The Board of Directors of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) on Wednesday (23 November) approved the acquisition of the General Entertainment Broadcasting Business Undertaking of Reliance Big Broadcasting Private Limited, Big Magic Limited & Azalia Broadcast Private Limited, all part of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group Entities.
The TV Broadcasting business of Reliance Group Entities currently comprises two operational general entertainment channels (“BIG Magic” and “BIG Ganga”) and 4 other TV licenses.
BIG Magic is a Comedy channel catering to Hindi Speaking Markets. BIG Ganga is a leading Bhojpuri entertainment channel catering to audiences in Bihar, Jharkhand and Purvanchal. The channels are available on all major MSOs and DTH operators.
The General Entertainment TV Broadcasting business undertaking along with its assets, liabilities, licenses, trademarks etc. shall get demerged from “BIG Magic Ltd”, “Reliance Big Broadcasting Private Ltd” and “Azalia Broadcast Private Ltd” into ZEEL through a court approved the scheme.
Punit Goenka, MD & CEO, ZEEL said, “We are pleased to announce this acquisition which further adds to our expanding universe of general entertainment channels. BIG Magic gives us access to comedy genre enhancing our customer offerings. BIG Ganga, a leading Bhojpuri channel syncs with our strategy of expanding into the regional markets which offer attractive growth potential. I am confident that these two channels will make the ZEE Network channels more enriching for the audience and for the Company.” Sam Ghosh, ED and Group CEO, Reliance Capital said, “We are happy to divest 100 per cent of our general entertainment TV business to Zee Entertainment. This transaction is part of our strategy to reduce exposure in non-core businesses and work towards further reducing debt under Reliance Capital.”
The proposed transaction remains subject to the approval of the shareholders and requisite regulatory approvals including stock exchanges, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Bombay High Court. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of CY2017.
Acquisory Consulting LLP and KPMG are acting as financial / tax advisors to ZEEL and the fairness opinion has been provided by IDBI Capital Markets. Luthra & Luthra Law Offices is acting as the legal advisor. EY and Phoenix Legal are acting as financial and legal advisors to Reliance Broadcast Network Limited respectively.
BW Reporters
The author is a journalist with BW Businessworld. He primarily covers Retail, Media & Entertainment and Travel & Tourism sectors
