March 20 (Reuters) - German media group ProSiebenSat.1
said on Thursday it has approved an agreement with
U.S. private equity firm General Atlantic on the acquisition of
the U.S. firm's minority stakes in dating platform ParshipMeet
and internet holding NuCom Group.
The deal with General Atlantic is expected to pave the
way to the sale of ProSieben digital assets, including
e-commerce portal Verivox to Italy's
Moltiply Group
.
ProSieben agreed to pay 10 million euros ($10.85 million) in
cash and 5.9 million treasury shares of the company, with a
current market value of 38 million euros and corresponding to
2.5% of the company's share capital.
The payment includes a fixed exit participation of 50
million euros for GA when ProSieben sells the ParshipMeet Group.
The deal with General Atlantic does not include a
convertible bond
ProSieben had considered that would have given GA up to 10%
in the German broadcaster. Earlier this week the supervisory
board put on hold the convertible bond, which would have diluted
existing shareholders.
Verivox's sale process is being closely followed by the
top two investors in ProSieben: MFE-MediaForEurope,
the TV group controlled by Italy's Berlusconi family, and Czech
investment company PPF.
Both MFE and PPF have called on ProSieben to focus on
its core TV business and part ways with its e-commerce and
online assets.
The GA deal includes the acquisition of the entire
minority shareholdings in NuCom Group, excluding perfume
e-retailer Flaconi.
General Atlantic will hold its 28.4% minority stake in
Flaconi directly and not, as currently, indirectly through NuCom
Group.
($1 = 0.9216 euros)