New ticketing group

The management teams of Ticketcorner Holding and Tamedia signed contracts in Zurich on Monday, according to which Ticketcorner and Starticket will jointly appear on the market and offer their services in the future. The merger is still subject to approval by the Swiss Federal Competition Commission and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2017 once this has been received.

The merger of Ticketcorner and Starticket will create a high-reach ticketing group with innovative services, high-performance platforms, mobile apps and scanning solutions for event customers, according to a statement. With this step, Ticketcorner and Starticket want to meet the increasingly intense competition in the ticketing business from international providers, the rapid technological development and the growing importance of direct sales.

International network and anchoring in Switzerland

With CTS Eventim as Europe's largest ticketing company as a partner, Ticketcorner and Starticket benefit from market-leading ticketing solutions and an ongoing transfer of know-how, innovation and technology. Ringier as well as Tamedia secure the anchoring in Switzerland. The joint ticketing group will be led by Andreas Angehrn, the current CEO of Ticketcorner.

Klaus-Peter Schulenberg, CEO CTS Eventim: "With the merger of Ticketcorner and Starticket, event ticketing in Switzerland reaches a new dimension, with a wide range of synergies for the benefit of event organizers and ticket buyers. Together with our new partners at Tamedia and our long-time co-shareholder Ringier, we can thereby bring a unique combination of assets to the joint venture."

Marc Walder, CEO of Ringier: "The merger of Ticketcorner and Starticket reflects the fact that ticketing - like many other industries - is facing huge challenges. Digitalization, new technologies and distribution systems are also radically changing this market."

Christoph Tonini, CEO of Tamedia: "Through the merger of Ticketcorner and Starticket, our event customers will benefit from more reach and our ticket customers from a wider range of events. We look forward to working with Ringier and CTS Eventim."

Ticketcorner, via Ticketcorner Holding AG, is currently owned in equal parts by the CTS Eventim Group and the Ringier media group. Starticket is part of the Tamedia media group. Ticketcorner Holding AG, which is held in equal parts by the CTS Eventim Group and Ringier, will hold 75 per cent and Tamedia 25 per cent of the new company Ticketcorner AG. The parties have agreed not to disclose details of the transaction.