Skyrock: AXA Private Equity takes equity stake Paris, the 27 March 2006.

AXA Private Equity has just signed an acquisition agreement – in association with Pierre Bellanger, CEO of Group Skyrock - with Tamago, the company held by Morgan Grenfell Private Equity and Goldman Sachs, for an 80% stake in Skyrock Group.
With earnings over €31M in 2005, Skyrock enjoys unrivalled leadership amongst the new generation with its internet site, radio and blogs. Skyrock benefits from strong identity and recognition with the 13 to 24 year-olds thanks to the success of its initial radio channel. The group’s decision to extend its activities to the internet has met with outstanding success.
Skyrock is one of the top-ranking websites in France with more than 115 million hits per month.

On top of its specialist sites targeting the new generation, such as www.tasante.com (information and health) or www.yazata.com (academic support), the group has successfully developed a platform for blogs (interactive diaries) with www.skyblog.com. The 4 million active Skyblogs mark was reached on 4th March 2006, just three years after the launch of the site. Skyblog is now Europe’s number 1 blog provider.

François Jerphagnon and Alexis Lavaillote from AXA Private Equity have declared « we are very happy to be going ahead with this transaction and to play a part in the future expansion of the group, notably with the FM frequency plan for 2006 (Skyrock and Chantefrance stations) and the growth of its internet activities with blogs and mobile phones».

Finalization of this transaction remains subject to approval by the French audiovisual council, the “Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel (CSA)”.

List of consultants working on the Skyrock transaction

Buyer:

AXA Private Equity: Dominique Senequier, François Jerphagnon, Alexis Lavaillote, Lise Fauconnier

AXA Private Equity, consultants:

• Legal matters: Veil Jourde (Jean Veil, Pierre Deval, Coline Vuillermet);
• Market: Jean-Louis Missika.

Press contact:

Tel.: +33 (0)144 45 92 20
AXA Private Equity
20, place Vendôme
75001 Paris - France
www.axaprivateequity.fr