Sky Europe: BSkyB acquires 87.45% stake in Sky Deutschland for nearly €5.5 billion

The British pay-TV group BSkyB is about to acquire 87.45% of the capital and voting rights of its German counterpart, Sky Deutschland, the company announced on 06/11/2014. BSkyB will acquire the 57.45% stake in Sky Deutschland owned by the American 21^st Century Fox group, as well as a 30% stake held by minority shareholders of the German group.

The minority shareholders of Sky Deutschland had until 03/11/2014 to accept the bid from BSkyB. The takeover of BSkyB will be effective on 12/11/2014. The amount of the transaction amounted to nearly €5.5 bn from the British group. In total, the acquisitions of Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland by BSkyB is valued at €8.6bn on 06/11/2014.

• BSkyB reached an agreement with the American media group 21^st Century Fox, on 25/07/2014, for the acquisition of the shares that the latter holds in Sky Italia (100%) and Sky Deutschland (57.4%).
• BSkyB is also partly owned (39.14%) by 21^st Century Fox. The minimum purchase amounts for BSkyB, to €6.8bn. It could reach €8.8bn if the minority shareholders of Sky Deutschland decide to sell their shares in BSkyB.
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