Indonesia Media Partners LLC, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, Inc., will acquire the equivalent of 5 percent of PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk's outstanding shares from PT Global Mediacom Tbk, an Indonesia-based media group, the companies announced Monday. Indonesia Media Partners will have a 27-month call option to acquire the equivalent of 2.5 percent of MNC's outstanding shares.
MNC also announced that it will increase its dividend payout, beginning with the dividend payable in 2012, to at least 45 percent of net income generated during the preceding year.
Here's the release:
JAKARTA, INDONESIA and LOS ANGELES, CA (October 17, 2011) – Indonesia Media Partners LLC, an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, Inc., and PT Global Mediacom Tbk (“Global Mediacom”) have entered into a definitive agreement today whereby Indonesia Media Partners will acquire 692,336,150 shares of PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk (“MNC”), equal to 5.0% of MNC’s outstanding shares, at IDR 1,000 per share and a 27 month call option to acquire an additional 346,168,075 shares, equal to 2.5% of MNC’s outstanding shares, from Global Mediacom.
MNC also announced that it will increase its dividend payout, beginning with the dividend payable in 2012, to a minimum of 45% of net income generated during the preceding year.
Haim Saban, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saban Capital Group said, “We are strong believers in the growth prospects of the Indonesian economy, its positive consumer demographic trends and the growth of its media and content industries. As the largest media business in Indonesia, and through the leadership of Hary Tanoesoedibjo, MNC will be a prime beneficiary of Indonesia’s burgeoning consumer economy and we believe there are multiple areas of strategic cooperation between Saban Capital Group and MNC.”
Adam Chesnoff, President and Chief Operating Officer of Saban Capital Group said, “We view MNC as one of the most attractive media companies globally given its market leadership, focus on original content creation, robust future growth prospects and strong cash flow generation. Hary Tanoesoedibjo has successfully built Indonesia’s largest vertically-integrated media and content business, along with the high-caliber management team of MNC, and we are delighted to support Hary’s vision for MNC. MNC’s core businesses in free-to-air television broadcasting and content creation are well-aligned with Saban Capital Group’s track record of investing in leading media businesses globally. We view our investment in MNC as strategically important to the continued expansion of Saban Capital Group’s investment franchise in Asia.”
Hary Tanoesoedibjo, Chief Executive Officer of Global Mediacom and MNC said, “Saban Capital Group is a leading investor in the media, entertainment and communications sectors globally. Saban Capital Group’s investment is a strong vote of confidence on the long-term growth prospects of MNC. We are very particular in selecting significant shareholders in MNC and have a strong preference for investors that can partner with MNC for the achievement of long-term, sustainable growth. I believe Saban Capital Group meets our criteria and we are very delighted to have them as a shareholder and a partner on various areas of strategic cooperation.”
Indonesia Media Partners received financial advice from UBS Securities LLC and legal advice from Latham & Watkins LLP and Melli Darsa & Co. Global Mediacom received financial advice from Morgan Stanley Services Limited and legal advice from O'Melveny & Myers LLP.
The transaction is expected to close by mid-November 2011.
About Saban Capital Group, Inc.
Saban Capital Group ("SCG") is a leading private investment firm based in Los Angeles specializing in the media, entertainment and communications industries. Established in 2001 by Haim Saban, the firm makes both controlling and minority investments in public and private companies and takes an active role in its portfolio companies. Between 2003 and 2007, SCG led the investor consortium that acquired control of ProSiebenSat.1, Germany’s largest television group. SCG's current private equity investments include Univision (the premier Spanish-language media company in the US); Tiger Gate Entertainment (a joint venture with Lionsgate to operate branded pay television channels across Asia); and Taomee (China's leading children's online entertainment company). Saban Brands LLC, an affiliate of SCG, was formed in 2010 to acquire, manage and license entertainment properties and consumer brands across media and consumer platforms globally, and currently holds the rights to Power Rangers and Paul Frank Industries in its portfolio.
In addition, SCG actively manages a globally diversified portfolio of investments across public equities, credit, alternative investments and real property assets. SCG partners with best of class investment managers to develop long-term strategic relationships.
Haim Saban was the founder of Fox Family Worldwide, which he owned in equal partnership with News Corporation until its sale to The Walt Disney Company in October 2001.
About PT Global Mediacom Tbk
PT Global Mediacom Tbk (“Global Mediacom”) is the largest and the only integrated media group in Indonesia with operations encompassing content and advertising based media, subscriber based media and media support and infrastructure.
Content and advertising media is operated through PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk ("MNC”). MNC’s operations encompass content production, content distribution, three nationwide free-to-air television networks with more than 40% audience share, 24-hour program TV channels, newspaper, tabloid, magazine, radio networks, on- line media, Value Added Services, advertising agency and talent management. MNC has the largest content library in Indonesia, reaching more than 100,000 hours of entertainment and news content, which is increasing by more than 15,000 hours yearly.
Subscriber-based media is operated through PT MNC Sky Vision, the largest pay-TV operator in Indonesia through two leading brands under their respective target markets – Indovision and Top TV. Indovision targets the middle-upper to upper income segments while Top TV targets the middle to low income segments. Mediacom has another subsidiary with its own pay TV license called Nusantara Vision with its brand, OkeVision, targeting the middle to low income segments.
Media support and infrastructure is operated by PT Infokom Elektrindo, which provides broadcast tower, transmission system and as an SMS gateway for Global Mediacom.
About PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk
PT Media Nusantara Citra (“MNC”) is the largest and only integrated media company in Indonesia with operations encompassing content production, content distribution, three nationwide free-to-air television networks with more than 40% audience share, 24 hour program TV channels, newspaper, tabloid, magazine, radio networks, online media, value added services, advertising agency and talent management. MNC has the largest content library in Indonesia, reaching more than 100,000 hours of entertainment and news content, which is increasing by more than 15,000 hours yearly.
