Showing posts with label M6. Show all posts
Showing posts with label M6. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

RTL and Bouygues to merge their M6 and TF1 units in France

Plans to merge M6 with TF1 (= Bouygues), presentation here:
  • To carve out non-broadcasting activities of M6 into M6 Services, broadcasting activities remain listed (renamed M6 Edition, to be renamed later), M6 Services to merge into TF1, RTL contributes its 48.3% M6 stake
  • M6 shareholders to receive EUR 1.00 dividend, EUR 1.50 special dividend, 1 M6 Edition share, shares in M6 Edition based on 2.1 for 1 exchange ratio
  • Bouygues acquires 11% stake from RTL for EUR 641m
  • Bouygues to own 30%, RTL 16% (free float 54%)
  • Bouygues to have control with RTL as strategic shareholder (long-term industrial partner)
  • To close end 2022
  • Pro forma 2020: rev EUR 3.36b, oper profit 461m
  • Target annual synergies at EBITA level of EUR 250-350m after 3 yr
  • Plans 90% dividend pay-out of FCF
  • Nicolas de Tavernost to be Chair & CEO, Gilles PĂ©lisson Deputy CEO at Bouygues in charge of Media
  • Bouygues to have right of first offer for RTL selling 5% stake
  • To develop SVOD service based on the AVOD services 6play (M6) & MyTF1 (TF1)
  • RTL: "major step in implementing our strategy to create national media champions across our European footprint (...) in-country consolidation creates significant value"
Impact
  • Scale advantages, cost savings
  • Complementary portfolios, better positioned for share-of-wallet in fragmenting market place
  • RTL will work on similar deals in other countries
    • Belgium: DPG Media (the vtm channels) could be a partner (combining RTL's Wallon business with DPG's Flemish business, i.e. with limited advantages), or alternatively Mediawan in Wallonia
    • Netherlands: could propose a merger with Talpa Netwerk (the SBS channels, veronica, Net5)