Czech and Slovak DTH platform Skylink has been acquired by Luxembourg-based satellite TV provider M7 Group, via its subsidiary M77.
No financial details were provided but SatelliteFinance has confirmed that the deal value is approximately E80m. Local…
Czech and Slovak DTH platform Skylink has been acquired by Luxembourg-based satellite TV provider M7 Group, via its subsidiary M77.
No financial details were provided but SatelliteFinance has confirmed that the deal value is approximately E80m. Local media had previously speculated that the assets had been valued at close to 4-5 x EBITDA, or Kc1bn (E40.3m or US$59m).
As previously reported by SatelliteFinance, Rothschild acted as financial adviser on the Skylink transaction, while Kocian Solc Balastik provided legal advice.
When rumours of the Skylink sale were first announced, it was reported that the Slovak and the Czech operations could be divested separately. In Slovakia, the TV platform is operated by Towercom, while in the Czech Republic, it is controlled by TradeTec.
One local newspaper also claimed that Czech Republic-based J&T Finance Group indirectly controls Skylink, but both Towercom and J&T have denied the claim.
In a statement released on 30 September, M77 said: “The acquisition of Skylink ensures consolidation in the Czech Republic’s and Slovakia’s multi-channel TV markets.”
Back in February, M7 acquired another Czech DTH platform in CS Link. At the time, it had already been speculated that Skylink and CS Link, which both use the Astra 3a satellite at 23.5E, could merge their operations.
M7’s DTH consolidation strategy is not just limited to the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with the company adding: “This acquisition supports our expansion in Europe and help us develop our DTH strategy in several countries.”
It is understood that Ukraine and Romania might be of particular interest for the company.
M7 is currently present in Austria (AustriSat), the Netherlands (CanalDigitaal), Belgium (TV Vlaanderen) and Luxembourg (TeleSat). In addition, the company is working with Belgian mobile operator Mobistar, which uses the TV Vlaanderen and TeleSat DTH platforms.