MTG Sells Off Russian & International Pay-TV Channels Businesses

October 26, 2015 World Screen Top Stories
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STOCKHOLM: Modern Times Group (MTG) has sold its Russian and international pay-TV channels businesses for a total consideration of $45.5 million.

The Russian channel business comprises factual, movie and sports channels, while the international channel business comprises pan-regional factual channels and the TV1000 movie channels. These transactions do not include MTG’s other entertainment channels or platforms, or the global Trace pay-TV channels business.

Sabiero Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of the international private equity firm Baring Vostok, acquired MTG’s international channels business, while the Russian company Sinerdzhi purchased the Russian channels business.

Irina Gofman, MTG's executive VP and CEO of the acquired businesses, will be responsible for these businesses under the new ownership, and the existing management teams and employees will also stay with the acquired businesses under the new ownership.

Jørgen Madsen Lindemann, MTG's president and CEO, commented: “The sale has been made necessary by the changes in the Russian laws regarding foreign ownership of mass media that were announced last year and come into effect from the beginning of next year. We have undertaken a thorough review of the options available to us in this context and to seek the best possible outcome for the stakeholders in the businesses and MTG as a whole.

“I want to thank all of our talented and loyal colleagues who have contributed so much to the remarkable growth of these operations that we launched. We wish you the very best for the future and look forward to further success together as we continue to carry the channels on our various pay-TV platforms.

These transactions and the agreement announced by CTC Media aim to conclude our actions to comply with the new Russian laws. Our total cash income from our $123 million of cash investments in Russia since 2001 would then be approximately $770 million and equivalent to a cash return of more than five times our investment.”