Posted: Tue., May 8, 2007, 3:33am PT

All3Media sews up MME takeover

Deal creates European powerhouse

By ED MEZA

BERLIN — All3Media, the U.K. production company owned by private equity group Permira, has completed its takeover of leading German indie TV production group MME Moviement after minority shareholders accepted a bid for an additional 39% of the company stock (Variety, Feb. 28, 2007).

All3Media, which already controlled 42% of the company, offered Euro 30 million ($41 million) for the 39% stake, or $9.50 a share.

All3Media plans to merge MME with its U.K. operations and create one of Europe's leading TV production houses, with a combined revenue of about $540 million.

MME produces a wide range of content, series, TV movies and entertainment formats for all of Germany's main channels, including pubcaster ARD's hit crime series "Tatort" and "Polizeiruf 110."

Permira and fellow private equity group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts took over Germany's biggest commercial broadcasting group, ProSiebenSat 1, earlier this year and plan to merge it with their pan-European TV group SBS Broadcasting later this year.

Both deals could lead to an eventual marriage of ProSiebenSat 1/SBS and All3Media/MME, creating a vertically integrated pan-European media powerhouse that would rival Bertelsmann's RTL Group.


TALKBACK:

Have an opinion about this article? Be the first to comment



Print Variety
Bookmark
Get Variety:
Variety Mobile Variety Digital Variety Home Delivery
Newsletter Signup:

Featured Jobs

Variety Real Estate