Contact us

Spice may buy 39% stake in Sony TV

Flush with cash from his wireless telephony company's sale, industrialist B K Modi is negotiating to acquire 39 per cent stake in Indian television company, Multi Screen Media (MSM), earlier known as Sony Entertainment Television. Modi, who was earlier eyeing the 32 per cent stake held by Indian shareholders, is now looking at acquiring an additional 7 per cent held by trusts. He is also planning to re-brand the television channel as Sony Spice TV. “We are in talks to buy Sony from the present shareholders and now we are close to acquiring 39 per cent stake in the company. We are also open to take our stake further to get majority control,” a top executive of Spice group said, on condition of anonymity. Apart from buying the Indian promoters' 32 per cent shares in the company, Modi is talking to various equity funds to garner another 7 per cent. With this buyout, Modi will become the largest shareholder in the company after Sony Pictures, which holds 61 per cent. The unlisted MSM is one of India's leading television channels and its minority promoters were looking at exiting the company for a long time. […]

PE deals touch $6.39 bn in so far this year

Downturn in the world economies notwithstanding, India is witnessing increasing number of private equity (PE)deals with the total value touching $6.39 billion so far this year. PE deals in the country have fared well since the beginning of this year despite global credit crunch, high oil prices, inflation among others. “The total number of PE deals during the first five months of 2008 stands at 170, with an announced value of $6.39 billion as against 159 deals amounting to $4.97 billion during the corresponding period in 2007,” global consulting major Grant Thornton said. Meanwhile, another global deal tracking firm Zephyr said India is among the top 10 countries in terms of value of private equity deals across the world. […]