Business News
Axel Springer acquires interest in portal operator SOHOMINT
Friday 12. November 2010 - Axel Springer AG will acquire a 72.6 percent equity interest in SOHOMINT GmbH, an operator of themed content portals on the Internet ("verticals"). The remaining shares representing 27.4 percent of the companys equity will stay with the two company founders Karsten Krienke, 35, and Timo Nolte, 35, who will continue to bear operational responsibility for SOHOMINT as Managing Directors, and with the previous Chief Operating Officer Patrick Aust, 29, who will become the third Managing Director.
Dr. Andreas Wiele, Member of the Management Board of Axel Springer AG: “The founders of SOHOMINT combine technological know-how with content expertise in the best possible way. Therefore, I am delighted that we have been able to permanently ally SOHOMINTs specialized expertise with Axel Springer by means of our investment, so that we can proceed with the further expansion of our content portals, while also promoting the growth of SOHOMINTs offerings.”
Karsten Krienke, Managing Director of SOHOMINT GmbH: “By means of this transaction, SOHOMINT has a new majority shareholder, Axel Springer, a company that has for many years impressively demonstrated its ability to successfully establish business models in the digital world. I am delighted that our team of online experts will serve to further bolster Axel Springers expertise and competence in the online segment.”
Founded in Hamburg in 2007, the company comprising twelve employees operates its own websites, such as the information portal www.MisterInfo.com, and also implements content portals for third parties and bears responsibility for managing and monetizing those portals. SOHOMINT also offers a variety of services, including search engine optimization and keyword management. For that purpose, SOHOMINT makes use of its own, internally developed content management software M²C, which handles all aspects of structured content administration, including elimination, reporting, and controlling.