Liberty Media International Inc. to Acquire Indirect Ownership Interest in Belgian Cable Operator Telenet
25 Octobre 2004 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Liberty Media International Inc. to Acquire Indirect Ownership
Interest in Belgian Cable Operator Telenet ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Oct.
25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Liberty Media International, Inc.
(NASDAQ:LBTYANASDAQ:LBTYB) (LMI) announced today that it has agreed
to purchase preferred and common equity in a subsidiary of Cable
Partners Europe (CPE), Callahan Associates Holdings Belgium (CAHB).
CPE will use a majority of the proceeds to repay CPE Notes held by
LMI. The net additional cash investment by LMI is approximately $23
million. As a result of the transaction, LMI will be the control
shareholder of CAHB which will hold an approximate 14% indirect
interest in Telenet. Telenet is the largest cable operator in
Belgium with 2.5 million RGUs located primarily in the Dutch
speaking Flanders region of Belgium. The transaction is expected to
close before the end of the year. CAHB holds its interest in
Telenet through a holding company that controls approximately 21%
of the voting power associated with the issued and outstanding
shares of Telenet. Other shareholders of the holding company
include Evercore Capital Partners, CDP Capital Communications
Belgique and ML Private Equity Associates. John C. Malone,
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of LMI stated,
"Telenet's management and shareholders have built a well run cable
operation that is successfully delivering video, data and voice
services throughout the Flanders region in Belgium. We are very
pleased we were able to constructively restructure CPE so that we
can work together with the management team and other shareholders
in support of the continued success and growth of the business."
Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch & Co. served as advisors to
LMI in this transaction. Liberty Media International, Inc.
(NASDAQ:LBTYANASDAQ:LBTYB) owns interests in broadband distribution
and content companies operating outside the U.S., principally in
Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Through its subsidiaries and
affiliates, LMI is the largest cable television operator outside
the United States in terms of video subscribers. LMI's businesses
include UnitedGlobalCom, Inc., Jupiter Telecommunications Co.,
Ltd., Jupiter Programming Co., Ltd., Liberty Cablevision of Puerto
Rico, Inc. and Pramer S.C.A. The transaction is subject to
negotiation of definitive agreements and customary closing
conditions, including third party consents and approvals.
DATASOURCE: Liberty Media International, Inc. CONTACT: Mike
Erickson, 1-800-783-7676, for Liberty Media International, Inc.
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