Ekspress Grupp to merge Õhtuleht Kirjastus and Delfi Meedia, while editorial teams remain separate
AS Ekspress Grupp will merge the legal entities Õhtuleht Kirjastus and Delfi Meedia as of 1 January 2027. The media outlets in Õhtuleht Kirjastus’s portfolio, including Õhtuleht and its magazines, will continue to operate as separate publications.
AS Õhtuleht Kirjastus will be legally merged into AS Delfi Meedia, which will assume all the rights and obligations of Õhtuleht Kirjastus. The composition of the Management Board of Delfi Meedia will remain unchanged. As a result of the merger, Õhtuleht Kirjastus will cease to operate as a separate legal entity.
Ekspress Grupp acquired full ownership of Õhtuleht Kirjastus in April 2026 following approval from the Estonian Competition Authority. In preparing the merger, the Group is complying with the conditions stipulated in the approval decision and working in cooperation with the trustee appointed by the Competition Authority.
The merger will not affect journalists’ day-to-day work or editorial decision-making.
“Merging the two companies will enable us to operate more efficiently and improve corporate governance. This will allow us to create greater value for our readers, clients and employees, while also strengthening the competitiveness of domestic media,” said Liina Liiv, Chair of the Management Board of AS Ekspress Grupp.
“Delfi Meedia currently employs 450 people and Õhtuleht Kirjastus 170 people. Together, we will form an exceptionally diverse and modern media company that provides clients with meaningful solutions, safeguards the editorial independence of all its media outlets and offers readers content catering to a wide range of interests. The merger will strengthen Delfi Meedia’s financial position and provide an even more secure outlook for the future,” said Erik Heinsaar, Chair of the Management Board of Delfi Meedia.
“Õhtuleht will not disappear as a publication; it will continue operating with stronger support than before. The publication and its editorial team will continue their work and operate independently in the market,” said Martin Šmutov, Editor-in-Chief of Õhtuleht and CEO of AS Õhtuleht Kirjastus.
Nothing will change for readers, subscribers or advertising clients: the publications will continue to be published, while subscriptions and advertising partnerships will continue under their existing terms. As of 1 January 2027, Delfi Meedia will become the service provider and invoicing entity.
AS Ekspress Grupp is the leading media group in the Baltic States. Its activities primarily include online media content production and the publishing of newspapers, magazines and books. The Group also operates an electronic ticketing platform and ticket sales outlets and provides digital outdoor advertising services in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. In addition, the Group’s companies organise conferences, training courses and events, primarily in Estonia and Lithuania, as well as in Latvia. Ekspress Grupp began its operations in 1989 and employs approximately 1,000 people.