Brussels, 14 April 2015 – BD Group, the market leader for door-to-door promotional communication and digital promotional experiences with the myShopi app and website, has reached an agreement about the outright sale of its newspaper distribution division in the Antwerp and Brussels agglomerations following a management buy-out.

1. PRESS RELEASE
BD Group sells its newspaper division PPP
Brussels, 14 April 2015 – BD Group, the market leader for door-to-door promotional
communication and digital promotional experienceswith the myShopi app and website, has
reached an agreement about the outright sale of its newspaper distribution division in the
Antwerp and Brussels agglomerations following a management buy-out.
Recently, the federal government evaluated the candidates for the new national newspaper contract.
BD Group was retained as a candidate for the national distribution of newspapers and magazines but
has now chosen to withdraw, transferring the newspaper division (PPP) to Michel d’Alessandro, who
currently serves as Operations Director within BD Group.
A strategic choice
Geert Schoenmaekers, CEO of BD Group, stresses that the emphasis on core activities motivated this
strategic decision: “We were forced to make a decision as the awarding process entered its final
phase. A national roll-out of the newspaper distribution would have meant that the entire organisation
would have to focus on the full preparation and implementation of this contract over a longer period of
time. However we feel that myShopi – our successful and fast-growing omni-channel activation
platform – and our consumer data company DBM, which plays a key role in our plans for the future,
have clear growth potential. So we opted for an accelerated investment in myShopi and DBM to focus
even more on inspiring the digital shopper and the traditional consumer, facilitating their life and
providing support to retailers and brands for their omni-channel marketing strategy.
A win-win situation for consumers
The management buy-out resulted in a win-win situation, whereby the two parties are still operationally
linked. “We will continue to operate out of our current locations in Ganshoren, Weihoek, Wommelgem
and Aartselaar”, says Michel d’Alessandro. “As a result the transition will be seamless, which is
important as customers want to receive their newspaper on time in the morning. Continuing the
operational collaboration allows us to focus even more on providing an even better service to
consumers.”
Geert Schoenmaekers confirms this: “We will do everything possible to ensure that the focus remains
on the consumer during the takeover of PPP. We guarantee that the continuity of newspaper
distribution in both provinces is assured during the transition period. Thanks to this transaction, BD
Group can focus even more on the development of myShopi as an omni-channel consumer platform in
a fast-changing market situation. We have a unique combination of mass and targeted media
channels at our disposal, thanks to the combination of our digital promotion functionality, the fact that
we have an audience of 4.3 million mailboxes and can rely on DBM’s expertise.”
The closing of this management buy-out is scheduled for 31 May 2015.
### End of press release ###
For further information or interview requests, kindly contact:
Geert Schoenmaekers – CEO BD Group
Phone: +32 2/756 96 53
E-mail : geert.schoenmaekers@bdmyshopi.com

2. Michel d’ Alessandro – Managing Director PPP
Phone: 02/526 58 30
E-mail : michel.dalessandro@dppp.be
About BD Group
Since 2011, BD Group is part of NPM Capital, a subsidiary of SHV holdings. It has a workforce of
about 620 employees and generated a turnover of about EUR 130 million in 2014. BD Group is the
leader and the undisputed market specialist in Belgium and Italy in promotional communication. The
“Value @ your doorstep” vision is pursued with the unique combination of digital (myShopi) and offline
products as well as through the focus on mass and targeted media channels.
BD myShopi (B-2-B)
BD myShopi is the omni-channel activation platform for retailers and brands in the Belgian market.
Thanks to its unique, flexible and efficient network, myShopi delivers paper-based promotional
packages, custom and creative services with a high attention value to 4.39 million Belgian mailboxes
every week.
myShopi (B-2-C)
myShopi is the number one promotional and shopping platform in Belgium. It consists of the package
of promotional leaflets in physical mailboxes, the myShopi.be website and the free myShopi app for
smartphones, tablets and smartwatches. myShopi combines exclusive coupons, leaflets from retailers,
customer loyalty cards and a handy digital shopping list. Consumers save money on their weekly
purchases thanks to myShopi, which also facilitates their shopping and inspires and informs
consumers about new purchases. The myShopi app has already been downloaded over 550,000
times in Belgium and 4.5 million times worldwide.
DBM
DBM is a leading and flexible player in omni-channel data services.
DBM supplies far-reaching data intelligence solutions and manages the data models and infrastructure
of its customers. Its other core activities include consumer behaviour analyses, guaranteeing data
quality and offering the most adapted communication channels for an omni-channel dialogue with
customers and prospects.
About PPP
Since 1992, PPP is the undisputed market leader for the distribution of newspapers and magazines in
Brussels and Antwerp. In 2014, the company generated a turnover of about EUR 5 million.
Further information:
www.bdgroup.be
www.myshopi.com