Hanza Media

Hanza Media is a Croatian print and digital media publisher formerly known as Europapress Holding, or EPH. The company was founded in 1990 by Ninoslav Pavić and partners, and began with Globus, a weekly news magazine first published in December of that year. Although Globus initially struggled as a tabloid-style publication, the Croatian War of Independence changed its editorial direction. Its reporting from the front lines and coverage of alleged war crimes committed by Serbian forces helped establish the magazine as an influential publication during the conflict. In the 1990s, Globus also became known for reporting on controversial privatizations, organized crime and subjects that were often absent from government-aligned media. This positioned the company as an important participant in the development of independent and investigative journalism in Croatia. EPH expanded from magazines into daily newspapers. In 1998 it launched Jutarnji list, a modern Zagreb daily with socially progressive editorial positioning. It was the first major successful daily newspaper launched in Croatia after independence and quickly became one of the country's most widely read newspapers. The group broadened its newspaper portfolio in 1999 by acquiring Sportske novosti, Croatia's only sports daily at the time and one of the better-known sports newspapers in the region. In 2005, it completed the acquisition of Slobodna Dalmacija after submitting a bid reported at more than 540 million Croatian kuna. The transaction attracted criticism from observers concerned about media concentration, while the company subsequently invested in the newspaper's presentation and reported circulation growth. The company also developed a substantial magazine portfolio. Its publications have covered general news, entertainment, celebrities, health, wellness, automobiles, food, fishing, gardening, home design and other specialist interests. At various times its portfolio has included Gloria and related editions, Vita, Doktor u kući, Auto klub, Otvoreno more, Dobra kob and Maslina. EPH also entered the licensed magazine market through a partnership with Playboy Enterprises, launching Playboy Croatia with its February/March 1997 issue. The company later sold its rights to Playboy, Cosmopolitan and Grazia in 2010. Hanza Media's activities extend beyond printed titles. Its digital operations include news, finance, politics, regional journalism, sports, entertainment, automotive and lifestyle websites associated with Jutarnji list, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sportske novosti, Gloria and other publications. The company has also been described as active in printed-media distribution, media production and tourism. Its regional newspaper portfolio has included Šibenski list, Dubrovački vjesnik and the English-language seasonal Dubrovnik Times. The business faced severe financial pressure after the 2008 crisis, as newspaper advertising, classified advertising and circulation declined across the industry. EPH was unable to service its loans normally, leading its owners, Ninoslav Pavić and WAZ-Mediengruppe, each then holding 50 percent, to reach a pre-bankruptcy settlement with creditors in February 2014. Approximately 90 percent of the shares passed to Hypo Group, which subsequently sold its interest to Hanza Press, a company associated with attorney and enforcement specialist Marijan Hanžeković. Pavić and WAZ retained minority stakes of five percent each under the new arrangement. A new management board was appointed in December 2014 and included Zrinka Vuković Berić, Tomislav Wruss and Ante Samodol. The name Europapress Holding was changed to Hanza Media on July 1, 2016. The company later withdrew from the pre-bankruptcy settlement after meeting its obligations ahead of schedule. The completion of that process was formally recorded by the Commercial Court in Karlovac on February 20, 2020. Hanza Media remains associated with a broad Croatian publishing portfolio centered on newspapers, magazines and online journalism.

Hanza Media originated in 1990 as Europapress Holding, founded by Ninoslav Pavić and business partners. Its first publication was Globus, launched in December 1990. The magazine began as a tabloid-oriented weekly and experienced weak circulation and losses during its first year. The Croatian War of Independence transformed its editorial role: Globus shifted toward frontline reporting and published allegations of war crimes committed by Serbian forces against Croats. During the mid and late 1990s it broadened its investigative agenda to include questionable privatization practices, organized crime and other subjects that were frequently avoided by state-controlled or government-aligned media. This helped establish EPH as a prominent independent publishing group in post-independence Croatia. The company expanded into licensed and consumer magazines during the 1990s. In partnership with Playboy Enterprises, it launched Playboy Croatia with the February/March 1997 edition. EPH moved into daily newspapers in April 1998 with Jutarnji list, a new Zagreb daily designed around modern presentation and progressive social views. The publication rapidly became one of Croatia's most-read newspapers and a central property of the group. In 1999 EPH acquired Sportske novosti, the country's only sports daily at that time. Zvonimir Boban became its chief executive in December 2005 and resigned in December 2008 after a prolonged disagreement with the editorial board. In 2005 EPH acquired Slobodna Dalmacija, a major local daily based in Dalmatia. The reported bid exceeded 540 million Croatian kuna, and the purchase prompted accusations that the transaction could produce an overly concentrated newspaper market. EPH subsequently updated the paper's format and presentation and reported improved circulation. The group also developed interests outside conventional publishing, including media distribution, production and tourism. Its education-related activities contributed to the development of a media university initiative that later became part of University North. The institution ultimately transferred from city ownership to the Republic of Croatia in 2015, so it is not an ongoing Hanza Media asset in the same sense as the company's publishing titles. The group encountered serious financial difficulties after the global financial crisis of 2008. Newspaper publishers lost advertising and classified revenue while circulation declined, creating pressure on debt repayment and operating resources. In February 2014, Pavić and WAZ-Mediengruppe, which each held half of EPH, negotiated a pre-bankruptcy settlement with creditors. Under the restructuring, 90 percent of the shares passed to Hypo Group, while Pavić and WAZ each retained five percent. Hypo later sold its stake to Hanza Press, associated with attorney Marijan Hanžeković. A reconstituted management board was appointed in December 2014, with Zrinka Vuković Berić as president and Tomislav Wruss and Ante Samodol among its members. The company adopted the name Hanza Media on July 1, 2016. Its portfolio continued to combine newspapers, magazines and digital journalism. Newspaper properties have included Jutarnji list, Slobodna Dalmacija, Sportske novosti, Šibenski list, Dubrovački vjesnik and the seasonal English-language Dubrovnik Times. Magazine and specialist brands have included Globus, Gloria, Vita, Doktor u kući, Auto klub, Otvoreno more, Dobra kob and Maslina. Digital outlets have covered general news, finance, politics, regional affairs, sports, entertainment, automobiles, food, home design and lifestyle. Hanza Media withdrew from the pre-bankruptcy settlement in 2019 after satisfying its obligations ahead of schedule. On February 20, 2020, the Commercial Court in Karlovac formally removed the record approving the settlement. The settlement covered reported liabilities of HRK 497,815,475.98. Hanza Media is therefore best understood as a Croatian multi-platform publishing house whose identity developed from investigative print journalism into a broad newspaper, magazine and digital-media portfolio.

• 2020

  Settlement record is removed

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The Karlovac Commercial Court confirms the formal completion of the pre-bankruptcy settlement process.

• 2016

  EPH becomes Hanza Media

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The company changes its name from Europapress Holding to Hanza Media.

• 2014

  Pre-bankruptcy settlement restructures ownership

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Hypo Group receives a 90 percent stake, with Pavić and WAZ retaining five percent each.

• 2005

  Slobodna Dalmacija is acquired

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  EPH completes the acquisition of the prominent Dalmatian daily after a large buyout bid.

• 1999

  Sportske novosti is acquired

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  EPH purchases Croatia's sports daily Sportske novosti.

• 1998

  Jutarnji list launches

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  EPH launches a new daily newspaper that quickly becomes one of Croatia's leading newspapers.

• 1997

  Playboy Croatia launches

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  EPH and Playboy Enterprises introduce a Croatian edition with the February/March 1997 issue.

• 1990

  Europapress Holding is founded

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  Ninoslav Pavić and partners establish Europapress Holding, later renamed Hanza Media.

• 1990

  Globus begins publication

  [1]Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org

  The weekly Globus becomes the group's first publication and later develops a reputation for investigative reporting.

A Croatian multi-platform publisher combining national and regional journalism with consumer magazines, specialist publications and digital media services. Its editorial portfolio spans mainstream news, investigative reporting, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and specialist interests.

• National daily newspaper · 1998

  Jutarnji list

  Launched in 1998, Jutarnji list is Hanza Media's principal national daily newspaper. It was designed as a modern publication with progressive social views and became one of the most widely read newspapers in Croatia. Its broader editorial ecosystem includes online news and specialist sections covering politics, business, society, culture and lifestyle.

• News magazine · 1990

  Globus

  Globus was the company's first publication, launched in December 1990. It evolved from a tabloid-style weekly into a publication associated with frontline reporting, investigative journalism and coverage of political and economic controversies in Croatia.

• Sports daily newspaper

  Sportske novosti

  Sportske novosti is a Croatian sports newspaper acquired by EPH in 1999. It covers domestic and international sport and has historically been described as Croatia's only sports daily and one of the leading sports newspapers in Europe.

• Regional daily newspaper

  Slobodna Dalmacija

  Slobodna Dalmacija is a major Croatian daily associated with Dalmatia. EPH completed its acquisition in 2005 after a substantial buyout bid. The paper later received changes to its layout and format and remained an important regional title within the group's portfolio.

• Entertainment and celebrity magazine

  Gloria

  Gloria is a consumer magazine focused on entertainment, celebrities and lifestyle. Related editions listed in the portfolio have included Gloria In, Gloria In Special, Gloria Glam and Gloria Dom.

• Licensed magazine · 1997

  Playboy Croatia

  Playboy Croatia was launched through a partnership between Playboy Enterprises and Europapress Holding. The Croatian edition began with its February/March 1997 issue. EPH later sold its rights to Playboy, Cosmopolitan and Grazia in 2010.

• Digital media

  Hanza Media digital portals

  The digital portfolio has included Jutarnji.hr, SlobodnaDalmacija.hr, SportskeNovosti.hr, Gloria.hr, Novac.hr, Euractiv.hr, Dubrovacki.hr, Autoklub.hr and other specialist or lifestyle sites. These platforms extend the company's newspaper and magazine brands into online news and niche editorial coverage.

• 2005

  Concerns over media concentration after Slobodna Dalmacija acquisition

  EPH's purchase of Slobodna Dalmacija generated negative reactions and accusations that the deal could give the company a potentially monopolistic position in Croatian media. The concern centered on ownership concentration rather than a court-established finding of unlawful conduct.

  Source

• 2003

  Bomb attack against Ninoslav Pavić's car

  On March 1, 2003, a bomb exploded beneath the car of Ninoslav Pavić, then the owner of Europapress Holding. Pavić was not in the vehicle and nobody was injured. The perpetrators were not identified. The incident was condemned internationally, including by publisher and editor organizations, human-rights groups and the OSCE, which characterized the attack as an act of terror targeting a Croatian media figure.

  Source

Read more

• 2020

  Formal completion of pre-bankruptcy settlementOther

  Background

  Hanza Media stated that it had met the obligations of the pre-bankruptcy settlement ahead of schedule.

  Action taken

  The company withdrew from the settlement in 2019, and the Commercial Court in Karlovac removed the settlement record on February 20, 2020.

  Aftermath

  The court decision formally closed the recorded settlement process.

  Liabilities settled under the arrangement. HRK 497,815,475.98 (Pre-bankruptcy settlement completed by 2020)

  Source

• 2016

  Corporate rebranding as Hanza MediaStrategy

  Background

  Following the ownership restructuring, the company moved away from its former Europapress Holding identity.

  Action taken

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

  Aftermath

  The Hanza Media name became the umbrella identity for the company's newspaper, magazine and digital publishing activities.

  Source

• 2014

  Debt restructuring and ownership reorganizationStrategy

  Background

  The newspaper industry's post-2008 decline reduced advertising and classified revenue while circulation fell, making regular loan repayment difficult.

  Action taken

  EPH's owners reached a pre-bankruptcy settlement with creditors. Hypo Group received 90 percent of the shares, while Ninoslav Pavić and WAZ-Mediengruppe retained five percent each.

  Aftermath

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

  Source

• 2005

  Acquisition of Slobodna DalmacijaM&A

  Background

  Slobodna Dalmacija was a prominent regional daily, and EPH was expanding its national and regional newspaper footprint.

  Action taken

  EPH made and completed a buyout bid reported at more than 540 million Croatian kuna.

  Aftermath

  The transaction increased EPH's presence in regional Croatian journalism and prompted criticism about possible media concentration.

  Reported acquisition bid. More than HRK 540 million (2005)

  Source

• 1998

  Launch of Jutarnji listProduct launch

  Background

  EPH sought to move beyond magazines and establish a modern daily newspaper in the Croatian market after independence.

  Action taken

  It launched Jutarnji list in April 1998 with a progressive editorial profile and contemporary presentation.

  Aftermath

  The newspaper quickly captured a large share of the Croatian market and became one of the group's flagship brands.

  Source

1. 1Hanza Mediaen.wikipedia.org