted a dossier in partnership with initiatives among Flemish SMEs in tion and advertising revenues are Dexia. Approval was made subject the Media and ICT-sector. increasing again. ROB-TV has an to strict selection criteria relating Sydes is no newcomer to this important social role to play in the to historic performance, manage- area. For many years it has been region and is now well and truly ment quality, ethics and so on. an active shareholder, supporting back on the map.

Sydes 35,000,000 Funds under management 30,000,000 (euros) 25,000,000

20,000,000

15,000,000 VUMmedia 10,000,000 VUMmedia VUMmedia + Arkafund 05,000,000

03 04 05

31 NOSTALGIE today RADIO A subtle mix of the best of the fully-fledged music station for In Flanders too, the Nostalgie sixties and a very wide selec- the French-speaking community. network is growing. All four stati- tion of the better songs from Nostalgie boasts a market share of ons currently operate under the the seventies and eighties, 10.2%, with nearly 360,000 daily Nostalgie name (Antwerp 104.6, interspersed with new work by listeners aged 12 years and over. 106.5, Ghent and Bruges artists who continue to write It is also the radio station that is 106.4). Through Sydes, VUM- the history of music. That is the listened to longest, with an aver- media is also involved in several one and only Radio Nostalgie in age listening time of 173 minutes other radio stations. Radio GO, the a nutshell. per day. With its romantic streak, provincial radio station for East Nostalgie is also the most female Flanders, extended its transmit- Radio Nostalgie in Belgium, 51% music station: 53% of its audience ter network last year. Besides the owned by Mediabel, creates a are women. main mast in Ghent, further masts link between all generations of Our audience has grown conti- were added in Sint-Niklaas, Aalst listeners who share a passion for nuously since 2002, increasing by and Ronse. As a result, Radio Go popular music. When you tune over 50% in just three years! One now covers the entire province. into Nostalgie, you are guaranteed of the station’s biggest hits is the Sydes also acquired frequencies a daily and ever changing feast programme ‘le Grand Morning’ for urban radio stations in Louvain of listening pleasure. News and which attracts 210,000 listeners and Tienen, which are controlled headlines are broadcast every every day and has seen its market from the regional television sta- hour from 5 am to 6 pm seven share in the listening block from tion ROB-TV. The results achieved days a week. The presenters are 7 am to 10 am increase by 69% by ROB.fm show that operating a approachable, friendly and empa- since it was launched in April 2003. local radio station in synergy with thetic. The programmes provide a Nostalgie is aimed at listeners another local medium can be suc- mixture of emotion and pleasure. between 25 and 55 and is making cessful and cost-efficient. With 28 transmitting instal- spectacular progress, being the lations, Nostalgie is the first third radio in this target audience.

Radio Nostalgie number of listeners per day

350,000

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

050,000 source: CIM

02 03 04 05 listeners aged 12 years and older listeners aged between 25 and 55 years 33 CAVIAR today AUDIOVISUAL With a market share of 25%, in In 2005 Caviar acquired a 33% Distribution under which ‘Dennis 2005 Caviar became the clear interest in the American produc- van Rita’ runs in fifteen cinemas. leader among production com- tion company Atomik Pictures. Also for VTM, Caviar made the panies making TV commercials Producers from Caviar are now TV series ‘Koning van de wereld’ in Belgium. The new company, permanently engaged in making with a cast including Kevin Jans- created from the merger of Pix commercials for premium brands sens, Koen De Bouw and veteran & Motion and Roses are Blue, on behalf of top American advertis- film actor Jan Decleir as the main has got off to a flying start. ing agencies. character. The episodes were shot For Caviar, 2005 was also the in Belgium and Cuba. Apart from Sydes invested in the film and TV year it broke into the movies. At the benefits of collaborating with production company Pix & Motion the initiative of Jan Verheyen, the VTM and the VAF, Caviar is able in 1999 because it was a strong commercial TV station VTM began to finance this project using an performer. Pix & Motion merged a series of Flemish productions advantageous tax shelter scheme. with Roses are Blue at the end entitled ‘Faits Divers’. This series Caviar has a well thought-out of 2004. The result was a new included the film ‘Dennis van Rita’, strategy. The production company production company with a new produced by Caviar with the sup- combines geographical expansion name: Caviar. port of the Flemish Film and TV (through Atomik Pictures) with a The deal created many synergies Fund (VAF) and directed by Hilde portfolio that ranges from com- which were realised during 2005. Van Mieghem. mercials, through TV series and To round off the merger, the busi- When the film was previewed, feature films, to interactive digital ness was relocated to new joint the actors Els Dottermans, Dami- communication. The company premises at Havenlaan in Brussels. aan De Schrijver and Matthias makes good use of all the facilities Caviar now forms a single pool of Schoenaerts were praised for their that a multimedia group such as strong content-providers and pro- excellent performances. Soon VUMmedia has to offer. duction facilitators. The company there were calls to turn it into a also has in-house capability for off- full-length feature. Caviar signed line editing and post-production. an agreement with Kinepolis Film

Caviar 14,000,000 turnover (euro) 12,000,000

10,000,000

08,000,000

Pix & Motion 06,000,000 (before the merger) 04,000,000 Caviar (after the merger) 02,000,000

04 05

35 WOESTIJNVIS today TELEVISION Woestijnvis has been a familiar the first time on a large and ambi- a wide public, with the programme name in Flanders for some years tious drama project. ‘De Parelviss- attracting an average of 900,000 now. Since the start of the new ers’, a six-part series about the rise viewers. ‘Het Geslacht De Pauw’ football season, French-speaking and fall of a successful production (docusoap), ‘De Pappenheimers’ Belgium has also been getting company, is produced entirely (quiz show) and ‘De Slimste Mens its first taste of the high-quality in-house and brings a host of new ter Wereld’ (celebrity game show) output of this Flemish produc- acting talent before the cameras. Of likewise attracted very large audi- tion company. the nine principal actors, only Marc ences last year. Van Eeghem and Tom Van Dyck are After sixteen seasons, the daily When the football rights were familiar to the general public. magazine ‘Man bijt Hond’ continues transferred to Belgacom/VRT/ This was a deliberate choice, to reinvent itself. The audience of ‘De RTBF in May 2005, Woestijnvis because Woestijnvis is constantly Laatste Show’ is still growing. Mark was given responsibility for the on the look-out for new talent. Four Uytterhoeven managed to attract entire production. Every match in young people from the Ghent area nearly 700,000 viewers until 11 pm. Belgium’s top division is broad- were earlier given the chance to Together with existing projects, cast live with at least six and up to take their first steps in television the new initiatives have substantially fourteen cameras. The focus is on with ‘Neveneffecten’ an image-de- increased the turnover of Woestijn- the matches. Woestijnvis ensures fining programme for the revamped vis. In the next financial year of accurate reporting, good inter- Canvas channel. Jonas, Jelle, Lieven 2005-2006, turnover will exceed views and the right atmosphere. and Koen met with encouraging 30 million euros. The permanent To meet this challenge, a national reactions. workforce will rise to over 100. football staff of a hundred people is Meanwhile, the more familiar pro- To overcome, once and for all, the employed, consisting of both Dutch ductions continued to shine during chronic shortage of space in the and French-speaking journalists, 2005. Het Eiland (comedy series) leased office buildings at Leuven- editors and producers. received the ‘Ha! Van Humo’ prize sesteenweg, Zaventem, Woestijnvis Besides producing Belgian awarded by Humo magazine for has chosen a place of its own in football, Woestijnvis is also engaged the best Flemish TV programme of Vilvoorde, in the former archives of in other new ventures. At the last year. The jury praised the way KBC. The relocation is planned for instigation of Tom Lenaerts, the in which intelligent and poignant the end of 2006. production company embarks for satire was created for the benefit of

Woestijnvis turnover (euro)

30,000,000

25,000,000

20,000,000

15,000,000

10,000,000

05,000,000 closing of the book year on 30/06

99 00 01 02 03 04 05 FC 06 37 ME MO RY ME MO RY 1976 77 78 yesterday

“Instead of being the news, now we are printing it again.”

n 23 June – the day af- looked for backers to take over the ter the Standaard group newspaper business. On 28 June he Owent bankrupt – De proudly made this announcement: Standaard, Het Nieuwsblad and “Instead of being the news, now we De Gentenaar appeared in a joint, are printing it again.” From then on, four-page emergency edition. The De Standaard, Het Nieuwsblad and publisher was named as ‘The 1851 De Gentenaar were published by employees of the Standaard group’. the Vlaamse Uitgeversmaatschappij After weeks of speculation and (VUM). worry, the survival of the newspaper The deed of incorporation of titles entered a crucial phase. During VUM was co-signed the following those anxious and exceptionally hot day by ‘Het Krantenfonds’ a trust summer days, the Antwerp business- founded by the staff who had con- man André Leysen gave new hope tributed over eleven million Belgian to the staff. Leysen persuaded the francs to the capital and were given workforce to print the newspaper a seat on the Board of Directors. free of charge for two days while he 1976 André Leysen starts the presses rolling under the watchful eye of his son Thomas. On the left is the first managing director of VUM, Dominique Van Damme, who tragically died in a flying accident a couple of months later. Elvis Presley at the end of his career: appearing in casinos in Las Vegas and Hawai, the ‘King’ was a shadow of his former self.

PHOTO: PHOTO NEWS 1976 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85

During his career Elvis sold over 500 million records. Another 8 million were bought in the week after his death. “ lvis has left the building.” be regarded as one of the most On 16 August the world popular and influential artists of E of music stood still: at the twentieth century. Performers barely 42 years of age, Elvis Aaron such as the Beatles, Cliff Richard, Presley died in Memphis. The Bob Dylan, U2 and Bruce Spring- cause of death was officially recor- steen were inspired by him. ded as heart failure, though perhaps Elvis’s grave at his Graceland the ‘King’ was the victim of his pill home has become a place of addiction. pilgrimage for fans, visited by Elvis was seen as a pioneer of over 600,000 people each year. rock‘n’roll. He completely transfor- In 2006 – nearly 30 years after med the landscape of popular music Elvis died – Graceland was with his blend of country, gospel declared a national monument and rhythm-and-blues. Presley can by the American government. 1977 The rescue of De Standaard An act of calculated folly

The 22nd of June 1976: it was a hot summer. De Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad were on the point of being dragged down by the financial collapse of the Standaard group. The money had run out and the presses were silent. André Leysen, the man who made the rescue possible, looks back on a particularly intense period of his business career, when the survival of these newspapers hung by a thread.

he then governor of group which owned Het Laatste then told the government they the National Bank Nieuws was to take over the had until Saturday to come T of Belgium, Robert weekly titles. We would carry up with the goods. The then Vandeputte, played an impor- on with the newspapers. But prime-minister Leo Tindemans tant role in the rescue of De then there was a hitch at the last speedily arranged an emergency Standaard and Het Nieuwsblad. minute. Our partners however loan backed by the government. He had long realised that the pulled out and suddenly the We never needed to use it, but Standaard group – and hence all whole rescue operation seemed it certainly strengthened my its newspapers – were heading about to founder. It came as a position during the search for for a financial crisis and the nasty shock to the staff who, investors. group was declared bankrupt. at that moment, were gathered Together with several part- De Standaard was a highly in- in and around the editorial of- ners I managed to raise capital fluential newspaper, and greatly fices of De Standaard. Without of 200 million Belgian francs. respected in political circles. an agreement there could be The judge, who took the highly As citizens, we really wanted no newspaper. De Standaard unusual step of officiating on the paper to survive. Professor seemed to be doomed. a Saturday, handed the news- Vandeputte assembled a team of I felt we had to be straight paper business over to us. My five people to work out a solu- with everyone, so I made a own contribution to the capital tion. I myself came to suggestion. I asked the staff to was a bit more than I had ini- conduct the rescue negotiations. come and work for two days tially planned, but in the end The challenge was to gather the without any guarantee that their it turned out to be an excellent necessary resources. Although wages would be paid. I would investment. Sometimes you just many people in Flanders had a pay for the newsprint myself have to be forced to your luck… great affection for De Standaard, and promised that I would do When I think back to that they weren’t prepared to open whatever I could to rescue the time, I have to admit that I got their wallets. newspapers. The staff agreed, so involved in a spirit of calculated After a while we finally moved the papers were able to carry on folly. As citizens I suppose we towards an agreement. The for at least another two days. I were all acting out of a sense

44 MEMORY

André Leysen

“The future deals editorial offi ce, spoke to the peo- harshly with those who ple there and took it upon myself

PHOTO: WIM DANNEELS try to foresee it…” to manage the business. A few months later I was able to hand over to Guido Verdeyen. Would a takeover like that of De Standaard be possible nowa- of duty: a newspaper like De to repossess the presses. ‘Come days? The whole thing would Standaard simply cannot be al- and get them,’ I said. ‘I’ll get my have to be done a bit more lowed to disappear. Once you’ve newspapers printed somewhere ‘scientifi cally’. In 1976 we faced taken the decision to step in, else.’ The bank backed down an immense challenge, and there you’re driven by passion. You’re and later on we were able to buy simply wasn’t time to go into absolutely determined to win, back our presses. everything carefully and weigh it no matter how great the obsta- A tragic event was the death of all up. At the time I could never cles in your way. I knew nothing Dominique Van Damme, who have guessed that the newspaper about producing newspapers was going to lead the newspaper group would grow into a strong and phoned a friend who was group as managing director. He and healthy media business. At a publisher in the Netherlands. had only been in the job for two the time there was little point in I asked him if you could make months when his light aircraft looking far ahead. Why should I? money publishing newspapers. crashed in France. That day I After all, the future deals harshly ‘If you do it right,’ was his wept. The next day I went to the with those who try to foresee it… answer. That was all I needed to know! We retained only the newspa- pers, looked for solutions for the other activities and tried to keep costs down. Unfortunately that also meant we had to lay off staff. The fi rst few months were pretty hectic. Everything owned by the business was mortgaged, including the presses used to print the newspapers. One day the leasing company threatened yesterday

“Now we are on the threshold of a public debate, the government’s attitude is clear: I have “ omorrow I don’t want to under the coalition government never yielded to blackmail.” see opportunists from left made up of the CVP, PSC, BSP-PSB, T or right invoking the ex- VU and FDF parties. ample of Tindemans to justify some The bone of contention was the scheme or other. After the abuse, Egmont Pact, another step in the the insults and the attacks I have direction of federalism. The bill pro- had to endure over the last few days, posed, among other things, separate until just now even the insinuations legislative and executive bodies expressed in this House, I say: for for the Dutch, French and German me there is only one conclusion: speaking communities and for the I will go away from this House, I three regions. Heavy criticism by the will go to the king and tender the leaders of the governing parties PSB, government’s resignation.” On 11 PSC, VU and FDF led to the fall of October, after 15 months of tread- the government and the demise of ing on eggshells, Prime Minister the Egmont Pact. Leo Tindemans finally draws a line 1978 Leo Tindemans has had enough and announces his resignation. Speaker Edmond Leburton can hardly believe it.

PHOTO: FIRMIN DE MAITRE No barrier is too high for the demonstrators to climb over. The siege of ’s Gravenvoeren begins.

PHOTO: PHOTO NEWS 1976 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85

What was supposed to be a ‘march through Voeren’ degenerated into a pitched battle between demonstrators and police. n 21 October in Voeren and pelted the police with empty Dozens of people were (a municipality consist- champagne bottles. They replied seriously injured. Oing of six villages), with teargas. despite a state of emergency, serious Only after hours of negotiation incidents took place between the demonstrators withdrew, there- approximately 1500 Flemings and by restoring a measure of peace. state police. The centre of ’s Graven- The marches in Voeren were a voeren village was hermetically reaction to the ‘Action Fouron- sealed, but the demonstrators naise’, whose leader José Happart – mainly members of the TAK and was increasingly in the news. The VU parties – managed to get into problems of Voeren will maintain Voeren through the woods on the Belgian politics for years to come. Dutch border. Some 70 VMO members occu- pied the local government offices 1979 yesterday

The Red Devils earned an undeniable reputation for themselves in European football: the best team but an Ceulemans, , England to a draw (1-1, goal by one is Belgium. René Vandereycken, , Ceulemans). This was followed by JJean-Marie Pfaff, Wilfried Van a victory over Spain (2-1, goals by Moer, Luc Millecamps, Swat Gerets and Cools). A goalless draw Van der Elst: these were some of against Italy was enough to take the players, coached by , them through to the final. who very nearly became European At that point Belgium clashed football champions. The Belgian with West Germany, with the Ger- national football team, known mans winning 1-2. After an early as the Red Devils, only conceded German goal, Vandereycken scored defeat in the very last minute of the the equaliser from a penalty. Horst final against West Germany. The Hrubesch scored his second goal in score: 1-2. the ninetieth minute. The new intake of Devils began In 1986 the Red Devils made the European Championship in a sequel to this success story with Italy as underdogs with nothing to a fourth place in the Mexico prove. In their first game they held World Cup. 1980 Eric Gerets sets up a shot to score the first goal against Spain. The Red Devils went all the way through to the final against West Germany.

PHOTO: UPI Pope John-Paul II falls to the ground, hit by a bullet. He made a full recovery from his serious injuries.

PHOTO: EPA 1976 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85

Barely four days after the attack, Pope John-Paul II granted his would-be assassin Ali Agca complete forgiveness. n 13 May, Pope John- luded to the involvement of the Ro- Paul II was shot down manian and Russian secret services, Oin St. Peter’s Square in who he said wanted to get rid of the Rome, just as he was about to begin Pope because of his sympathy for his weekly audience. A young man the Polish free trade union Solidar- in the crowd fired four bullets at ity. Later, though, he claimed he had him. One of them hit the Pope in acted on his own initiative. the abdomen. An emergency opera- Ali Agca was sentenced to life tion in the Gemelli Hospital saved imprisonment in Italy. In 2000 he his life. was released and handed over to Shortly after the attack, Rome the Turkish authorities, where he is police arrested the perpetrator, a serving a prison sentence until 2010 Turkish Armenian by the name of for a murder and two bank raids. Mehmet Ali Agca. It never really John-Paul II died in 2005 after a became clear what the perpetrator’s reign of nearly 27 years. aims were. During the trial he al- 1981 yesterday

A resolute Margaret Thatcher said: “Argentina should be under no illusions, because the n 14 June Argen- Argentines had renamed Puerto British will strike back.” tina suffered a serious Argentina during their three-month Odefeat. The Argentine occupation. commander of the Malvinas – also The invasion shocked London known as the Falkland Islands deeply. Prime Minister Thatcher was – surrendered to the leader of the determined not to duck this chal- British expeditionary force. This put lenge. She believed – as did most an end to the invaders’ attempt to people in Britain – that the islands enforce Argentine sovereignty over were rightfully British. the Falklands. The British troops The conflict eventually cost the had by then taken possession of lives of 200 British and 800 Argen- the capital Port Stanley, which the tine troops. 1982 A British soldier stands guard over Argentine prisoners of war. Battle rages for the Falklands.

PHOTO: AP The Nijvel Gang’s most infamous attack took place in Aalst on 9 November 1985: eight customers died. Pandemonium reigns in the supermarket.

PHOTO: HERMAN DE WIT 1976 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85

Over twenty years later, there has still been no breakthrough in the case of the Nijvel Gang. Suspicions abound, but bloody attack on a super- supermarkets of the Delhaize chain there is no proof. market in the town of in Overijse and Eigenbrakel, result- ANijvel on 17 September ing in a total of nine deaths. Worst left three people dead. Detectives of all was the raid on the Delhaize believed the assailants may also store in Aalst on 9 November 1985. have been responsible for a killing No fewer than eight innocent cus- in Temse a week earlier during an tomers lost their lives. incident when bullet-proof vests In none of the gang’s actions did were stolen. the amount stolen bear any relation The gang – quickly branded the to the violent ferocity of the attack. ‘Nijvel Gang’ – disappeared without The ‘Nijvel Gang’ killed 28 persons trace. in total. It was generally thought Things went quiet for a time, until their aim was to destabilise the they mounted further violent attacks country. in 1985. These started with raids on 1983 Newspapers and society An involved newspaper in a fast-changing world

Thirty years ago, we in Belgium lived in a compartmental- ised world. In the post-ideological era it is no longer easy for newspapers to decide what their role ought to be. Peter Vandermeersch, managing chief editor of the VUM newspapers, argues for an involved newspaper that strives for a better society.

he newspaper today selecting relevant items from the the world. Everything that hap- stands at a watershed. torrent of information and plac- pens in the world and is socially T The environment we ing them in the right context, we relevant deserves our attention. operate in is evolving faster than give the reader something to go Another noticeable develop- ever. Our biggest competitor is by. If he devotes twenty minutes ment is the interaction with no longer another newspaper to his newspaper, at least he or the reader. This has become or media group. The biggest she will have a decent overview far more lively over the years. challenge of all is the battle for of the news. The barriers have certainly people’s time. People live under Thirty years ago we in Belgium come down a good deal: it’s far immense time pressure, they lived in a compartmentalised easier for a reader to pick up always have a hundred and one world. A newspaper was the the phone or his mobile to ask things to do, and in their scarce voice of a particular group, so us the oddest questions. Or he free time they have endless pos- it provided a frame of reference might dash off an email. We sibilities to choose from. How both for the reader and for the also stimulate this interaction by do we make our newspaper so editorial team. The body of setting up forums to discuss cur- appealing that the reader wants ideas of the group provided a rent topics on Nieuwsblad.be. to spend his precious free time guide to what was important. Readers themselves have be- reading it? That is one of the That compartmentalised land- come far more eclectic in terms greatest tests we face. scape is now a thing of the past, of the choices they make. The At the same time, we appreci- and it has become harder for a newspaper follows its readers ate that these busy people are newspaper to decide what its in that respect, but does so in a confronted with a veritable role should be. Every morning critical and forthright way. That deluge of information. And that we look at what’s in the news means that every day we have to is where we have a chance: we and we ask ourselves: should we strike a proper balance between can show the reader which in- write about this? reporting, analysis, reflection formation is worth the effort. By Today there is no topic we and criticism. wouldn’t cover. For the reader, the newspaper is a window on

58 MEMORY

Peter Vandermeersch

“As a newspaper you have a responsibility in society and you have a duty to be careful.”

Thirty years ago the editorial far should that control go? And pendence and integrity are indis- staff of the VUM newspapers how much freedom should you pensable. Readers’ confidence took it upon themselves to allow for free enterprise? Among in the Flemish press is low, and uphold four basic values: Chris- an editorial team like that of De that is a terrible thing. We have tian principles, the legitimate Standaard, opinions on these to win back that confidence by interests of the Flemish people, topics vary. You have to cherish working very rigorously. When pluralistic political democracy this diversity, because it leads to you publish something, you and a free economy. In practice an internal debate that focuses have to be sure about the piece. we rarely think about them, but people’s minds. The report must be accurate and those core values still provide This internal debate is also the analysis must be well-bal- a sort of undercurrent which reflected on the comment pages anced. Arguments must be heard guides us in the making of the of the newspaper, where you on both sides. In short, the newspaper. They are expressed notice that different editors have reader has to know and feel that for example in the paper’s desire different opinions. The com- the information we offer him is to get involved. We feel strongly ment pages of De Standaard are reliable. He must feel safe in as- involved in the world in which surely the primary forum for suming that the events occurred we live and want our society to debate in Flanders, whatever the in just the way they are reported be a better society. topic. Politics, economics, sport, in the paper. And that poses a The four core values from culture, fashion: if there’s a de- huge challenge for any editorial 1976 still guide us to this day. bate about it, it’s bound to come team. The editorial staff constantly up on our comment pages. The debate how to live up to them. crucial point is that all opinions We all agree that the free can be expressed, no matter economy has to be subject to how provocative. The reader can some measure of social and make up his own mind. environmental control. But how As a newspaper you have a responsibility in society and you have a duty to be careful. Inde-

59 yesterday

Though claiming to fight capitalism, the CCC’s victims were members of the emergency services who he country is in thrall to building of the Belgian Employers work every day to prevent the CCC, the ‘Cellules Association in Brussels and pam- disaster and calamity. T Communistes Combat- phlets were spread around. The tantes’. On 2 October the CCC moment the fire brigade arrived, carried out an attack on the parking the vehicle blew up. The result: two area of a truck-building plant, be- firemen lost their lives and twelve cause it was thought to build trailers people were injured. for transporting Pershing II missiles. At the end of 1985 the four prin- They also attacked an electronics cipal members of the CCC – Pierre factory in Evere, a NATO pipeline in Carrette, Didier Chevolet, Bertrand Wallonia and the secretariat of the Sassoye and Pascale Vandegeerde – Christian party CVP in Ghent. were picked up in a fast-food restau- The fourteenth attack by the CCC rant in Namur. They were sentenced was the most serious. On 1 May to life imprisonment, but are now 1985 a van was left in front of the all free again. 1984 Havoc in Stuiverstraat, Brussels. Between the glass fragments, a pamphlet of the CCC.

PHOTO: ARCHIVE HET VOLK Despair is all around for the Italian football supporters. They realise they have escaped the worst.

PHOTO: BELGA 1984 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93

Helpers ran to and fro, not knowing where to begin. No one could possibly have anticipated such carnage. n 29 May, the thir- The trouble began before the tieth European Cup match when aggressive Liverpool OFinal exploded into fans invaded the area reserved for a football drama like no other. Italians. The Italian supporters were Until their arrival at the stadium, beaten back and a wall caved in, the supporters of Liverpool FC creating panic. The police tried to and Juventus Turin had behaved restore order by charging the crowd, in an exemplary manner, but then but to little avail. all hell broke loose. People were The game eventually still went trampled and crushed or suffo- ahead, going down in history as ‘the cated under a collapsed wall of the match of shame’. Juventus won 1-0 grandstand. The disaster left 39 with a penalty scored by Frenchman dead and hundreds injured. Michel Platini. 1985 yesterday

When the result was announced, celebrations erupted back home. Never before had a Belgian n 3 May, millions of by nearly all of the 20 juries: five of contestant won the event. television viewers sat them gave her 12 points and nine of Oup until midnight to them awarded 10 points. see Belgian teenager Sandra Kim The event was marred by an inci- win the 31st Eurovision Song dent right at the end of the finale. Contest in Bergen, Norway, with On entering the hall, the Norwegian her song ‘J’aime la vie’. It was the crown Prince Harald and Princess first time that Belgium had won Sonja, with their children Martha- the contest. Louise and Haakon, were attacked Sandra Kim received an outstand- by a women from the crowd. In the ing score of 176 points, the previous end no harm was done. The woman year’s winner having scored only was taken away and described as 123. It was also noticeable that ‘mentally disturbed’. Sandra was awarded a high score 1986 A mischievous face, very young looking, not always in tune! Even so, Sandra Kim wins the Eurovision Song Contest for Belgium.

PHOTO: PRESS NEWS An unforgettable image: the capsized Herald of Free Enterprise. 193 people lost their lives.

PHOTO: BELGA 1984 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93

The enormous rooms of the six-deck ship were transformed within a couple of seconds into equally gigantic mouse- n 6 March, 193 pas- The disaster was undoubtedly traps. sengers and crew of the the result of carelessness. When Oferry ‘Herald of Free the ferry set off the bow door was Enterprise’ died when the ship cap- not closed. The car deck took on sized just minutes after leaving for so much water during the first few Dover. The vessel ran aground on hundred metres of the voyage that a sandbar alongside the Zeebrugge the ship was bound to capsize be- channel, less than a mile outside cause the water slopping to and fro the harbour entrance. She capsized made her unstable. so quickly that out of approximately The fact that over half of the five five hundred passengers – there was hundred people on board survived never an accurate passenger list – the disaster is largely thanks to the hardly any were able to save them- heroic rescue operation which im- selves by their own efforts. mediately swung into action. 1987 Printing Division The rise of Belgium’s largest contract printing works

The fact that VUMmedia prints its own newspapers is well- known. Less well-known is the fact that the group also includes the largest contract printing business in the country. Jan Lynen, manager of the Printing Division, looks back on a remarkable industrial success story.

rinting is a typical infrastructure capable of produc- tion project was the installation business-to-business ing high-quality printed matter. of a new 48-page press. The P activity, so it’s not Magazines, catalogues and other result was a sharp rise in the surprising that few members items were printed on heatset number of revolutions. of the general public are even presses in Ghent and Erpe-Mere. In the year 2000 ‘Les Presses aware of the Printing Division On acquiring Het Volk, VUM- de l’Avenir’ (LPA), a printing of VUMmedia. And yet there media decided not to dispose business owned by Mediabel, can be few people in Flanders of Het Volk Printing but, on the came under the management who have never held one of the contrary, to continue expand- of the Printing Division. LPA Printing Division’s products in ing the business, building it specialized in sheet-fed offset, their hands. up into a large contract printer offering high-quality print- When VUMmedia acquired with coldset, heatset and sheet- ing. We merged the sheet-fed the newspaper Het Volk in 1994, fed offset presses. In the years activities of Sofadi and LPA into the deal included a contract that followed, this expansion a single printing works in Vorst, printing business. Het Volk had involved a programme of invest- which now operates under the built up a solid reputation in ment that soon topped 100 name of Sofadi. that field. The newspaper of the million euro. The Printing Division is Christian labour movement had All heatset activities were con- guided by the ‘focused factories’ for a long time printed numer- centrated on Het Volk Printing principle. To increase productiv- ous publications for related in Erpe-Mere. Three years after ity and so retain cost-leadership, organisations. The presses which the takeover, the Printing Divi- all our three printing activities printed Het Volk during the sion invested in a new 16-page (coldset, heatset and sheet-fed) night were put to work for third press. The heatset activities of are brought together on one site. parties in the daytime. Over the the Sofadi printing works, which Next year we will take another years, Het Volk had built up an we acquired in 1999, were like- step in this direction. From early wise transferred to Erpe-Mere. The centre-piece of this integra-

68 MEMORY

Jan Lynen

“Being publishers ourselves helps us to understand the needs of our customers.”

2007, all coldset printing – was achieved in a market that is in Belgium and abroad. Readers including that of the Les Edi- not only highly competitive but seem to have an almost magi- tions de l’Avenir newspapers – also internationally oriented. cal bond with the printed word. will be done on the presses in Around 50% of the turnover we When it comes to reader com- Groot-Bijgaarden. This involves generate comes from exports. fort and mobility, real printed the commissioning of three new The loyalty of our customers matter still can’t be beaten. KBA presses. is equally remarkable. This is The Printing Division of VUM- We are therefore investing in because we are strong in the four media is now Belgium’s largest newspaper presses once again, important areas that dictate cus- contract printer. We have always having already built a new tomer loyalty: quality, reliability, been very alert to all kinds of newspaper printing works in price and the relational aspect. developments, and must remain Groot-Bijgaarden in 2000. Het The last of these is handled by so in the future. Today we are Nieuwsblad switched to the our technical and commercial strong, but nothing can ever be ‘Belgian format’ at that time. Het teams, who support their cus- taken for granted. In recent years Volk was also printed in Groot- tomers with extensive business we have invested a great deal in Bijgaarden from then on, in the knowledge and a healthy dose of perfecting our workflow and we same format as Het Nieuwsblad empathy. keep close track of all technical and with more colours. Magazines are an important developments. The cost-lead- Competition in the contract market for the Printing Divi- ership that we have thereby printing sector is extremely sion. Being publishers ourselves attained is crucially important in fierce. That the Printing Division helps us to understand the needs the highly competitive environ- succeeded in growing strongly of our customers. We have also ment in which we operate. We and at the same time becoming seen a sharp rise in the number will do everything we can to very profitable in that environ- of titles in recent years. As well as maintain that leadership. ment is quite remarkable. This magazines aimed at the general public, the number of specialist journals is also growing, both

69 yesterday

Carlo de Benedetti, the man behind the takeover saga at Generale Maat- schappij, single-handedly n January the Italian busi- smarter company Suez, which turned Belgian high nessman Carlo de Benedetti acquired 65 percent of Generale’s finance upside down. I(head of Olivetti, noted for his shares. The Belgian group thus beautifully tailored suits) mounted ended up in French hands. In recent a full-frontal attack on Generale years, under the management of Maatschappij, one of Belgian’s Suez, Generale has controlled oldest and mightiest corporations. virtually all of Belgium’s utilities, He planned to take over Generale through various subsidiaries such through the stock market. André as Electrabel, Distrigas and Coditel. Leysen, the man behind VUM and As a result of reorganisation and Agfa-Gevaert, played a major role in cost-cutting, Generale Maatschappij this saga. finally ceased operating in October Eventually Benedetti’s French 2003, after 181 years. company Cerus had to concede defeat to the likewise French, but 1988 The main players in the failed takeover bid for Generale Maatschappij: from left to right, Carlo de Benedetti, Renaud de la Genière (Suez) and Maurice Lippens.

PHOTO: ERIC PEUSTJENS East German border guards look on nervously as the Berlin Wall is knocked down – literally as well as symbolically.

PHOTO: EPA 1984 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93

It will take some getting used to, but it’s true: the ‘Wall of Shame’, symbol of the Cold War, is history. n 9 November, Günter mers or their bare hands, people big Schabowski, the new and small, young and old, let fly at Ospokesman for the East the concrete monstrosity. Brick by German communist party casually brick, piece by piece, the Wall was announced the astonishing news demolished. The old heart of Berlin, that the borders with the Federal bricked up for 28 years, started to Republic were open with immediate beat again. effect. Over two million East Ger- The communist regime had mans crossed the border with the thrown up the Wall in 1961 to stop Federal Republic to celebrate their the tide of East Germans moving to new-found freedom in the west. the west. The fall of the Wall imme- Two days later the Berlin Wall diately became a symbol of the new fell – literally. Using pickaxes, ham- openness between East and West. 1989 yesterday

“Is freedom of conscience something to be enjoyed by everyone except the king?”, asks King Baudoin n 3 April, under Article then assembled to declare the king in his letter to Prime 82 of the Constitu- capable of reigning again. Minister Martens. Otion, the government The solution attracted criticism declared King Baudoin unable to from constitutional experts. It is reign. The reason was the king’s re- clear that the authors of the consti- fusal to give royal assent to the new tution only had in mind situations law allowing abortion. In a letter to where the king is unable to fulfil his Prime Minister Wilfried Martens, role due to physical or mental inca- Baudoin said that his conscience pacity. According to these special- would not allow him to sign. ists, the use made by the Martens The king being unable to reign, government of Article 82 was at the the government was entitled to sign very least questionable. the law in his place. Parliament 1990 Under the approving eye of speakers Nothomb and Swaelen, Prime Minister Wilfried Martens addresses the assembled houses of parliament during the abortion crisis.

PHOTO: ERIC PEUSTJENS The body of murder victim André Cools is taken away. The case did not come to trial until many years later.

PHOTO: BELGA 1984 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93

Socialist party chairman André Cools once said: “I am not the kind of person who is going to die in bed.” n 18 July, André Cools involvement in the manufacture of was gunned down the Iraqi ‘supergun’? Oby a pair of Tunisian André Cools had a lot of friends, contract killers in the car-park of but also plenty of enemies. He was his girlfriend’s apartment block in aware of the risks he ran and nearly Flémalle. The 63-year old minister always carried a weapon. He himself of state was fatally wounded by two once said he was “not the kind of bullets; his girlfriend was seriously person who is going to die in bed”. injured. In January 2004, Richard Taxquet Immediately after the shooting, and Pino Di Mauro were sentenced numerous tip-offs were received, to twenty years imprisonment for but detectives were left in the dark ordering the murder. Co-defend- for quite some time. Was it a politi- ant Alain Van der Biest, himself a cal assassination? Someone with former minister, was absent from a personal grudge? A crime of pas- the trial: he committed suicide in sion? The work of a madman? Did March 2002. he know too much about Belgium’s 1991 New media How a newspaper group grew into a multimedia business

In the last fifteen years, VUMmedia has undergone a veritable transformation. It has evolved from a Flemish newspaper publisher into a multimedia business operating throughout Belgium. Marc Appel, managing director of Sydes, has played a pioneering role throughout this time and launched many new activities within the group.

or the most part, the The move into audiovisual ac- company, let it grow and flour- development of new tivities came when the VRT was ish, and sell our stake once the F business activities is authorized to broadcast radio time is ripe. Sometimes we sell initially an extension of our core advertising and was looking for off this kind of stake to another business. Over ten years ago, a partner to manage the adver- division within VUMmedia. De Standaard came out with its tising sales. We won that project A good example of this kind of first online edition. In Flanders, with a very soundly-based bid. process is Clickx, the computer Standaard.be has been a pioneer Together with the public broad- and Internet magazine that we on the Internet, and that also casting organization, we set up launched in 1996. We gave that applies to its business model. the VAR advertising sales com- magazine the time to become It is one of the few news sites pany. Later, when Mediabel was successful and profitable, and where subscribers pay for their taken over, VUMmedia became then looked for a partner with electronic newspaper. a major player in the French-lan- the necessary know-how. We Since then, all the newspapers guage radio business, through its ultimately opted for Minoc in our group have set up their stake in Radio Nostalgie. Business Press, the publisher of own site. In addition, we have The founding of VAR in 1990 PC Magazine in Belgium and developed a number of Inter- later proved to have been a the Netherlands. In exchange net activities via Sydes, based key moment. VUMmedia had for Clickx, we received a stake on sites with more specialized developed a taste for diversifica- in the leading publisher of ICT content, such as Groen.net and tion. In 1992, it was decided magazines in Belgium. And the Gezondheid.be. that Sydes would devote its Clickx website became the seed energies to the development of new activities in the media and ICT world. As an investment company, Sydes provides money and support. We buy a stake in a

78 MEMORY

Marc Appel

“Due to the growing convergence between the different media, content will become increasingly important in the next few years.”

out of which Het Nieuwsblad Via Woestijnvis, we had a suitable content is well under developed its on-line edition. stake in one of the leading way. Via The Ring Ring Compa- VUMmedia and television TV production companies in ny, we are also closely involved make an odd couple. With ROB- Flanders. Now we have become in that development. TV, we are currently present on a major shareholder in Caviar, It is striking how many activi- the regional TV scene, but we do a production company that not ties in which we are involved are not have a stake in a national only makes TV-series and fea- becoming so closely interwoven station. When commercial ture-length films, but is also the with each other. In this field too, television started in Flanders largest producer of commercials Sydes is providing VUMmedia in 1989, we steered clear. Even in Belgium. with added value. It is our role when we suddenly acquired The choice of ‘content provid- to invest in sectors that could VTM shares via the take-over of ers’ such as Woestijnvis and not only grow into an important Het Volk, we sold them. We only Caviar now looks like a very business for VUMmedia, but hold a stake in companies where smart move. The advent of could even become part of its we have a shared vision with the digital television is changing the core business. In a world where other shareholders. A couple of position that TV stations have everything is changing faster years later, VUMmedia opted for with regard to existing distribu- and more radically, exceptional what was a less obvious route: tors like Telenet and Belgacom. opportunities lie ahead. It is up buying a stake in a production The same applies to the new to us to identify and make the company. distribution platforms that will most of those opportunities. develop in future. Due to the growing convergence between the different media, content will become increasingly important in the next few years. That trend can also be seen in mobile telephony, where the hunt for

79 yesterday

For many years, the only Belgian in space was Tintin. Dirk Frimout is the genuine article. “ all me Philippe – there’s spectrometer, an instrument which no protocol in space.” Frimout himself helped to develop. C Historic words from When the Atlantis landed, nobody Prince Philippe, speaking to from the Belgian government was astronaut Dirk Frimout from the there to welcome Frimout back Scientific Center in Huntsville. to earth. That happened several Together with his six companions, weeks later in his home-town of 51-year-old Frimout touched down Poperinge, during a tumultuous at Cape Canaveral in the space public celebration. Prime minister shuttle Atlantis on 2 April after a Dehaene decorated the astronaut space flight lasting 8 days, 22 min- with the ‘Order of Leopold’, and in utes and 9 seconds. Belgium can July he was accorded the noble title now claim to have a real astronaut of viscount. – besides Tintin. Ten years later, in 2002, a second Numerous Belgian scientific exper- Belgian went into space: Frank De iments were carried out during the Winne boarded the Russian Soyuz flight, including work with a grille space station. 1992 51-year-old Dirk Frimout is the first Belgian in space. A final wave before boarding the space shuttle Atlantis.

PHOTO: PHOTO NEWS Thousands queue to pay last respects to their beloved King Baudouin.

PHOTO: ISOPRESS/SENEPART 1992 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000

Phase 1 of a state of emergency was announced, to control the mass of people queuing in the blazing sunshine. ing Baudouin died of a was dressed all in white as a sign of cardiac arrest at the royal hope. Moving moments included K residence in Motril, Spain musical interludes by José Van Dam on 31 July. The King and Queen and Will Tura, and eulogies by jour- Fabiola had been spending their nalist-author Chris De Stoop and holiday there since 22 July. the Philippine, Luz E Oral, a subject Back in Belgium, unprecedented of his book about the trafficking of crowds flocked to greet the mon- women. arch’s repatriated body. People Two days after Baudouin’s funeral, queued for hours in the blazing sun. Belgium had a new king: it was not The royal palace even stayed open Prince Philippe who took the royal until 3 am. oath, as had been expected, but his At Baudouin’s funeral, people father Albert, younger brother of were particularly struck by Queen Baudouin. Albert II thus became the Fabiola’s air of resolute calm. She sixth King of Belgium. 1993 yesterday

“Anthony, you’re a great kid.” The parents of the kidnapped youngster give him encouragement during n December, Daniël Van- billionaire Roger De Clerck, was an emotional TV appeal. hamel, Jozef Peeters and Isidro abducted in early February 1992. ISanchez Carrasco could expect The kidnappers demanded a ran- no mercy: they were sentenced to som of 250 million Belgian francs. lifelong penal servitude for the The negotiations dragged on for kidnapping of Anthony De Clerck. some time, so that the sum was not When the sentence was read out, handed over until 7 March. A few Daniël Vanhamel beat his fists hours later, Anthony was released. A on the dock: “That cannot be. We few hours after that, fifteen suspects are not murderers!” His lawyers were picked up all over the country. consoled him with the thought that Among them was Denise Tyack, the he could have been given the death wife of gangster Patrick Haemers, penalty. who had abducted former Prime 11-year-old Anthony De Clerck, Minister Paul Vanden Boeynants grandson of textile magnate and three years earlier. 1994 The parents of kidnap victim Anthony De Clerck address a crowded press conference.

PHOTO: DANIEL VAN ASSCHE Willy Claes gazes vacantly into space. He resigned as secretary-general of NATO.

PHOTO: ERIC PEUSTJENS 1992 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000

“Burn it”, says the then socialist party chairman Frank Vandenbroucke, when the party’s financial adviser Etienne Mangé n 20 October, Willy been bribing French-speaking social- shows him some of the Claes informs NATO ist politicians. But now Flemish so- slush money. Oambassadors that he is cialists were in the frame as well: Luc resigning as NATO secretary-general. Wallyn, Alfons Puelinckx, Etienne During the subsequent press brief- Mangé and Johan Delanghe were ing, Claes lashes out fiercely at politi- arrested. The party chairman, Louis cians, the press and the judiciary. Tobback, kept clear of the scandal. “As a Belgian citizen I am not proud Foreign minister Frank Vanden- to say this, but the circumstances in broucke resigned. Willy Claes, along which I have to defend myself are with socialist party leaders Guy Spi- not worthy of a modern constitu- taels and Guy Coëme, were tried in tional state.” the high court for corruption, forgery The resignation of Claes formed and using false documents. the climax of the Agusta bribery In 1998 Claes was given a three- affair. It had been established some year suspended prison sentence and time previously that the Italian man- banned from public office for five ufacturer of army helicopters had years. 1995 The takeover of Het Volk Respect and patience led to a successful integration

The acquisition of Het Volk was crucially important for VUMmedia. The newspaper not only strengthened the group’s position in the advertising market, but also included a contract printing business which had a decisive impact on the growth of the Printing Division. Guido Verdeyen was VUM’s CEO at the time and led the negotiations. He has happy memories of the newspaper’s integration into the group.

n the autumn of 1994 we ing figures for the last two years, played no significant part in it. heard a rumour that the it appeared that the business What probably worked to our Ileaders of the Christian was losing around 300 million advantage is that we showed we labour movement were hold- Belgian francs per year. understood the requirements of ing talks with De Persgroep Nevertheless, Het Volk was the trade union movement. We concerning a possible takeover very important for us. It was the were willing to keep as many of Het Volk. We were extremely last paper in the Flemish market people as economically possible concerned about this, because with such a large circulation on the payroll. Furthermore, we no such discussions were taking not owned by a big newspaper promised to hang on to the title place with VUM. Therefore we group. If we could acquire Het for at least five years and retain requested a meeting with Willy Volk, it would greatly strengthen the existing editorial team. Peirens, the then leader of the the position of our own titles. André Leysen gave me ‘carte Christian trade union ACV. It Particularly in the advertising blanche’ to conduct the talks became the start of a race in market, we would be that bit with Het Volk as I saw fit, and which we were initially seen as stronger. In fact the effect would also let me have a free hand the underdogs. be doubled. If another newspa- when it came to integrating the Of course, we knew that Het per group were to take over Het newcomer into our newspaper Volk was not in good shape. Volk, it would greatly strengthen group. For him, immediate For one thing, the readership that publisher while making profits were less important than seemed too small to sustain the VUMmedia relatively weaker. building up a solid position paper in a competitive market. So there was a great deal at over the long term. That led me The newspaper also had to con- stake. We heard from a reliable to follow the path which also tend with a shortage of adver- source that the talks with De happened to be the one that tising revenue. The advertising Persgroep were already well suited me best: namely a gradual revenue was not in keeping with advanced. In the end, though, approach. I don’t like forcing de- its sold circulation. we managed to pull it off. cisions and putting undue pres- When we asked to examine the Contrary to what some people sure on people. Gradual integra- financial records and the operat- thought, ideological motives tion seemed to me the best way

88 MEMORY

Guido Verdeyen

“VUMmedia would never have developed the largest contract printing works in the country if it had not acquired Het Volk.”

forward, and was also the most to the group’s profi tability. people at Het Volk. And because congenial for all those involved. I have happy memories of we did everything step by step, A lot of people from Het Volk the time we took over Het Volk without taking any over-hasty were given new opportunities and integrated the newspaper decisions, the staff felt valued within VUMmedia. In that way into our group. For the fi rst few and reassured. we were able to discourage good months I worked part of the This soft approach wasn’t staff from leaving and make the time at Het Volk in Ghent and the most obvious one. I can most of the human potential part of the time at VUMmedia imagine other companies taking that Het Volk offered us. in Groot-Bijgaarden. On my fi rst a far more drastic approach to We could not keep the news- day in Ghent I felt like a child a takeover such as this. It might paper printing works in Ghent starting a new school. But I was deliver quicker profi ts, but could running for any longer than was given all the help and support I also have devastating effects. If necessary. The printing process needed from the very beginning. I had my time over again, I am was too expensive in relation to I quickly established a good sure I would do things exactly the printed circulation. How- personal rapport with many the same way. ever, the contract printing busi- ness in Erpe-Mere was retained. What’s more, we invested in it year after year, thereby creating the basis for what was to be- come the largest contract print- ing works in the country. That was also a legacy of Het Volk. VUMmedia would never have developed this activity if it had not acquired Het Volk. Today, the contract printing works makes a substantial contribution yesterday

“We don’t have to search any more.” Paul Marchal confirms that the bodies of his daughter An and oy, revulsion, grief, then more weeks later, the horror was com- her friend Eefje have been revulsion. From day to day plete: behind the house of Bernard found. Jalmost, the emotions veer Weinstein – also murdered by one way then the other when Dutroux – police found the remains the Dutroux case bursts forth in of An Marchal, 17, and Eefje Lam- mid-August. First of all, Laetitia brecks, 19, who had disappeared Delhez and Sabine Dardenne from Westende in August 1995. were freed from the house of Marc On 20 October, Brussels turned Dutroux in Marcinelle. Laetitia had white. At least 300,000 people from been kidnapped a week earlier; Sab- all over the country took part in the ine had been missing since 28 May. ‘White March’. The detectives linked Dutroux On 22 June 2004, with other disappearances and as a was sentenced to life imprisonment. result found the bodies of eight- His wife Michelle Martin received year-old Julie Lejeune and Melissa 30 years, Michel Lelièvre 25 years Russo, who disappeared together in and Michel Nihoul 5 years. Grâce-Hollogne in June 1995. Two 1996 After more than a year of uncertainty, the parents of Julie (left) and Melissa (right) finally bury their daughters.

PHOTO: POL DE WILDE Although no longer officially a member of the Royal Family, Lady Diana is accorded a state funeral. Prince William follows the bier.

PHOTO: REUTERS 1992 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000

To this day the suspicion remains that the deaths of Diana and Dodi were not just an accident. Nothing has ever been proved, aris, 31 August. A Mercedes leaving the hotel, they were pursued however. driving at speed through by a horde of press photographers. P the Alma Tunnel smashes The chase ended in a crash a few into a pillar. Two of the car’s four miles down the road. occupants are killed on impact: the Diana’s funeral in London at- wealthy Dodi Al Fayed and chauf- tracted crowds of six million. feur Henri Paul. A third dies later in People’s hearts went out to her sons Salpétrière Hospital: the 36-year-old William and Harry, who from that Diana Frances Spencer, Princess of time were raised by their father. Wales, former wife of Britain’s heir Charles no longer made any secret to the throne, Prince Charles. of his relationship with Camilla That Saturday evening, Princess Parker Bowles. However, they would Diana had dined with her new not officially marry until 2005. friend Dodi at the Ritz Hotel. On 1997 yesterday

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Monica Lewinsky.” A few months later Clinton has n 8 October the US Anyone who has the dull task of to qualify that statement. House of Representa- ploughing through the hundreds Otives begins impeach- of pages of the Starr report will find ment proceedings against President some light relief in the spicy details Bill Clinton. The president survives, freely provided by Monica Lewin- but his opponents have inflicted sky about her nine ‘incidents’ with irreparable political damage. Clinton in the Oval Office. Americans are glued to their TV Clinton’s love-life is suddenly screens as their president, like a world news. His predecessor and schoolboy caught lying, admits that successor in the White House, he had an extramarital relationship George Bush senior and junior, with White House intern Monica will go down in history for less Lewinsky. Months previously he peaceful initiatives: the first and had sworn that he “did not have sex second Gulf Wars. with that woman.” 1998 Like a schoolboy caught lying, President Bill Clinton has to admit that he really did take things too far.

PHOTO: AP The mayor of Brussels, François- Xavier de Donnea, marries Philippe and Mathilde at the city hall.

PHOTO: PATRICK DE KUYSSCHER 1992 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000

The Belgian people took Princess Mathilde to their hearts.

n the first Saturday in At Brussels city hall, the mayor December, the crowned François-Xavier de Donnea conduct- Oheads of Europe gather ed the brief ceremony, after which in Brussels for the marriage of the party went in procession to Crown Prince Philippe and 26-year- Saint Michael’s and Saint Gudule’s old Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz. Cathedral. Hundreds of thousands of sightseers After the couple said “I do”, they are expected, but the unexpectedly moved on to the royal palace, where bleak winter weather puts a damper the newlyweds appeared on the on things. Stay-at-homes needn’t balcony. miss a thing, though, because com- The Belgian people took Princess mercial and public-service broad- Mathilde to their hearts. Her beauty, casters are pulling out all the stops simple elegance and disarming to cover the royal wedding with 65 smile soon had people calling her cameras and 400 people. ‘Belgium’s Lady Diana’. 1999 The arrival of Mediabel VUMmedia goes south

It is not every day that a Belgian newspaper publisher crosses the language barrier. When Mediabel was looking for a partner and VUMmedia expressed an interest, a takeover by a publisher from the other part of the country seemed the least likely solution. Thomas Leysen, chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of VUMmedia, looks back on an exciting period which demanded not only a lot of energy but also a healthy dose of tact and patience.

he Mediabel acquisi- language barrier, and this was ficult market. Passe-Partout has tion in 1999 did not a sensitive issue for the public built up an extensive network T come out of the blue: opinion. Moreover, other strong of local editions and is now we had already worked well with suitors had also come forward. a highly efficient medium for this group through the Scripta Le Monde saw Mediabel as a both large and small advertis- organisation. We were aware way into the Belgian market, ers. Radio Nostalgie is Belgium’s that relations between the Media- and other Flemish and Walloon fastest growing French-speaking bel shareholders had become newspaper groups were inter- radio station. difficult and that cooperation ested too. VUMmedia eventu- Looking back on the acquisi- between shareholders and man- ally was the winner, thanks to tion of Mediabel, we can safely agement left something to be a strongly argued and credible say that it was a very intense desired. This awkward situation proposal. experience. The whole process was beginning to weigh on the We quickly streamlined Media- took several months and cost a business. When it became clear bel around three divisions: the great deal of energy. Many of the that Mediabel needed a partner newspapers of Vers l’Avenir, the group’s employees gave of their from the media world, we were regional freesheets of Passe- very best during that period. only too pleased to lend our Partout and the audiovisual We also had to tread carefully, support. arm, with a majority interest in since the takeover of a French This was not an obvious Radio Nostalgie and a stake in language newspaper group by choice for VUMmedia. It was RTL-TVi. In the last few years a Flemish publisher was a very the first time that a newspaper we have achieved considerable sensitive subject in Belgium. publisher in Belgium crossed the success with each of these three Our great strength lay in the businesses. Vers l’Avenir sur- passed to become second newspaper in French-speaking Belgium – no mean feat in a dif-

98 MEMORY

Thomas Leysen

“It was the fi rst time that a Belgian newspaper publisher had crossed the language barrier, and this was a sensitive issue for the public opinion.”

fact that we had great credibility years we have invested heavily in your plans, you have to act very as a newspaper publisher. We strengthening the regional pres- quickly and go all out to grab it. also enjoyed the support of the ence of our newspapers in Wal- Naturally this is an attitude we management and of several lonia. Last year we consolidated will maintain in the future as well-respected Walloon business our position with the launch of well. With the low-profi le style people. The staff of Mediabel Le Jour Liège, our third title in that is our hallmark, we have were quickly won over to our the province of Liège. worked hard in recent years to side. They needed stability, and After taking over Het Volk, achieve our growth. This has were glad they were able to join VUMmedia spent a little time involved taking some big steps. a strong group with a long- seeing where it could go next. When another opportunity standing tradition as a newspa- When an opportunity comes presents itself, VUMmedia will per publisher. up that dovetails perfectly with be ready and waiting. The newspapers of Vers l’Avenir have their own identity, which they can still express to the full within VUMmedia. Their great strength lies in their willingness to get actively in- volved in the regions where they are based. The solid regional reporting at which Vers l’Avenir excels meets a real need among readers. The same goes for Passe-Partout, which gets close to its readers through its highly localised editions. In recent yesterday

Everyone is celebrating, even though some people believe the new millennium will not begin n our country, as in many myth, or a real danger? In the end, until 1 January 2001. others, the year 2000 was everything was fine: the electricity Igreeted with flashes and bangs. did not fail, aircraft stayed in the In Ostend, 50,000 people watched air, water still came out of the taps the longest firework display in the and you could still get money from world – over a distance of five kilo- the hole in the wall. At the govern- metres. In Antwerp, 750,000 people ment’s crisis centre, people heaved a celebrated the new millennium. And sigh of relief. in Brussels, 150,000 people congre- In the , things didn’t gated at the royal palace. King Albert go quite as smoothly, particularly and Queen Paola were accompanied in the place responsible for accurate by Prince Philippe and Princess time measurement: the US Naval Mathilde, Princess Astrid and her Observatory jumped from the year husband and children. 1999 to the year 19100… Despite the party atmosphere, thousands of people kept clear heads: was the millennium bug a 2000 In the centre of the Serbian capital Belgrade, the themes of the new millennium are peace… and love.

FOTO: EPA Al-Qaeda strikes at the very heart of America. The country’s iconic symbols are destroyed.

PHOTO: EPA 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

We will never know exactly how many people were killed in the attacks on New York and Washington. ew York, 11 September, crashes into the Pentagon, the 8.45 hours local time. military heart of the United States. NA hijacked American A little later, a fourth aircraft goes Airlines flight from Boston to Los down near Pittsburgh. These crashes Angeles smashes into the North also claim hundreds of lives. Tower of the World Trade Center in Osama Bin Laden, leader of Al- Manhattan. 18 minutes later a hi- Qaeda, claims responsibility for the jacked aircraft belonging to United attacks. US president George Bush Airlines crashes into the South invades Afghanistan and launches Tower, watched by millions on TV. a determined search for Osama Bin Barely two hours later, both towers Laden. He cannot be found. Al- collapse. Thousands of people, in- Qaeda will strike several more times cluding hundreds of rescue workers with bloody results. are buried under the rubble. Exactly one hour after the first crash in New York, an aeroplane 2001 yesterday

A few hundred million Europeans are now walking around with coins designed by the Fleming Luc Luycx. s the new year approach- fifteen countries of the European es, a crowd gathers by an Union. Only Britain, Sweden and Aautomatic teller machine Denmark decided not to join. In in the ‘Kouter’, a square in Ghent all the other countries you can pay which is home to many banks. As with the same notes and coins. the clock strikes midnight, Mat- Moreover, the coins were designed thias’s father inserts his card in the by Flemish designer Luc Luycx. He machine and… promptly gets it works as a graphic designer at the back again. A minute later he tries Belgian Royal Mint. Working in a a second time. A few bystanders personal capacity, he submitted lose interest and drift away. At two several designs to the European minutes after midnight he makes jury and carried off the first prize. a third attempt. “It works!” shouts What is his philosophy? “Big ones Matthias. He proudly holds up his and twos. I don’t want my granny first twenty euro note. having to put her glasses on at the On 1 January the euro became checkout.” the official currency of twelve of the 2002 During the presentation of oversized euro coins, Dutch finance minister Gerrit Zalm steals the show, while designer Luc Luycx stands more modestly in the background.

PHOTO: BELGA Like a proud father, King Albert embraces finalists and Kim Clijsters at the Roland Garros Stadium.

PHOTO: REUTERS 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Kim is the great favourite, but Justine has won it fair and square – Belgium’s very first Grand Slam victory. ustine is Belgium’s new tennis Queen Paola beamed from the queen. On 7 June, in a final grandstand while her husband did Jagainst the other Belgian tennis the honours at this historic event phenomenon Kim Clijsters, she on the Court Central. Justine Henin gave our country its first ever Grand was the deserving winner, but the Slam. It was only a pity the final con- biggest winner of all was Belgian test was something of an anticlimax, women’s tennis. Kim received with scores of 6-0 and 6-4 in barely number one ranking on the WTA 1 hour and 7 minutes. In Belgium, list in August, and Justine took over though, this could not dampen that position at the end of 2003. In people’s pleasure at one of the finest 2004 Justine became the Olympic victories in the country’s history. champion. Kim had to wait until The Walloon and Flemish tennis 2005 for her first Grand Slam, the champions each received two kisses US Open. Both players are regularly from King Albert who had flown plagued by injuries, but their careers to Paris especially for the occasion. are clearly not over yet. 2003 Passe-Partout From regional freesheets to an extensive national network

Today, Passe-Partout offers advertisers the most complete and extensive network in the country. This position is the result of a remarkable development path. Bruno de Cartier, managing director of Mediabel, looks back on the history of a publication that now sets the standard for the regional freesheet market.

he Passe-Partout net- Mediabel was taken over by acquired, amongst others, the work finds its origin VUMmedia. With the Regionale ‘Reclaam is Succes’ group. This T in the freesheets of Les Uitgeversmaatschappij (RUM), Turnhout-based publisher had Hebdos de l’Avenir. The distribu- which was part of the takeover a long tradition in door-to-door tion area of these magazines had package of Het Volk, VUMmedia magazines, with a strong pres- long been limited mainly to the already had a network of Dutch ence in the Kempen region. In provinces of Namur and Luxem- freesheets in its portfolio. Limburg we took over De Belle- bourg. As a regional newspaper Both Het Volk and Mediabel man, a magazine that had built group we were convinced that had worked hard and success- itself a strong position in the our door-to-door magazines had fully on the development of a whole of the province. a complementary function, so network. Since the VUMmedia With these and many other our aim was to further develop management pledged that it acquisitions we systematically this activity. would continue to support this filled the gaps in the network. In AZ in Ronse and Publi-Hebdo development even after the November 2003 we decided to in Liège joined us at the end of takeover, it was not long before publish all our magazines under 1997. From then on we began we decided to join forces in the one banner. We opted for Passe- to systematically take over and Dutch and French-speaking Partout, a strong brand that create freesheets with a view to parts of Belgium. had everything to be successful obtaining full national cover- An important step in the on both sides of the linguistic age. This growth received an consolidation of our position border. Passe-Partout is now extra impulse in 1999, when was the takeover of Passe- synonymous in the whole of Partout. This magazine had a strong presence in Louvain and also editions in the region between Louvain and Brussels. In the province of Antwerp we

108 MEMORY

Bruno de Cartier

“Our employees, coming from over twenty different companies, have together created a genuine Passe-Partout culture.”

Belgium with distinct layout and offers the advertiser the lowest ‘visible’. Thus, we decided in quality content, all publications contact price per reader. 2004 to entrust the delivery featuring editorial contributions Passe-Partout has now become of all magazines to the postal on the cover and local-interest a fully-fledged subsidiary of Me- service and its subsidiary, Delta articles. We do not offer advertis- diabel. Turnover rocketed from Media. This choice provides us ing magazines, but free regional 4 to nearly 60 million euro be- with the guarantee that the more press. tween 1997 and 2005. The free than four million copies that we As a result, we appeal to a very regional press has thus played a distribute every week are also broad audience. Today, Passe- key role in the growth process of delivered in a reliable manner. Partout offers the advertiser VUMmedia. In the past ten years Passe-Par- full national coverage, which Whereas Les Hebdos de tout has worked its way up from is achieved almost everywhere l’Avenir had some thirty em- a modest player in the market to by our own magazines. In the ployees in 1997, Passe-Partout the largest but one of the free re- greater part of West-Flanders today employs over 400 people. gional press groups in Belgium. and in a few other regions All our employees are imbued Our employees, coming from where Passe-Partout is not yet with a ‘we try harder’ mental- over twenty different companies, present with its own edition, ity. We profile ourselves as the have together created a genuine co-operation agreements have challenger on the market and ‘Passe-Partout culture’. They can been signed with local part- aim to do better than our com- look back with pride on what ners. Passe-Partout is not only petitors. Hence, our sustained has been achieved. an ideal mass medium, it also investments in the quality of all elements of the production process, from editing and layout to prepress and printing. We aim for the same level of quality in areas that are less

109 yesterday

“Entire coastal villages were washed away. Anyone who ended up in the sea could not be saved. There n Boxing Day over from Thailand, via Sri Lanka and wasn’t even time for acts 200,000 people lost India to far beyond the Maldives. of heroism.” Otheir lives following a A remarkable story was that of major earthquake under the Indian British ten-year-old Tilly Smith. Ocean and the ensuing tidal wave. When she saw the water receding The victims included thousands of by hundreds of metres, she remem- western tourists. The tremor regis- bered a geography lesson about tered 8.9 on the Richter scale and tsunamis. She raised the alarm, eve- the epicentre lay some 250 kilome- ryone was evacuated, the tidal wave tres to the north of Sumatra. Trem- landed on an empty beach. ors on the seabed spread rapidly Large charity collections were through the water. On the surface started all over the world. In Bel- the result is a tsunami, or tidal wave. gium, ‘Action 1212’ raised Entire villages were washed away, 56 million euro. 2004 A devastating tidal wave engulfs the beaches of Phuket in Thailand, destroying everything in its path.

PHOTO: PHOTO NEWS On the Bosberg during the . Tom Boonen puts on a spurt, Peter Van Petegem stays with him.

PHOTO: VIOLET CORBETT-BROCK 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

“Above all I’m glad I was the strongest without dope. They can never check enough. There will always be someone wo stages in the Tour of – though not himself – by cycling trying to cheat.” Qatar, two stages in Paris- at such an amazingly high level for T Nice, winner of the E3- a whole year. He usually saves it up Harelbeke, the Tour of Flanders and for the final spurt. But if he doesn’t Paris-Roubaix. Two stages and over- feel like doing that, he just takes off all winner of the Tour of Belgium, on his own – as in the Tour of Flan- two stages of the Tour de France, ders, when he shaped the course World Champion … and those are of the race in magnificent style, just some of his more important thereby winning enormous respect. victories. Who are we talking about? As a result he won a whole series of Eddy Merckx? No, Tom Boonen. national and international trophies. An inhabitant of Balen, Antwerp, he has surprised friend and foe alike 2005 yesterday

Images which ridicule the Prophet Mohammed are perceived by the Muslim world as disrespectful uring Friday prayers In countries such as Iran, Leba- and offensive. on 20 January, Muslim non, Pakistan and the Palestinian Dspiritual leaders in territories, the demonstrations were Saudi Arabia call for a boycott of on a wider scale, attacking not only Danish products. Muslim websites Denmark but the West in general. In publish pictures of Danish products some places things got out of hand. to help the faithful to identify them. People were injured and even killed. The reasons for this appeal can Complaints about blasphemy are be traced back to 30 September not unusual in Europe. In other 2005, when the Danish newspaper cases the European Court of Human Jyllands-Posten published twelve Rights has ruled that only in excep- cartoons poking fun at the Prophet tional cases freedom of expression is Mohammed. Following the appeal subordinate to freedom of religion. in Saudi Arabia, Muslims all over the world mounted demonstrations and burned Danish flags. 2006 2000 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

Palestinian demonstrators wave home-made Danish flags which they have symbolically stamped on. The inscription means “Death to you”.

PHOTO: PHOTO NEWS Innovation New developments in the market for readers and advertisers

A newspaper is a dynamic product which has to be worked at constantly. In recognition of its many innovative projects, VUMmedia was nominated for the ‘Enterprise of the Year’ award in 2004. Jo Van Croonenborch, managing director of VUM, says that permanent renewal and interaction with other media keeps printed newspapers fit and healthy.

n recent years VUMme- demanded a handier newspaper. In the French-speaking part dia has continuously and The paper’s format is actually of the country, Les Editions de Iradically revised both the more important to readers than l’Avenir has launched new initia- form and the content of its we had previously thought. The tives. The regional news offering newspapers. The format changes fact that we implemented such a has been extended with new have been the most eye-catch- drastic change at the request of editions, such as Le Courrier ing innovation. In 2001, Het readers shows that, as newspa- (for the area of Comines and Nieuwsblad switched from the per publishers, we now listen Mouscron) and Le Jour Liège, traditional broadsheet to the much more closely to our read- covering the Liège area, which smaller ‘Belgian format’. In 2004 ers than we used to. A newspa- became the group’s tenth edi- De Standaard made the move per is a dynamic product subject tion. from broadsheet to tabloid, and to constant renewal, and reader Another significant change a year later Het Nieuwsblad, Het surveys play an important part is the rise of the Internet. This Volk and De Gentenaar followed in this process. not only affects media policy, suit. The newspapers of Les Edi- Readers have welcomed other but also influences the business tions de l’Avenir will also have innovations as well. In Septem- model of a newspaper publisher. their format reduced in early ber 2003 we launched Het Nieu- The old model was that you 2007. wsblad op Zondag, Flanders’ created expensive content and In this way, VUMmedia set a first proper Sunday newspaper, sold it at the highest possible trend within Belgium that was which is moreover sold through price to readers and advertis- already clearly emerging in other a new distribution channel of ers. However, making on-line countries. The format changes bakeries. De Standaard is the content pay for itself is not easy, were a response to readers who first – and so far only – Flemish and advertisers are doubtful as quality newspaper to publish regional editions. Furthermore, the editorial content has been made broader and deeper.

116 MEMORY

Jo Van Croonenborch

“The news brand is crucial to the succes of the newspaper or website.”

to the audience they can reach now. The newspaper is a mani- per, but welcome the stability of with on-line advertisements. festation of the brand, and so a newspaper title. The printed newspaper cannot is the news website. The news Besides display advertising, be beaten in some respects, and brand is crucial to the success of classified advertisements are will not be displaced by the the newspaper or website. It is now a permanent feature of the Internet. no coincidence that VUMmedia newspaper. A good example is This doesn’t detract from is the largest on-line publisher Jobat – the job magazine whose the fact that newspapers are a in the country. own career has been fairly spec- product that has to be put But the battle is not just for tacular. Jobat has become an before the public – probably readers. Newspapers are also important brand as well – it not more so than thirty years ago. active in the advertising market, only appears as a fully fledged Marketing and promotion have where they compete not only newspaper supplement with become an integral part of the with each other, but with its own editorial staff, but also newspaper business. Campaigns other media as well. VUMme- plays an important role as an and free gifts are essential weap- dia has been highly successful on-line recruitment channel. ons on the battle to win readers. in this market in recent years. With initiatives such as the And when we say marketing, In an increasingly fragmented Jobs Plan and the Entrepreneurs we also mean brand strategy. advertising market, newspapers Plan we have tried to do our bit We have strong news brands in are a beacon of stability with to make the labour market as De Standaard, Het Nieuwsblad, which advertisers can score not transparent as possible. Maybe Het Volk, De Gentenaar and the only strategically, but tacti- it’s because of our roots. Even titles of Les Editions de l’Avenir. cally as well. With supplements in the post-ideological era, as a These brands will become even such as DSM (De Standaard), newspaper business we are keen more important than they are Cãtchy (Het Nieuwsblad/Het to play a positive role in society. Volk) and Télékila (Les Editions de l’Avenir) we have attracted advertisers who feel less at home in the context of a daily newspa-

117 VUM MEDIA IN 2005 RE SUL TS The group continued to reap the benefits of a sustained policy of growth and investment. VUMmedia once again achieved excellent results.

Between 1990 and 2005, VUM- Last year the Printing Division of ry profit before tax which exceeded media quadrupled its annual VUMmedia reported a particularly the previous year’s result. turnover through a combination strong result, partly thanks to the of growth, mergers, acquisitions commissioning of a new 48-page Profit and loss account and investments. In 2005 the heatset press at Het Volk Printing Consolidated turnover grew by group continued to reap the in Erpe-Mere. 3.5% to 355 million euro. Costs benefits of a sustained policy of Passe-Partout increased its likewise rose by 3.5%, so that an growth and investment. market share in the national and operating profit of 16.8 million euro regional advertising markets and was achieved, a similar figure to achieved further sales growth. the previous year. Despite a slight fall in newspaper Operational cash flow (EBITDA) circulation in 2005, VUMmedia was 34.3 million euro, compared once again made a very satisfacto- with 33.8 million in 2004.

VUMmedia turnover (x 1,000 euro) Sydes VolkHet Mediabel Sofadi Reorganisation Passe-Partout 350,000

300,000

250,000

200,000

150,000

100,000

050,000

76 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 77 120 today

Thanks to lower financial costs, lion euro. The group’s share of this Standaard. The new presses will underlying earnings rose by 5.6% figure is 9.2 million euro. Net cash be commissioned in the early part to 15 million euro. As non-recur- flow amounted to 29.6 million euro. of 2007. rent costs and income virtually Capital and reserves continued cancelled each other out, earnings Balance sheet to increase, rising by 12% to 54.8 before tax also rose to 14.7 million At the beginning of 2005 VUM- million euro. Net indebtedness at euro. This is not only an improve- media increased its stake in Media- the balance sheet date stood at ment of around 15% compared bel from 59% to 75%. As a result 35.5 million euro. with 2004, but also a new record in consolidation goodwill rose to 32.5 the history of VUMmedia. million euro. The tangible assets Carlo Vandenbussche However, the tax burden rose rose by 19 million euro following Finance director substantially in 2005. This finally the investment in new presses for resulted in a net profit of 9.9 mil- Les Editions de l’Avenir and De

VUMmedia EBITDA (x 1,000 euro) Sydes VolkHet Mediabel Sofadi Reorganisation Passe-Partout 35,000

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

05,000

76 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 77 121 Consolidated balance sheet

2005 2004 2003

A SSE T S (x 1,000 euro)

Fixed assets Intangible assets 4,453 4,115 3,343 Goodwill 32,466 30,626 28,771 Tangible assets 76,543 57,616 53,524 Financial assets 20,612 18,818 19,780

Current assets Long term receivables 2,254 2,192 2,066 Inventories 7,766 6,386 5,484 Operating receivables 63,842 54,012 61,419 Cash 7,511 10,020 16,263 Deferred charges and accrues income 1,756 2,320 1,140

Total assets 217,203 186,105 191,792

LIABILITIES (x 1,000 euro)

Capital and reserves Capital 12,600 12,600 12,600 Retained earnings 42,212 36,473 29,319

Minority interests Minority interests 5,103 6,810 16,164

Provisions, deferred tax Provisions, deferred tax 16,996 17,868 20,612

Creditors Long term debt 7,516 13,896 14,137 Financial debt 35,535 21,098 17,848 Trade debts 67,537 46,049 52,794 Advances received on subscription 28,492 30,045 26,950 Accrued charges and deferred income 1,212 1,266 1,368

Total liabilities 217,203 186,105 191,792

122 today

Income statement

2005 2004 2003

(x 1,000 euro)

Operating income 355,015 343,086 324,306

Operating charges 338,226 326,528 308,050

Raw materials 80,866 78,162 80,290 Services and other goods 142,865 139,541 123,181 Remuneration, pensions 93,836 88,408 85,503 Depreciation 17,451 17,280 15,667 Other operating charges 3,208 3,137 3,409

Operating profits 16,789 16,558 16,256

Financial income 1,249 778 102 Amortization of goodwill -3,055 -3,142 -4,093

Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 14,983 14,194 12,265

Extraordinary income 2,190 2,134 6,347 Extraordinary charges -2,477 -3,600 -9,316

Profit before taxes 14,696 12,728 9,296

Income taxes -5,674 -1,749 -347

Net profit for the financial period 9,022 10,979 8,949

Result of the companies using the equity method 920 634 657

Consolidated profit 9,942 11,613 9,606

Consolidated profit (group share) 9,249 10,690 10,111

certain 2004 and 2003 figures have been adjusted for the sake of comparison

123 Consolidated companies

Parent company Europress nv Société Belge d’Edition 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden 5004 Bouge (Namur) VUMmedia nv BE 405.773.368 BE 466.846.944 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden proportion of capital held: 100% proportion of capital held: 100%

Sydes nv Vloram nv 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden 2000 Antwerp | BE 427.316.672 Full consolidation BE 421.269.416 proportion of capital held: 100% proportion of capital held: 100% VUM nv Vlaams-Brabantse 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden Mediabel nv Mediamaatschappij nv BE 401.096.285 5000 Namur | BE 401.428.758 3001 Heverlee | BE 448.442.084 proportion of capital held: 100% proportion of capital held: 74.94% proportion of capital held: 99.74%

Communication Technologies nv Le Centre d’Impression Immovision nv 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden de Rhisnes nv 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden BE 424.470.020 5020 Suarlée | BE 459.730.213 BE 471.511.852 proportion of capital held: 100% proportion of capital held: 74.94% proportion of capital held: 74.94%

Sofadi nv Les Editions de l’Avenir nv Socarad nv 1000 Brussels 5000 Namur | BE 404.332.622 6000 Charleroi | BE 451.954.870 BE 403.506.241 proportion of capital held: 74.94% proportion of capital held: 19.11% proportion of capital held: 100% Passe-Partout nv Sofer nv Jobat nv 6900 Marche-en-Famenne 1000 Brussels | BE 442.436.893 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden BE 448.890.066 proportion of capital held: 38.22% BE 463.753.931 proportion of capital held: 74.94% proportion of capital held: 100% Télé 6 nv Passe-Partout Vlaanderen nv 1000 Brussels | BE 434.659.671 VUM E-media nv 9000 Gent | BE 426.410.614 proportion of capital held: 37.84% 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden proportion of capital held: 74.94% BE 441.536.674 proportion of capital held: 100%

124 today

Associated companies De Vijver nv Pro rata consolidation for which the equity method 1930 Zaventem | BE 466.137.359 was applied proportion of capital held: 40.00% Groennet nv 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden Scripta nv Woestijnvis nv BE 470.169.886 1090 Jette | BE 452.164.906 1930 Zaventem | BE 460.337.749 proportion of capital held: 50.07% proportion of capital held: 37.50% proportion of capital held: 39.84% Media Development Belgium Mediargus nv T.T.T.I. bvba 1090 Jette | BE 472.657.739 1030 Schaarbeek 1930 Zaventem | BE 448.196.715 proportion of capital held: 50.00% BE 466.787.259 proportion of capital held: 39.84% proportion of capital held: 28.57% Caviar nv Doc.Fish nv 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden The Ring Ring Company nv 1930 Zaventem | BE 455.597.122 BE 870.626.666 1080 Brussels | BE 445.262.068 proportion of capital held: 39.84% proportion of capital held: 49.50% proportion of capital held: 31.26% Audiopresse nv EAM Group nv 1000 Brussels | BE 427.115.150 Other companies 2060 Antwerp | BE 471.594.006 proportion of capital held: 11.99% proportion of capital held: 11.14% VAR nv M-Skills nv 1932 Sint-Stevens-Woluwe Vlaamse Dagbladpers cv 1000 Brussels | BE 473.595.273 BE 441.331.984 1070 Brussels | BE 465.907.925 proportion of capital held: 37.47% proportion of capital held: 10.00% proportion of capital held: 25.00% Gezondheid nv Belga nv Reprocopy cvba 8570 Vichte | BE 467.073.410 1030 Schaarbeek 1070 Brussels | BE 470.162.265 proportion of capital held: 44.91% BE 403.481.693 proportion of capital held: 28.57% proportion of capital held: 14.25% Minoc Business Press nv Marketing en Uitgevers- 2300 Turnhout | BE 461.842.239 vennootschap cvba proportion of capital held: 33.00% 1040 Brussels | BE 437.846.617 proportion of capital held: 23.00%

125 ORG ANI SATI ON today

Group structure

VUMmedia nv

100% 100% 75% 40%

VUM nv Sydes nv Mediabel sa De Vijver nv

VBM Editions de l’Avenir Woestijnvis (100%) (100%) (100%) De Standaard Het Nieuwsblad De Gentenaar Het Volk Caviar Passe-Partout (49,5%) (100%)

Sofer Ring Ring Company Het Volk Printing (Radio Nostalgie) (31%) (51%)

Centre d’Impression Sofadi VAR Rhisnes (100%) (10%) (100%)

Minoc Jobat Business Press (100%) (33%)

VUM E-media Arkafund (100%) (25%)

simplified Scripta presentation (37,5%) as at end of March 2006

127 MAN AGE MENT today

Board of Directors and Executive Committee

Board of Directors VUMmedia Thomas Leysen Chairman Fred Chaffart Deputy Chairman Jo Van Croonenborch CEO VUM nv Marc Appel CEO Sydes nv

Guido Boodts Lode Campo Philippe Delaunois Marc Francken Gustaaf Sap Jan Suykens Luc Van de Steen Piet Van Roe Piet Van Waeyenberge

Carlo Vandenbussche Secretary

Executive Committee VUMmedia Thomas Leysen Chairman Marc Appel Bruno de Cartier Jo Van Croonenborch

129 VUM Management Comittee

Jo Van Croonenborch CEO

Carlo Vandenbussche Finance Director

Peter Vandermeersch Managing Chief Editor

Hans De Rore Director of Advertising Market

Jan Lynen Director of Printing Division

Filip Verbrugge Human Resources Director

Gert Ysebaert Director of Readers’ Market

Toon Smolders Prepress and IT Director

Geert Steurbaut Staff Director

130 today

From left to right: Geert Steurbaut, Filip Verbrugge, Hans De Rore, Gert Ysebaert, Jo Van Croonenborch, Peter Vandermeersch, Jan Lynen, Toon Smolders, Carlo Vandenbussche.

131 Sydes Management Committee

Marc Appel CEO

Jean-Christophe Massart Chief Operating Officer

Xavier Vidal Senior Investment Manager

Nele Goens Financial Controller

Tom Vermeulen Investment Manager

132 today

From left to right: Tom Vermeulen, Xavier Vidal, Nele Goens, Jean-Christophe Massart, Marc Appel.

133 Editions de l’Avenir Management Committee

Philippe Delaunois Chairman of the Board

Bruno de Cartier CEO

Quentin Gemoets Marketing Director

André Blouard Director of Advertising Markets

Philippe Gilbert IT Director

Luc Marchal Finance Director

Pascal Belpaire Editor-in-Chief Editions de l’Avenir

Florence Mathy Human Resources Director

134 today

From left to right: Quentin Gemoets, André Blouard, Pascal Belpaire, Florence Mathy, Philippe Gilbert, Philippe Delaunois, Bruno de Cartier, Luc Marchal.

135 Passe-Partout Management Committee

Bruno de Cartier CEO

Thierry Geerts General Manager

Marc Decoo Human Resources Director

Wouter Van Melkebeek Sales Director Flanders

Ludwig Gelders Order Administration and IT Director

Hilde Dedapper Finance Director

136 today

From left to right: Thierry Geerts, Ludwig Gelders, Bruno de Cartier, Hilde Dedapper, Marc Decoo, Wouter Van Melkebeek.

137 Adresses

VUM nv Scripta nv Centre d’Impression Gossetlaan 30 Green Land b 01 de Rhisnes nv 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden Etienne Demunterlaan 1 Rue de Gembloux 673 tel. 02 467 22 11 1090 Brussels 5020 Suarlée www.vum.be tel. 02 475 37 50 tel. 081 87 68 50 www.scripta.be Communication Technologies nv Het Volk Printing nv Gossetlaan 30 Passe-Partout nv Keerstraat 10 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden Aux Minières 9420 Erpe-Mere tel. 02 467 22 11 Z.I. de Marloie II tel. 053 82 03 11 6900 Marche-en-Famenne www.hetvolkprinting.be Sydes nv tel. 084 31 01 11 Gossetlaan 32 www.passe-partout.be Sofadi nv 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden Van Volxemlaan 461 tel. 02 467 49 12 Passe-Partout Vlaanderen 1190 Brussels www.sydes.be Vaartdijk 3 bus 401 tel. 02 210 01 00 3018 Wijgmaal www.sofadi.be Jobat nv tel. 016 44 28 00 Gossetlaan 54 www.passe-partout.be VUM E-media nv 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden www.immospotter.be Gossetlaan 30 tel. 02 467 27 27 www.immonot.be 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden www.jobat.be tel. 02 467 22 11 Regie Passe-Partout www.nieuwsblad.be Gossetlaan 32 www.sportwereld.be 1702 Groot-Bijgaarden www.standaard.be tel. 02 475 37 50 www.standaard.biz www.hetvolk.be Nostalgie www.vumregie.be Quai au Foin 55 www.spotter.be 1000 Brussels tel. 02 227 04 50 www.nostalgie.be

138 today

Minoc Business Press nv Mediabel nv | Editions Groennet nv Everdongenlaan 15 bus 1 de l’Avenir nv Fraterstraat 111 2300 Turnhout Route de Hannut 38 9820 Merelbeke tel. 014 44 20 50 5004 Bouge tel. 09 232 13 31 www.minoc.be tel. 081 24 88 11 www.groennet.be www.zdnet.be www.votrejournal.be www.zdnet.nl www.telekila.be Gezondheid nv www.gamespot.be www.lejournaldesenfants.be Kerkdreef 46 www.gamespot.nl www.coupdoeil.be 8570 Vichte www.e-sports.be tel. 056 77 43 62 Caviar nv www.gezondheid.be Havenlaan 75 Woestijnvis nv 1000 Brussels Leuvensesteenweg 510 Vlaams-Brabantse tel. 02 423 23 00 1930 Zaventem Mediamaatschappij nv (VBM) www.caviar.be tel. 02 711 45 50 Ambachtenlaan 25 www.woestijnvis.be 3001 Heverlee Ring Ring Company nv tel. 016 40 60 80 Gabriel Petitstraat 4-6 VAR nv www.robnet.be 1080 Brussels Tollaan 107 B tel. 02 502 85 00 1932 Sint-Stevens-Woluwe www.ringring.be tel. 02 716 34 11 www.var.be

EAM Group nv Bredastraat 114 2060 Antwerp tel. 03 470 23 70 www.audiomedia-europe.com www.encore-media.com

139 © VUMmedia 2006

Photography activities and management Pol De Wilde and Marc Herremans Copywriting VUMmedia and Beluga Communications Design Beluga Communications Printing and finishing Sofadi

In collaboration with the Documentatie-, Informatie- en Archiefcentrum of VUMmedia.

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