TELEVISION STATIONS – AUSTRALIA

Ten’s fate in reclusive billionaire’s hands

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 17 : 18-Dec-14

Takeover target Ten Network staged its AGM on 17 December 2014, which was attended by 15% stakeholder Bruce Gordon. He is the largest individual investor in the free-to-air TV group, which has received an offer worth $A590m or $A0.23 a share from pay TV provider Foxtel and US ally Discovery Communications. Other major stockholders who would need to support the deal are mining heiress Gina Rinehart with 10%, as well as respective News Corporation and Crown ­Resorts chairs Lachlan Murdoch and James Packer. Possible rival suitors for Ten are Anchorage Capital and Saban Capital

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED, ANCHORAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS PTY LTD, SABAN CAPITAL GROUP INCORPORATED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN

Foxtel puts ACCC in picture on Ten

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 5-Dec-14

The stock of Ten Network on 4 December 2014 closed $A0.025 lower at $A0.20, as investors assessed the modest offers made by takeover suitors. Pay TV group Foxtel has formed an alliance with US-based Discovery Communications to launch a bid worth $A590m for the free-to-air TV business, and a briefing on the proposal has been given to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission by Foxtel’s legal counsel. Meanwhile Foxtel CEO Richard Freudenstein says a recent discounting campaign has brought a marked increase in new subscriber growth

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, V8 SUPERCARS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CONSOLIDATED MEDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, SABAN CAPITAL GROUP INCORPORATED, ANCHORAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS PTY LTD, DEUTSCHE BANK AG

Three-way fight for ailing Ten

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 4-Dec-14

Competing bids worth between $A510m and $A664m have been prepared for Australian free-to-air TV group Ten Network, which along with adviser Citigroup is seeking at least $A770m. Pay TV provider Foxtel and US-based ally Discovery Communications are one suitor, and interest has also been voiced by private equity firm Saban Capital Group and hedge fund Anchorage Capital Partners. They would need the approval of News Corporation co-chair Lachlan Murdoch, Crown Resorts chair James Packer and WIN Corporation owner Bruce Gordon

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED, SABAN CAPITAL GROUP INCORPORATED, ANCHORAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS PTY LTD, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, 21ST CENTURY FOX INCORPORATED, WALT DISNEY COMPANY, CVC ASIA PACIFIC (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, KOHLBERG KRAVIS ROBERTS AND COMPANY, KKR AND COMPANY LP, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Ten set to reject Foxtel’s first bid

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 22 : 2-Dec-14

There are forecasts the directors of free-to-air TV group Ten Network will rebuff a takeover bid by pay TV rival Foxtel and US-based ally Discovery Communications on 2 December 2014. It is likely to be worth between $A0.20 and $A0.25 a share, and to be deemed too low by Ten. On 1 December the stock closed at $A0.255. Meanwhile Paul Mallam, the representative of major Ten investor and WIN Corporation owner Bruce Gordon, has stepped down as a member of the Ten board

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, CONSOLIDATED MEAT HOLDINGS PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVW, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Former Ten chief Grant Blackley linked to US private equity bid

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 11-Nov-14

Ten Network and its advisor, investment banking firm Citi, are holding talks with potential takeover suitors. The free-to-air TV group may be taken private, and there is speculation that a possible bid by US-based private equity firm Hellman & Friedman also involves ex-Ten CEO Grant Blackley. The most likely acquirers however remain Australian pay-TV provider Foxtel and US ally Discovery Communications. Any purchaser of Ten will require the support of current board members and 40% shareholders Lachlan Murdoch, James Packer, Gina Rinehart and Bruce Gordon

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, HELLMAN AND FRIEDMAN CAPITAL PARTNERS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, TOURANG LIMITED, CONSOLIDATED PRESS HOLDINGS LIMITED, RGM ARTISTS PTY LTD, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TIME WARNER (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, TIME WARNER INCORPORATED

Ten brass to discuss bid by US media giant

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Original article by Dominic White, Jared Lynch, James Chessell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13/18 : 7-Nov-14

Investment banking firm Citi will advise Ten Network on bids by potential takeover suitors. Negotiations will start on 10 November 2014, and the most likely acquirer of the free-to-air TV group appears to be an alliance of pay TV provider Foxtel and US ally Discovery Communications. The speculation on 6 November lifted Ten’s share price by 7% to a close of $A0.23. Fairfax Media had also discussed a deal with Ten’s executives in October, but is now not expected to pursue the opportunity

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS INCORPORATED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, ANCHORAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS PTY LTD, PROVIDENCE EQUITY PARTNERS INCORPORATED

Ten tie-up with Fairfax back in frame as Rinehart exits network’s board

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 4-Nov-14

Fairfax Media is in ongoing talks on a potential merger with free-to-air TV group Ten Network, and may divest its radio assets to entrepreneur John Singleton so as not to breach media ownership laws. A 14.99% stake in Fairfax is held by mining heiress Gina Rinehart, who also has 10% of Ten. However she is stepping down from the role of director on Ten’s board. The seat will be taken up by John Klepec, also chief development officer at Rinehart’s private Hancock Prospecting vehicle. Interest in a deal with Ten has come from pay TV business Foxtel as well

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, MACQUARIE RADIO NETWORK LIMITED – ASX MRN, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FAIRFAX RADIO NETWORK PTY LTD, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, MTV MUSIC TELEVISION, VIACOM INCORPORATED, CHANNEL 5 BROADCASTING LIMITED, ITV NETWORK LIMITED, ITV PLC, LIBERTY GLOBAL INCORPORATED, ROY HILL IRON ORE PTY LTD

Fairfax-Nine rumours quashed

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 27-Aug-14

The combined stake of 36% in Nine Entertainment held by US-based hedge funds Oaktree Capital and Apollo Global Management will come out of escrow on 28 August 2014. There have been claims in News Corporation newspaper "The Australian" that rival publisher Fairfax Media is preparing to acquire a major holding in Nine. However due to current cross-media ownership laws it would only be able to purchase 14.99% of the free-to-air TV group, and Fairfax has rejected the speculation

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, CITIGROUP PTY LTD

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

Southern Cross in trouble as new CFO quits

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 17-Jul-14

Analysts are concerned Australian-listed Southern Cross Media (SXL) may soon breach its banking covenants. Peter Lewis, who was appointed CFO in mid-June, has resigned just one month later, and the company is believed to be considering a share issue. Its stock on 16 July closed $A0.01 higher at $A1.16, but has lost 31% so far in calendar 2014. There is speculation that if Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull changes media competition laws, SXL will cut its affiliate ties with Ten Network and merge with the latter’s Nine Entertainment rival. SXL has been affected by declining audience ratings for its and radio and regional TV stations

CORPORATES
SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, 2DAY FM AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTEREO GROUP LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, FACEBOOK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MACQUARIE WEALTH MANAGEMENT