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Exciting news! Vivendi is set to float Canal+ in London, providing a significant boost to the UK markets. This move marks a notable development in the media industry and demonstrates confidence in the UK's financial landscape. Learn more about this groundbreaking decision in The Guardian's latest article. #Vivendi #Canal+ #UKmarkets https://ift.tt/gi7yKs0

From BTN: #Italian #broadcast group MFE - MediaForEurope held talks in recent months with various banks ready to fund a potential bid for #German media company ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE. The funds secured from the banks would amount to up to around €4 billion, reports Reuters with reference to people close to the matter and documents seen by the news agency. Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and UniCredit would back a move by MFE, supporting both a tender offer for ProSiebenSat.1 shares and any debt refinancing needs triggered by the bid, the documents showed, according to Reuters. While MFE, which is the largest shareholder in ProSiebenSat.1, has indicated it could consider a buyout offer only if the German company sells its non-core assets, the endorsement by banks of a potential takeover strengthens MFE’s hand in the shareholder battle the two #media companies have engaged in ahead of ProSiebenSat.1’s AGM on 30 April 2024. #mergersandacquisitions #ownership

🌍World’s leading media capital markets The UK and the Nordic countries lead as the top two markets by media capital deal count in 2023. Previous trailblazer Germany dropped to 4th place, after being a strong contender in 2018-2023. ❓ Can you guess who beat Germany and came in third in 2023? Drop your suggestion in the comment section below. 🔗 Find out more about the top markets for media capital investments by downloading the full State of Media Capital Funding 2023 Annual Review here: https://lnkd.in/dSNeVYUh #mediacapital #mediaforgrowth #getfunded #mfgdealhub

The French conglomerate Vivendi is in troubled waters. The division of the group into three individual entities, listed in three different locations including two outside the French market, signals the severe confidence crisis it is confronting. US investors are once again at the forefront: "Vivendi on Monday said it is considering listing its Canal+ film and television subsidiary on the London Stock Exchange in what would be a major win for the U.K.’s troubled bourse.  The French conglomerate –- which in December last year outlined plans to split itself into three separately listed companies –- said it has now completed a study showing it would be feasible to float Canal+ in London and list its Havas advertising public relations firm in Amsterdam.  The plans would also see a third newly-named company called the Louis Hachette Group – made up of Vivendi’s publishing and distribution companies Prisma Media and Lagardère – listed in Paris on the Euronext Growth exchange for mid-sized companies, Vivendi said.  [...] Vivendi’s split plans are aimed at boosting its valuation, which it claims has suffered from a “significantly high conglomerate discount” since it spun off its Universal Music Group UMG, 0.50% subsidiary in September 2021 by listing it on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange.  Investors have previously voiced concerns about a lack of synergies between the various strands of Vivendi’s business, which include Canal+, pr and advertising firm Havas, specialist media company Prisma, and book publisher Lagardère Group.   [..] The situation has been worsened by a flurry of acquisitions of London listed companies by private equity firms and U.S. businesses that have seen dozens of firms pulled off the British bourse. " #France #Vivendi #Canal+ #Havas #Universal #London #USA

Sony Pictures Entertainment and private equity firm Apollo Global Management on Wednesday submitted a $26 billion offer for Paramount Global but have yet to receive a response as of Friday, according to a person familiar with the matter. A special committee of the Paramount board, created to evaluate offers for the company, has been holding exclusive deal talks with Skydance Media. That period of exclusivity ends Friday, and a separate source familiar with the matter said the exclusivity period is unlikely to be extended, opening the doors to other bidders. The companies submitted a non-binding offer letter on Wednesday, signed by Sony Pictures Chief Executive Tony Vinciquerra and Apollo partner Aaron Sobel, a source confirmed to Reuters. The $26 billion offer is a combination of cash and assumption of debt. Apollo declined comment to Reuters, which reported in April that Sony’s SPE and Apollo were in talks on a joint bid. Paramount and Sony also declined comment on the Apollo-Sony offer, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. Story: https://lnkd.in/g6zS3AEP Science & Technology | Thomson Reuters

From Deadline: Vivendi‘s plan to split its business in three has gotten board approval and will be taken to a shareholder vote on December 9. [...] The board has approved the resolutions that will be submitted to shareholders to vote on whether CANAL+ Group, ad business Havas and publishing house Louis Hachette Group should separate.[...] Should the plan get shareholder approval, the three businesses would begin trading separately on December 16. Each individual stake owner would see shares allotted on a one-to-one bases. In effect, each Vivendi shareholder who participates in the spin-off will receive one Canal+ share, one Havas share and one Louis Hachette Group share, while retaining their Vivendi share. Under the new structure, Canal+ would be listed in the UK, Havas in the Netherlands and Louis Hachette on Euronext. Each company would operate separately with a “decision-making center of their activities, as well as their operational teams, in France.” Vivendi would remain on Euronext Paris. #mergersandacquisitions #mediaownership #paytv #svod

🔲 F1000 Media: SiriusXM Begins New Chapter as Independent Public Company 🔳 As of September 9, 2024, SiriusXM officially transitioned into an independent, publicly traded company after completing its split from Liberty Media. This marks a pivotal moment for the company as it embarks on its next phase of growth, operating under the new name Sirius XM Holdings Inc. and trading on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol #SIRI. 🔳 Financial Focus and Strategic Goals: SiriusXM has outlined clear financial objectives for the coming years, aiming to reduce debt and strengthen cash flows. With a target leverage ratio of mid-to-low three times adjusted EBITDA, the company plans to focus on debt reduction and maintaining shareholder value while staying mindful of strategic investments in its audio entertainment portfolio. 🔳 Navigating Market Challenges: The split from Liberty Media will allow SiriusXM greater autonomy in navigating a competitive market. The company is set to evaluate its intangible assets and goodwill, especially those associated with the Liberty Media transaction, to ensure long-term financial health. #SiriusXM #IndependentCompany #AudioEntertainment #F1000Media #DebtReduction #FinancialStrategy #StockMarket #LibertyMedia

From DTVE: #Privateequity outfit BC Partners is reportedly looking at the #sale of its majority stake in south-eastern #European service provider and #media outfit United Group B.V. As reported separately by #Serbian news outlet Vreme and #Greece’s Naftemporiki, BC Partners has kicked off the process that could lead to a sale of its 55% stake in the company, which operates #broadband and #payTV services as well as numerous other #TV and media assets across the region from #Slovenia to #Bulgaria, including Serbian service provider SBB Serbia BroadBand and #Greek pay TV operator Nova. BC Partners became the majority #owner of United Group in 2019, #acquiring a stake from KKR for €2.6 billion. According to Vreme, the company has hired Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan to explore a sale of its 55% stake in its entirety. Discussion of a sale has given rise to concern about the implications for #mediafreedom in Serbia, where SBB owns TV stations N1 and Nova S, the #news service reported. United Group has an adversarial relationship with the Serbian government, which has been accused of attacking independent media and cracking down on freedom of expression. The group’s minority shareholder, Serbian national Dragan Šolak, has been subject to pressure from the government over the group’s news output. According to Naftemporiki, potential buyers for the group could include #UAE #telecoms outfit e&/Etisalat or Saudi Telecom (stc), which recently #acquired United Group’s mobile #tower business in #Bulgaria, #Croatia and #Slovenia. #mergersandacquisitions #mergersacquisitionsdivestitures #ownership

As Bloomberg points out, private equity has shown growing interest in the live entertainment industry over the past decade. For many years, the industry was considered too unpredictable for investors. I support the involvement of private equity in our industry. Those heavily invested in the live entertainment sector will benefit from the guidance of individuals who can offer leadership and a deep understanding of this highly nuanced industry. #liveentertainment #privateequity

The French media conglomerate CANAL+ Group has emerged from a period of quiet maneuvering to make significant strides towards the full acquisition of South Africa’s broadcasting giant, MultiChoice Group, in a landmark R30 billion transaction. Canal+ has been strategically increasing its stake in MultiChoice over time, and by May 2024, it had successfully accumulated approximately 45.2% of MultiChoice’s shares. The media giant is now on the cusp of acquiring the remaining shares to finalize the takeover. The magnitude of this acquisition has not escaped the attention of South African regulatory bodies. Both Canal+ and MultiChoice have taken the requisite steps to file with the Competition Commission, initiating a review process that will ultimately be escalated to the Competition Tribunal for final approval. Additionally, they are engaging with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to ensure full regulatory compliance. Click the link to read more: https://lnkd.in/enH_9_qq #innovationvillage #canal+#multichoice #acquisition #shares #cabletv #shareholders #satelitetv #customers #france #southafrica #africabusiness