AMERICAN – AUSTRALIA

Treasury sets the pace for $3.4b offer

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Original article by Simon Evans, Sarah Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 5-Aug-14

Shares in Treasury Wine Estates closed $A0.20 higher at $A5.15 on 4 August 2014, in response to a revised takeover bid. Private equity firms Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Rhone Capital are offering $A5.20 per share, compared with KKR’s initial offer of $A4.70. Treasury has invited the bidders to undertake non-exclusive due diligence, and wants them to conclude the process as quickly as possible

CORPORATES
TREASURY WINE ESTATES LIMITED – ASX TWE, KKR AND COMPANY LP, KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS AND COMPANY, RHONE CAPITAL LLC, PENFOLDS WINES PTY LTD, WOLF BLASS WINES PTY LTD, LINDEMANS WINES PTY LTD, ROSEMOUNT ESTATES PTY LTD, WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE PTY LTD, FOSTER’S GROUP LIMITED

US giant wants a piece of Quickflix

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Original article by Mitchell Bingemann|Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 & 27 : 24-Jul-14

Following news that free-to-air TV group Nine Entertainment had acquired a stake of 8% in listed DVD rentals and video streaming provider Quickflix, the latter has become a target for other media sector groups as well. It is believed that US-based Netflix, which operates a business similar to that of Quickflix but far larger, has approached the Australian company with an offer. Netflix is set to enter the local market soon. Stephen Langsford, CEO of Quickflix, has also sought to attract News Corp Australia and Seven West Media as investors

CORPORATES
QUICKFLIX LIMITED – ASX QFX|NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC|SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM|NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS|NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD|NETFLIX INCORPORATED|FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD|TIME WARNER INCORPORATED|HOME BOX OFFICE|TOURNAMENT FIELD

Ten in play as US giants move in

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 21-Jul-14

US-based media groups such as Liberty, Viacom and Discovery have been acquiring businesses in the broadcasting sector in Europe. The interest is forecast to extend to Australia, where an obvious target is third-ranked free-to-air TV provider Ten Network. CEO Hamish McLennan acknowledges the foreign investment trend. However he is not revealing anything about recent rumours that UK-based ITV, itself a target of Liberty, has held talks with Ten. Meanwhile McLennan notes that the move by Ten to reduce its news coverage has lifted its audience ratings

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, ITV PLC, ITV NETWORK LIMITED, LIBERTY GLOBAL INCORPORATED, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED, VIACOM INCORPORATED, CHANNEL 5 BROADCASTING LIMITED, EUROSTAT, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, BRITISH SKY BROADCASTING GROUP PLC, SKY DEUTSCHLAND AG, SKY ITALIA SPA

Expedia’s offer brings up many Wotifs for sector

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Original article by Adir Shiffman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 15-Jul-14

The acquisition of Australian-listed online travel bookings provider Wotif.com by Expedia is not a positive development for Australia. The deal is likely to have a negative impact on competition in the hotel bookings sector. There will be fewer jobs in the industry and a loss of expertise and talent. It is surprising that Wotif capitulated so quickly and accepted the takeover offer. Several years ago, Wotif was considered to be in the same category as SEEK and REA Group

CORPORATES
WOTIF.COM HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX WTF, EXPEDIA INCORPORATED, SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, BOOKING.COM BV, AGODA COMPANY PTE LTD, ORBITZ INCORPORATED, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, TRAVEL.COM.AU LIMITED, HOTELS.COM LP, TRIPADVISOR LLC, HOTELCLUB, DISRUPTIVE INVESTMENT GROUP LIMITED – ASX DVI, CATAPULT SPORTS PTY LTD