GERMAN MEDIA PARTNERS AND KKR/PERMIRA ANNOUNCE DEAL FOR MAJORITY STAKE IN PROSIEBENSAT.1
- Agreement signed for the acquisition of approximately 50.5 per cent of the registered share capital
- Announcement of voluntary public takeover offer
- Investors intend to develop company into a European champion
- Transaction value of the GMP stake approximately 3.1 billion Euro, total value for ProSiebenSat.1 approximately 5.9 billion Euro
London/Frankfurt, 14 December 2006 - Lavena Holding 4 GmbH, which is con-
trolled by funds advised by KKR and Permira, today signed a share purchase agree-
ment for the acquisition of German Media Partners L.P.'s majority stake in ProSieben-
Sat.1 Media AG, Germany's largest TV broadcasting group. Upon completion of the
share purchase agreement, Lavena Holding 4 GmbH will acquire approximately 88 per
cent of the voting common shares and approximately 13 per cent of the non-voting
preference shares in ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG and will hold approximately 50.5 per
cent of the registered share capital. The parties have agreed on a price of 28.7145
Euro per common share and of 22.4000 Euro per preference share. The completion of
the share purchase agreement is subject to antitrust and media regulatory clearances.
Furthermore, Lavena Holding 4 GmbH has today announced its intention to launch a
voluntary public takeover offer to the shareholders of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG. The
offer price per share will be equal to the weighted average share price during the last
three months prior to the announcement of the takeover offer. The takeover offer will
be conditional upon the completion of the share purchase agreement. Details of the in-
tended offer will be published in an offer document upon approval of such offer docu-
ment by the Federal Supervisory Agency on Financial Services (BaFin).
"We are pleased to announce this mutually beneficial transaction with KKR and Per-
mira. After reviewing all of the bids, we are convinced that the offer of KKR and Per-
mira is the most attractive for both, the company and current shareholders. We are
confident that, as the new majority owner of ProSiebenSat.1, KKR and Permira, will
provide the company with strategic benefits and ensure continued prosperous growth"
said Haim Saban, Chairman and CEO of Saban Capital Group, the lead investor in
German Media Partners L.P.
"We are delighted to have the opportunity to develop, together with the management
and staff of ProSiebenSat.1, over the course of the coming years a new European me-
dia champion", said Thomas Krenz, Managing Partner of Permira, about the transac-
tion. Johannes Huth, the member of KKR responsible for the firm's European opera-
tions, stated: "The Company has a great potential for growth, not only with its core TV
channel, but also with an innovative range of new online and transaction services. We
will support the company with our know-how and resources in order to allow it to live up to its potential and continue the success story of ProSiebenSat.1 in Germany on a European scale".
On the basis of a significant equity commitment and a solid financing structure, the
company will keep sufficient flexibility for investments in growth opportunities.
Götz Mäuser, Partner and head of media sector at Permira, mentioned that after com-
pletion of all regulatory proceedings and the voluntary takeover offer, a possible busi-
ness combination with the broadcasting group SBS Broadcasting could be considered.
SBS Broadcasting is majority-owned by KKR and Permira and has a strong presence
in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg as well as in Scandinavia and Eastern
Europe. Huth stressed, however, that "it is clear, already today, that ProSiebenSat.1
will remain headquartered in Munich."
"ProSiebenSat.1 today is a fantastic company. Thanks to a great management team,
led by Guillaume de Posch, very talented employees, and the implementation of excep-
tional ideas over the past three years, ProSiebenSat.1 is the most successful turn-
around in European broadcast TV in recent years. We are proud to have been behind
this success story," added Adam Chesnoff, President and COO of Saban Capital
Group.
KKR and Permira were advised by Lehman Brothers and supported by UBS (Corporate
Finance) as well as by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
LLP (Legal) on the transaction.
J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Weil Gotshal & Manges and Hogan & Hartson Raue
were advisors to German Media Partners.
About Permira
Permira is a leading international Private Equity specialist. As an independent business, Permira is
owned and controlled by its partners. The firm's team of around 100 professionals, based in Frankfurt,
London, Madrid, Milan, New York, Paris, Stockholm and Tokyo, advises the Permira Funds with a to-
tal committed capital of more than EUR 21 billion. Since 1985, the Permira Funds have completed
over 180 private equity transactions. During the last year, the Permira Funds have completed seven
transactions with a combined transaction value of over EUR 30 billion. (www.permira.com)
About KKR
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) is one of the world's oldest and most experienced private equity
firms specializing in management buyouts. Founded in 1976, it has offices in New York, Menlo Park,
London, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Throughout its history, KKR has brought a long-term invest-
ment approach to its portfolio companies, focusing on working in partnership with management teams
and investing for future competitiveness and growth. Over the past 30 years, KKR has completed 146
transactions with an aggregate value of more than US$ 260 billion. (www.kkr.com)
About German Media Partners L.P.
German Media Partners L.P. is comprised of Saban Capital Group Funds (26.0%), Bain Capital Part-
ners Funds (18.6%), Hellman & Friedman Funds (18.6%), Thomas H. Lee Partners Funds (18.6%),
Providence Equity Funds (11.2%), Quadrangle Funds (5.9%) and Alpine Funds (1.1%). German Me-
dia Partners indirectly owns 50.5% of the share capital and 88.0% of the voting rights of ProSieben-
Sat.1 Media AG. In total, German Media Partners owns 13.0% of the preference shares and 88.0% of
the common voting shares of ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG through P7S1 Holding II S.à.r.l.
| Contact |
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Permira
Hans Ulrich Helzer
ergo Kommunikation
Phone: +49 (0)221-912887-12
Email:
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KKR
Alexander Geiser
Hering Schuppener Consulting
Phone: +49 (0)69-92187474
Email:
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Contact for German Media Partners in Germany: |
Christof Schramm
Tel.: +49 211 9541 2311
Cell. +49 170 85 89 170
Email: christof.schramm@pleon.com
Pleon Financial Communications GmbH |
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Contact for German Media Partners in the US |
Stephanie Pillersdorf/Cassandra Bujarski
Tel.: +1 212 687 8080
Sard Verbinnen
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About Saban Capital Group
Saban Capital Group, Inc. (SCG) is a private investment firm specializing in the media and
entertainment industries. Based in Los Angeles, SCG was established in 2001 by Haim Saban,
founder of global family entertainment company Saban Entertainment, a global television
broadcasting, production, distribution, merchandising and music company that was sold to the Walt
Disney Corporation in October 2001 in a $5.2 billion transaction. The firm makes both controlling and
minority investments in public and private companies and adds strategic value through its established
relationships and industry experience. SCG is also invested in Bezeq, Israel's national
telecommunication provider. In addition, SCG owns and operates a music company, Saban Music
Group, which operates an independent music-publishing company.
About Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.
Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. is one of the oldest and most successful private equity investment
firms in the United States. Since its founding in 1974, THL Partners has become the preeminent
growth buyout firm, investing approximately $12 billion of equity capital in more than 100 businesses
with an aggregate purchase price of more than $100 billion, completing over 200 add-on acquisitions
for portfolio companies, and generating superior returns for its investors and partners. The firm
manages approximately $20 billion of committed capital. Notable transactions sponsored by the firm
include Dunkin Brands, VNU, Michael Foods, Houghton Mifflin Company, Fisher Scientific, Experian,
TransWestern, Snapple Beverage and ProSiebenSat1 Media.
About Hellman & Friedman LLC
Hellman and Friedman LLC is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm. Since its
founding in 1984, the Firm has raised and managed $5 billion of committed capital and invested in
over 40 companies. The Firm's strategy is to invest in superior business franchises and to be a
knowledgeable and value-added investor in select industries, including financial services, media,
marketing, professional services, and information services. Representative investments include the
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.; Arch Capital Group Limited; Young & Rubicam, Inc.; Formula One
Holdings, Ltd.; Western Wireless Corporation; Voicestream Wireless Corporation; Eller Media
Company, Inc.; Franklin Resources, Inc.; and others.
About Bain Capital Partners
Bain Capital (www.baincapital.com) is a global private investment firm that manages several pools of
capital including private equity, high-yield assets, mezzanine capital and public equity with more than
$40 billion in assets under management. Since its inception in 1984, Bain Capital has made private
equity investments and add-on acquisitions in over 230 companies around the world, including
investments in a broad range of companies such as HCA, Burger King, Warner Music Group, NXP
Semiconductors, Houghton Mifflin Company, Toys "R" Us, AMC Entertainment, and Michaels Stores.
Headquartered in Boston, Bain Capital has offices in New York, London, Munich, Tokyo, Hong Kong
and Shanghai.
About Providence Equity Partners Inc.
Providence Equity Partners Inc. is a global private investment firm specializing in equity investments
in media and entertainment, communications and information companies around the world. The
principals of Providence Equity manage funds with over $9 billion in equity commitments and have
invested in more than 80 companies operating in over 20 countries since the firm's inception in 1990.
Significant investments include Bresnan Broadband Holdings, Casema, Comhem, Education
Management Corporation, eircom, Idea Cellular, Kabel Deutschland, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Ono,
PanAmSat, ProSiebenSat.1, Recoletos, SunGard, VoiceStream Wireless, Warner Music Group, and
Western Wireless. Providence Equity is headquartered in Providence, RI and has offices in New York
and London.
About Quadrangle Group LLC
Quadrangle Group LLC is a private investment firm based in New York City, with approximately $5
billion in assets under management. Quadrangle invests in media and communications companies
through separate private and public investment strategies, and in the securities of financially troubled
companies across all industries through a distressed debt investment program. All investment
strategies seek to maximize value by leveraging the investment teams' extensive experience,
knowledge and industry relationships. For more information, please visit
http://www.quadranglegroup.com.
About Alpine Equity Partners L.P
Alpine Equity Partners L.P. is a New York based merchant banking firm and an affiliate of Alpine
Capital LLC, a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm principally involved in media, entertainment,
communications and financial services. Included in the Alpine Equity Partners L.P. portfolio are
investments in Daily Racing Form. LLC., Sit-Up Ltd., and Money Mailer LLC.
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