The Takeover Panel has this morning ruled against WPP’s attempt to free itself from its 555p-a-share offer for Tempus Group (see Tempus Confirms WPP Offer). WPP had made a submission to the Takeover Panel in an attempt to invoke the Material Adverse Change clause in its initial offer citing the further deterioration of the ad… Continue reading Takeover Panel Rules Against WPP
More Media Business articles
Troubled digital terrestrial broadcaster, ITV Digital, has beaten its internal subscriber growth targets for the third quarter, according to a statement released by co-owners Carlton Communications and Granada this morning. The companies say that ITV Digital gained 82,000 customers in the quarter to September, pushing its total customer base to 1.2 million, up 36% year… Continue reading ITV Digital Reduces Costs And Grows Subs 36% In Q3
SMG has today announced that its review of staffing levels (see SMG Offers All Employees Voluntary Redundancy) will result in a maximum of 95 redundancies across its operations by the end of 2001. This represents around 5% of the media company’s total workforce. Of the 95 redundancies, 17 are management positions. Whilst a further 52… Continue reading SMG Makes 95 Cost-Cutting Redundancies
According to the latest eCommercePulse survey from Nielsen//NetRatings, online buying will rise by over 40% this Christmas reaching $9.9 billion compared to $6.9 billion last year. The report forecasts that in excess of 106 million people will shop online in December 2001, 27% more than the 85 million who bought online in 2000. “The number… Continue reading Online Spending This Christmas Will Net $10 Billion
Shares in ITV companies began to fall this morning as analysts at Merrill Lynch cut their forecasts for the Network’s advertising revenues. Reports quote the broker as pulling back 2001 growth from -14.5% to -15.5%; 2002 figures are understood to have been revised from -2.0% to -2.5%. Poor advance bookings for December are thought to… Continue reading ITV Stock Hit By Merrill Lynch Downgrades
Regional newspaper publisher Johnston Press has formally requested that the acquisition of eight titles from rival publishing group, Trinity Mirror, be investigated by the Competition Commission (CC). The move follows competition minister Melanie Johnson’s decision not to allow the deal to go ahead without a CC investigation (see Johnston Considers Requesting Regulator Approval For Trinity… Continue reading Johnston Press Refers Free Trinity Papers Acquisition To Competition Commission
In a statement this morning WPP announced that it had extended the deadline on its Tempus offer until midnight on 29 October whilst discussions with the Takeover Panel continue. WPP has sought to invoke the ‘material adverse change’ clause in its initial offer following the terrorist attacks on the US which, it claims, seriously damaged… Continue reading WPP Extends Tempus Offer Pending Takeover Panel Decision
Worldwide business to business (B2B) e-commerce is to grow by 83% this year to a value of $516 billion, according to a report released on 10 October by IDC. The longer term growth forecast shows the value of B2B e-commerce rising from $282 billion in 2000 to $4.3 trillion by 2005 – a compound annual… Continue reading Worldwide B2B E-Commerce To Hit $4.3 Trillion By 2005
AOL Time Warner has announced the completion of its acquisition of IPC Group, the parent company of IPC Media, from venture capitalist firm Cinven (see AOL Takes IPC Media For £1.15bn). The purchase price is £1.15 billion, including the cash in the company. The deal was announced in July, following months of speculation about possible… Continue reading AOL Time Warner Completes £1.15bn Acquisition Of IPC
