Bisnode acquires WLW

Bisnode has signed an agreement to acquire Wer Liefert Was. With the acquisition, Bisnode considerably strengthens its market position within digital business and product information services in Europe. The seller is the Italian group Seat Pagine Gialle and the purchase price amounts to approximately EUR 40 million (Enterprise Value).

WLW offers supplier search services on the internet and the company has a strong market position in the German-speaking countries of Europe. The head office is located in Hamburg and the company has some 250 employees. Sales in 2007 amounted to EUR 34.5m and operating profit before depreciation (EBITDA) was EUR 7.1m. WLW was founded in 1932. Over the past few years, WLW has successfully transformed its business from print to online services covering a total of 670,000 companies, 44,000 headings and over 450,000 search engine keywords that currently attracts approximately 1.2 million unique visitors per month.

“WLW combined with Bisnode’s product database and trade press units will create a leading player in online search services. With joint forces there’s scope for substantial synergies in data collection, sales and knowledge management,” says Johan Wall, CEO of Bisnode.

The acquisition of WLW is subject to approval from the relevant competition authorities.