Cox Enterprises Announces Completion of Division of Partnership Assets in Trader Publishing Company
September 12 2006 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Cox Auto Trader to Control Automobile-related Publications,
Websites and Paid Distribution Systems ATLANTA, Sept. 12
/PRNewswire/ -- Cox Enterprises, Inc. today announced the
completion of the division of assets with Landmark Communications,
Inc. of their 50/50 partnership in Trader Publishing Company, the
nation's leading producer of specialty title classified advertising
publications. Cox now assumes control of Trader Publishing's
automobile-related publications, which include 341 automobile and
light truck titles such as Auto Trader, Auto Mart and Truck Trader
with a combined total circulation of 3.5 million per week, and
their companion websites including AutoMart.com and AutoExtra.com
which together garner 4.2 million unique visitors per month. Cox
also assumes control of the distribution system for Trader's paid
publications. As part of the transaction, Landmark has transferred
to Cox its 26% interest in AutoTrader.com, increasing Cox's
ownership to 87.9%. Created in 1997 and headquartered in Atlanta,
AutoTrader.com is the Internet's leading auto classifieds
marketplace and consumer information website, aggregating in a
single location more than 3 million vehicle listings from 40,000
dealers and 250,000 private owners. With the largest selection of
vehicles online, AutoTrader.com attracts more than 11 million
qualified buyers each month. "We're pleased to have finalized a
transaction with Landmark that benefits both of our companies,"
said James C. Kennedy, chairman and chief executive officer of Cox
Enterprises. "The addition of the Trader publications to our
existing automotive businesses will help us develop new and
valuable services for our automotive customers, and encourage
greater collaboration with other Cox businesses including
newspapers, television, radio and cable." Cox's ownership stake in
Trader Publishing will be called Auto Trader Publishing, which
along with AutoTrader.com and Auto Mart will become part of a new
Cox division called Cox Auto Trader, headed by Cox veteran Sanford
Schwartz. "We would like to recognize everyone who worked
diligently to complete the deal and to welcome 4,200 Trader
employees to Cox," said Schwartz, president of Cox Auto Trader. "We
look forward to growing the company on the strong foundation they
have built." Cox Enterprises, Inc. (http://www.coxenterprises.com/)
Cox Enterprises is one of the nation's leading media companies and
providers of automotive services, with 2005 revenues of $12 billion
and 78,000 employees. Major operating subsidiaries include Cox
Communications, Inc. (cable television distribution, telephone,
high-speed Internet access and other advanced broadband services);
Cox Newspapers, Inc. (newspapers, local and national direct mail
advertising and customized newsletters); Cox Television (television
and television sales rep firms); Cox Radio, Inc. ([NYSE: CXR]
broadcast radio stations and interactive Web sites); Manheim
Auctions, Inc. (vehicle auctions, repair and certification services
and web- based technology products) and Cox Auto Trader (automotive
publications and a majority stake in AutoTrader.com). DATASOURCE:
Cox Enterprises, Inc. CONTACT: Media, Bobby Amirshahi of Cox
Enterprises, +1-678-645-4518, or ; or Louise Barr of
AutoTrader.com, +1-404-568-5943, or Web site:
http://www.coxenterprises.com/ http://www.automart.com/
http://www.autoextra.com/ http://www.autotrader.com/
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