Commercial broadcaster ITV has disposed of Carlton Books for an undisclosed sum as part of its £600 million programme to sell-off non-core assets.
In total, ITV has earmarked £600 million worth of non-core businesses to sell off, including the jewel in the crown – its 5% share in French multimedia company, Thomson SA (see Sale Of ITV Businesses To Raise £600 Million).
According to reports, the money raised from the disposals could be paid to ITV’s disgruntled shareholders as a special dividend. Since the Carlton and Granada merger in February, the companies shares have under-performed the FTSE All-Share by about 20%.
Other assets to be put on the block include, Carlton Screen Advertising, which sells adverts shown at cinemas, to stakes in top Premier League football teams Arsenal and Liverpool.