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BSkyB acquires Sky Deutschland, Sky Italia for GBP 4.9 bln
2014-07-25 08:43:00| Telecompaper Headlines
(Telecompaper) British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) has agreed to buy Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia from 21st Century Fox for a total of GBP 4.9 billion cash. The deal creates a new business, already dubbed 'Sky Europe' by the media, that will be the leading pay TV provider in three of Europe's four biggest markets, serving a total of 20 million customers. The news comes two months after the BSkyB said it was in talks with Fox, which is its biggest shareholder as well as the owner of Sky Italia and 57.5 percent of Sky Deutschland. BSkyB will pay for the deal with cash, debt and by a placing of shares that represents around 10 percent of the firm's issued share capital. In total, BSkyB confirmed it would pay GBP 2.45 billion for Sky Italia and GBP 2.9 billion for Fox's majority stake in Sky Deutschland. The payment for Sky Italia will also include BSkyB's stake in the National Geographic Channel, valued at GBP 382 million. In addition to the enhanced growth profile of the business, BSkyB expects to realise GBP 200 million of run-rate cash synergies by the end of the second full financial year after completion, with further additional synergies to come in subsequent periods.
Tags: deutschland
italia
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Category:Telecommunications