Vivendi Says Finding an 'Amicable Solution' With Mediaset No Longer a Priority -- Update
October 19 2016 - 2:03PM
Dow Jones News
By Noemie Bisserbe and Manuela Mesco
French media company Vivendi SA (VIVEF, VIV.FR) said Wednesday
it is no longer prioritizing an amicable solution to its dispute
with Mediaset SpA (MDIUY, MS.MI), as the spat with the Italian
company over a deal on its pay-TV business is proving harder and
taking longer to solve.
In April, Vivendi agreed to acquire Mediaset's pay TV unit in a
deal that included a 3.5% share swap between the two companies.
The deal was to be an important step in Vivendi's ambitions to
build a pan-European business strong enough to challenge Netflix
Inc. and Sky PLC. It was also seen as a boon to Mediaset, which has
long struggled to bring its pay TV unit back into the black.
But the French media firm abruptly changed the terms of the
previously agreed deal as it claimed that the business plan of
Mediaset's pay-tv business received was based on "unrealistic
assumptions."
In July, Vivendi sent the Milan-based firm a new proposal to
acquire only 20% of the pay-TV unit, plus 15% of Mediaset itself in
three years.
Mediaset, which is controlled by the family of former Italian
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, branded the deal as an attempt to
launch a creeping takeover. It claimed that the contract is binding
and couldn't be cancelled.
In August, both Mediaset and its largest shareholder, Fininvest
SpA, filed requests with a Milan court to seek an enforcement of
the contract signed and claimed compensation for damages already
caused. More recently, the Italian broadcaster requested a
sequestration against 3.5% of Vivendi's shares.
A first hearing at a Milan court is slated for Nov 8.
The French firm has until recently showed confidence that a
solution could be found and has kept contacts with Mediaset to find
alternative options favorable for both firms.
"The only response to Vivendi's constructive approach was for
Mediaset and Fininvest to issue aggressive public statements,"
Vivendi said in a statement on Wednesday.
It added that it is "no longer willing to give priority to
finding an amicable solution and reserves the right to take all
necessary action to defend its interests and those of its
shareholders."
Mediaset declined to comment.
Write to Noemie Bisserbe at noemie.bisserbe@wsj.com and Manuela
Mesco at Manuela.Mesco@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 19, 2016 13:48 ET (17:48 GMT)
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