Hanza Media

Hanza Media, known until 1 July 2016 as Europapress Holding or EPH, is a Croatian publishing and media company with operations centered on newspapers, magazines, digital journalism, media production, distribution and related activities. The company was established in 1990 by Ninoslav Pavić and partners, and its first publication was Globus, a weekly news magazine launched in December of that year. Although Globus initially struggled as a tabloid-oriented publication, the Croatian War of Independence led it to adopt a strongly news-driven editorial direction. Its reporting from the front lines, including coverage of alleged war crimes, helped establish the title as an influential publication in the emerging Croatian media market. During the 1990s, Globus expanded its role beyond event reporting by publishing investigations into privatization, organized crime and politically sensitive subjects that were often underrepresented in government-influenced media. This editorial positioning contributed to EPH's reputation as an important force in independent and investigative journalism in Croatia. The company broadened its portfolio in 1996 through an agreement with Playboy Enterprises, launching Playboy Croatia with its February/March 1997 issue. It later held Croatian rights associated with Playboy, Cosmopolitan and Grazia, although those rights were sold in 2010. EPH entered daily newspapers with Jutarnji list, launched in April 1998. Designed as a modern daily with progressive social views, Jutarnji list became one of the first commercially successful new Croatian dailies after independence and quickly achieved a leading position in the national newspaper market. In 1999, EPH acquired Sportske novosti, Croatia's sports daily and a major sports publication. The group later expanded its newspaper presence through the acquisition of Slobodna Dalmacija, a prominent Dalmatian daily, in a transaction completed in late 2005. The acquisition generated criticism and concerns about media concentration, but the title subsequently received changes to its design and format and was reported as having improved circulation. The company also developed regional and specialist publishing. Its portfolio has included national and regional newspapers, general-interest and celebrity magazines, health, lifestyle, automotive, food and leisure titles, specialist newsrooms and a broad set of online portals. Among its recognized brands are Jutarnji list, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sportske novosti, Globus, Gloria and a range of regional and subject-specific publications. Its digital properties extend the same editorial brands into online news, finance, sport, lifestyle, automotive and local content. EPH experienced serious financial pressure after the 2008 crisis in the newspaper industry. Advertising and marketing resources declined, classified advertising moved away from newspapers and circulation weakened across the sector. The company was unable to maintain regular loan repayments and entered a pre-bankruptcy settlement with creditors in February 2014. Ownership changed substantially as part of that restructuring: Hypo Group obtained 90 percent, while Pavić and WAZ-Mediengruppe each retained 5 percent. Hypo subsequently sold its stake to Hanza Press Marijan Hanžeković. A reconstituted management board was appointed in December 2014 and included Zrinka Vuković Berić, Tomislav Wruss and later Ante Samodol. The company adopted the Hanza Media name in 2016. It reported withdrawing from the pre-bankruptcy settlement in 2019 after meeting its obligations ahead of schedule; the settlement record was formally removed by the Commercial Court in Karlovac on 20 February 2020. Hanza Media remains associated with Croatian print and digital media, with its business model combining consumer publishing, news brands, specialist content, regional editions and online distribution.

Europapress Holding was founded in Croatia in 1990 by Ninoslav Pavić and partners. Its first publication, Globus, began appearing in December 1990. Initially conceived as a tabloid, the magazine faced weak circulation and losses in its first year. The outbreak of the Croatian War of Independence changed its editorial direction: Globus concentrated on frontline reporting and published investigations into alleged crimes committed during the conflict. In the following years it became known for reporting on politically sensitive subjects, including questionable privatization practices and organized crime, helping establish a stronger tradition of investigative journalism in Croatia. The company expanded through international publishing partnerships and newspaper launches. In 1996, it partnered with Playboy Enterprises to publish a Croatian edition of Playboy, which debuted with its February/March 1997 issue. EPH subsequently held rights connected with Playboy, Cosmopolitan and Grazia in Croatia, selling those rights in 2010. In April 1998, it launched Jutarnji list, a modern daily newspaper with progressive social views. The paper rapidly became one of Croatia's most widely read dailies and a central asset of the group. EPH purchased Sportske novosti in 1999, giving it control of Croatia's only sports daily. Zvonimir Boban became the publication's chief executive in 2005 and resigned in 2008 after reported dissatisfaction with the editorial board. In 2005, EPH also completed the acquisition of Slobodna Dalmacija after a substantial buyout offer. The purchase led to criticism over the concentration of newspaper ownership, although the acquired paper later received changes to its presentation and format. The group developed a broad portfolio that included newspapers, magazines, regional editions, specialist editorial desks and online portals. Its print titles covered general news, sport, entertainment, health, automotive, food, leisure and regional affairs. The digital portfolio extended major brands such as Jutarnji list, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sportske novosti and Gloria into online publishing, while additional sites served finance, business, automotive, lifestyle and local-news audiences. The group also became involved in media production, distribution and tourism-related operations. On 1 March 2003, a bomb exploded beneath the car of Pavić. He was not inside and there were no reported injuries. The attack was condemned by international publishing and human-rights organizations, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe characterized it as an act of terror. The reported police investigation did not identify the attacker or attackers. After 2008, EPH was affected by the wider crisis in newspaper publishing. Advertising budgets fell, classified advertising migrated to other channels and newspaper circulation declined. The company was unable to service its loans on a regular basis and reached a pre-bankruptcy settlement with creditors in February 2014. Under the restructuring, Hypo Group acquired 90 percent of the shares, while Pavić and WAZ-Mediengruppe retained 5 percent each. Hypo later sold its stake to Hanza Press Marijan Hanžeković. A new management board was appointed in December 2014, including Zrinka Vuković Berić, Tomislav Wruss and Ante Samodol. The company was renamed Hanza Media on 1 July 2016. It later stated that it had completed the obligations of the restructuring arrangement and withdrew from the pre-bankruptcy settlement in 2019. On 20 February 2020, the Commercial Court in Karlovac formally removed the record approving the settlement. Hanza Media's business remains rooted in Croatian print publishing while incorporating digital journalism, specialist content and regional media brands.

• 2020

  Settlement record is deleted

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The Commercial Court in Karlovac formally removes the record approving the pre-bankruptcy settlement.

• 2016

  Company renamed Hanza Media

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Europapress Holding adopts its current corporate name on 1 July.

• 2014

  Pre-bankruptcy restructuring begins

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Creditors and owners agree to a restructuring that transfers 90 percent of the shares to Hypo Group.

• 2005

  Slobodna Dalmacija acquisition is completed

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  EPH completes the purchase of the major Dalmatian newspaper.

• 1999

  Sportske novosti is acquired

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  EPH purchases Croatia's national sports daily.

• 1998

  Jutarnji list launches

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  EPH introduces a new national daily newspaper in April.

• 1997

  Playboy Croatia launches

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The Croatian edition debuts with its February/March issue.

• 1996

  Playboy Croatia partnership announced

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  EPH and Playboy Enterprises agree to create a Croatian edition.

• 1990

  Europapress Holding is founded

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Ninoslav Pavić and partners establish the company in Croatia.

• 1990

  Globus begins publication

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company's first publication launches in December as a weekly magazine.

A Croatian multi-platform publisher combining national newspapers, regional titles, consumer magazines, specialist editorial products and digital media. Its historic positioning has emphasized mass-market reach alongside investigative journalism and editorial coverage of politics, society, business, sport, entertainment and lifestyle.

• National daily newspaper · 1998

  Jutarnji list

  Launched in 1998, Jutarnji list is a Croatian daily newspaper covering politics, society, business, culture and current affairs. It was designed as a modern publication with progressive social views and quickly became one of the country's leading newspapers. Its brand has also been extended into digital news and specialist online sections.

• News magazine · 1990

  Globus

  Globus was Hanza Media's first publication, launched in December 1990. Its early tabloid concept gave way to frontline reporting during the Croatian War of Independence and later to investigative coverage of politics, privatization and organized crime. The title helped shape the group's reputation for independent journalism.

• Sports newspaper

  Sportske novosti

  Sportske novosti is a national Croatian sports daily acquired by EPH in 1999. It covers domestic and international sport and has been described as one of the leading sports newspapers in Europe. Its editorial brand also operates online.

• Regional and national daily newspaper

  Slobodna Dalmacija

  Slobodna Dalmacija is a prominent newspaper associated with Dalmatia. EPH completed its acquisition in 2005, after which the publication received reported changes to its layout and format. The title combines regional reporting with broader Croatian news coverage and maintains a digital edition.

• Entertainment and lifestyle magazine

  Gloria

  Gloria is a consumer magazine focused on entertainment, celebrities, lifestyle and related human-interest content. The broader Gloria publishing family has included specialized editions such as Gloria In, Gloria Glam and Gloria Dom.

• Digital media

  Digital publishing network

  Hanza Media operates online extensions of its newspaper, magazine and specialist brands. Reported examples include Jutarnji.hr, SlobodnaDalmacija.hr, SportskeNovosti.hr, Gloria.hr, Novac.hr, Euractiv.hr, Autoklub.hr and a range of food, home, health, insurance and regional websites.

• 2005

  Concerns over newspaper concentration

  EPH's acquisition of Slobodna Dalmacija prompted criticism and allegations that the transaction could give the company an excessively strong position in Croatia's newspaper market.

  Source

• 2003

  Bomb attack against Ninoslav Pavić

  A bomb placed under Pavić's car exploded on 1 March 2003. Pavić was not in the vehicle and no one was injured. International press and human-rights bodies condemned the attack; the reported investigation did not identify those responsible.

  Source

Read more

• 2019

  Completion of restructuring obligationsOther

  Background

  The company stated that it had fulfilled the obligations established under the pre-bankruptcy settlement ahead of schedule.

  Action taken

  Hanza Media withdrew from the settlement in 2019.

  Aftermath

  The Commercial Court in Karlovac formally deleted the settlement approval record on 20 February 2020.

  Liabilities settled. HRK 497,815,475.98 (By 2019)

  Source

• 2016

  Corporate renaming to Hanza MediaStrategy

  Background

  Following the ownership and restructuring changes of the mid-2010s, the company revised its corporate identity.

  Action taken

  Europapress Holding changed its name to Hanza Media on 1 July 2016.

  Aftermath

  The Hanza Media name became the group's principal corporate identity while its established newspaper and magazine brands continued.

  Source

• 2014

  Pre-bankruptcy restructuringStrategy

  Background

  The company faced falling newspaper advertising, reduced classified advertising and declining circulation after the 2008 industry crisis, making regular loan repayment difficult.

  Action taken

  Owners and creditors entered a pre-bankruptcy settlement, with Hypo Group receiving 90 percent of the shares and the previous owners retaining minority stakes.

  Aftermath

  Hypo later sold its stake to Hanza Press Marijan Hanžeković, and a new management board was appointed in December 2014.

  Source

• 2005

  Acquisition of Slobodna DalmacijaM&A

  Background

  EPH pursued a prominent regional daily to broaden its newspaper portfolio and geographic reach.

  Action taken

  The company launched and completed a buyout of Slobodna Dalmacija.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition expanded EPH's presence in Dalmatia but also generated concerns about media concentration.

  Reported purchase offer. More than HRK 540 million (2005)

  Source

• 1998

  Launch of Jutarnji listProduct launch

  Background

  EPH sought to expand from magazines into the national daily newspaper market after Croatia's independence.

  Action taken

  It launched Jutarnji list in April 1998 as a modern daily with progressive social views.

  Aftermath

  The newspaper quickly became one of Croatia's most-read dailies and a leading asset of the group.

  Source

1. 1Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hanza Media official websiteeph.hr