Jean Frey AG

Jean Frey AG was a Swiss media company headquartered in Zurich. It traced its origins to Jean Frey (1861–1951), who between 1882 and 1884 bought printing works in Aarburg, Zofingen and Thun, where he published local newspapers and the Schweizerische Allgemeine Volkszeitung. In 1889 he founded a printing and publishing business in Zurich, which from 1919 was known as Jean Frey AG and issued various newspaper titles, including the Schweizer Wochen-Zeitung, Nebelspalter and Sport. After Jean Frey's death, his grandson Max Frey (1924–1994) became majority and later sole shareholder. Under Max Frey the company grew into one of Switzerland's largest media companies, publishing titles such as Die Weltwoche, Züri Leu, Annabelle, Bilanz and Pop. It was involved in the launch of the newspaper Blick in 1959. After taking over the Berichthaus printing house in 1978, it published the Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich. In 1987 sole shareholder Max Frey sold the publishing house and printing operations, with 1,200 employees, to Werner K. Rey. At that time the Jean-Frey-Gruppe included Jean Frey AG with Weltwoche, Bilanz, Sport, Pop Rocky and other magazines, as well as Druckerei Winterthur AG, Offset und Buchdruck AG and Cliche + Litho AG. In 1991 Beat Curti (Curti Medien AG) took over the group; in 1995 the Basler Mediengruppe (BMG) acquired the majority of Curti Medien AG, which in 2002 sold the group via Swissfirst to an investor group led by main shareholder Tito Tettamanti. Among the regular publications the publisher issued before the Second World War were, alongside Sport, the Schweizer Wochenzeitung (initially from 1890 as Schweizerische Wochen-Zeitung), the Schweizerische Bauzeitung, the Bilder-Woche, the Familienheim, the Joggeli-Kalender and the Zürcher Schreibmappe. From 2002 to the end of 2006 the CEO of the Jean-Frey-Gruppe was the then National Councillor Filippo Leutenegger. At the end of 2006 the main shareholders of Jean Frey AG were the financier Tito Tettamanti (32 percent), the former publisher of the business newspaper Finanz und Wirtschaft, Gerhart Isler (32 percent), and board president Martin Wagner (10 percent). The remaining 26 percent of share capital was distributed among various smaller shareholders (under 5 percent). At the beginning of 2007 the company was sold to Axel Springer AG and subsequently renamed Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz. The company originally also owned the news magazine Die Weltwoche (editor-in-chief Roger Köppel), in which Jean Frey still held 40 percent in 2006. Through the sale of the 40 percent stake in Weltwoche preceding the takeover, it went entirely to Roger Köppel. The Jean Frey AG website, www.jeanfrey.ch, is archived (Memento from 1 July 2010 in the Internet Archive).

Jean Frey AG was a Swiss media company based in Zurich. Its origins lie with Jean Frey (born 10 June 1861; died 26 August 1951), who between 1882 and 1884 bought printing works in Aarburg, Zofingen and Thun, where he published local newspapers and the Schweizerische Allgemeine Volkszeitung. In 1889 he founded a printing and publishing business in Zurich, which from 1919 was called Jean Frey AG and published various newspaper titles, including the Schweizer Wochen-Zeitung, Nebelspalter and Sport. After his death, his grandson Max Frey (born 1924; died 1994) became majority and later sole shareholder. Under Max Frey the company became one of the largest media companies in Switzerland, publishing titles such as Die Weltwoche, Züri Leu, Annabelle, Bilanz and Pop. The company was involved in the publication of the newspaper Blick in 1959. After the takeover of the Berichthaus printing house in 1978, it published the Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich. In 1987 sole shareholder Max Frey sold the publishing house and printing operations, with 1,200 employees, to Werner K. Rey. At that time the Jean-Frey-Gruppe included, alongside Jean Frey AG with Weltwoche, Bilanz, Sport, Pop Rocky and other magazines, also Druckerei Winterthur AG, Offset und Buchdruck AG and Cliche + Litho AG. In 1991 Beat Curti (Curti Medien AG) took over the group; in 1995 the Basler Mediengruppe (BMG) acquired the majority of Curti Medien AG, which in 2002 sold the group via Swissfirst to an investor group led by main shareholder Tito Tettamanti. Among the regular publications the publisher issued before the Second World War were, alongside Sport, the Schweizer Wochenzeitung (initially from 1890 as Schweizerische Wochen-Zeitung), the Schweizerische Bauzeitung, the Bilder-Woche, the Familienheim, the Joggeli-Kalender and the Zürcher Schreibmappe. From 2002 to the end of 2006 the CEO of the Jean-Frey-Gruppe was the then National Councillor Filippo Leutenegger. At the end of 2006 the main shareholders of Jean Frey AG were the financier Tito Tettamanti (32 percent), the former publisher of the business newspaper Finanz und Wirtschaft, Gerhart Isler (32 percent), and board president Martin Wagner (10 percent). The remaining 26 percent of share capital was distributed among various smaller shareholders (under 5 percent). At the beginning of 2007 the company was sold to Axel Springer AG and subsequently renamed Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz. The company originally also owned the news magazine Die Weltwoche (editor-in-chief Roger Köppel), in which Jean Frey still held 40 percent in 2006. Through the sale of the 40 percent stake in Weltwoche preceding the takeover, it went entirely to Roger Köppel. The Jean Frey AG website, www.jeanfrey.ch, is archived (Memento from 1 July 2010 in the Internet Archive).

• 2007

  The company is sold to Axel Springer AG and renamed Ringier Axel Springer Schweiz.

• 2006

  Sale of the 40 percent stake in Die Weltwoche to Roger Köppel.

• 2002

  Curti Medien AG sells the group via Swissfirst to an investor group led by Tito Tettamanti.

• 2002

  Filippo Leutenegger becomes CEO of the Jean-Frey-Gruppe (until end of 2006).

• 1995

  Basler Mediengruppe (BMG) acquires the majority of Curti Medien AG.

• 1991

  Beat Curti (Curti Medien AG) takes over the group.

• 1987

  Max Frey sells the publishing house and printing operations, with 1,200 employees, to Werner K. Rey.

• 1978

  Takeover of the Berichthaus printing house; publication of the Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich.

• 1959

  The company is involved in the publication of the newspaper Blick.

• 1919

  The business is named Jean Frey AG.

• 1889

  Jean Frey founds a printing and publishing business in Zurich.

• 1882

  Jean Frey begins buying printing works in Aarburg, Zofingen and Thun.

One of Switzerland's largest media companies in the 20th century, with a broad portfolio of newspapers, magazines and printing operations.

• Sport

• Beobachter

• Bilanz

• TV Star

• Tele

• Die Weltwoche

• Züri Leu

• Annabelle

• Pop

• Schweizer Wochen-Zeitung

• Nebelspalter

• Schweizerische Bauzeitung

• Bilder-Woche

• Familienheim

• Joggeli-Kalender

• Zürcher Schreibmappe

• Tagblatt der Stadt Zürich

1. 1Jean Frey AG - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Jean Frey AG - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Home - Ringier Media Switzerlandringiermedienschweiz.ch
4. 4Brands - Ringier Media Switzerlandringiermedienschweiz.ch
5. 5About Us - Ringier Media Switzerlandringiermedienschweiz.ch
6. 6Organisation - Ringier Media Switzerlandringiermedienschweiz.ch