United Group to take over CME media channels in Slovenia and Croatia – Transaction worth EUR 230 million

The telecommunications provider United Group has agreed, with the support of the American investment company KKR and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the takeover of the Croatian and Slovenian media portfolio of the Central European Media Enterprises (CME).

In other words, Nova TV, Doma TV, POP TV and Kanal A, along with some other cable channels, are getting new owners. The value of the transaction is EUR 230 million.

The transaction, which needs to be approved by regulatory bodies, should be completed by the end of the year.

The United Group announces investments in the purchased TV channels in order to increase their production capabilities and expand their reach outside their local markets.

It is estimated that the group, which owns regional telecom operators SBB and Telemach, has around two million PayTV clients in the countries of the former Yugoslavia.

KKR has invested around USD 8 billion in the telecommunications, media and digital sector so far. Since 1996, KKR has invested in 58 companies in Europe in various sectors. This amounts to over USD 20 billion in long-term investments.

United Grupa BROADBAND INVESTMENT S.à r.l.

EBRD London

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts

SBB d.o.o. Beograd

UG. UNITED GROUP INC Beograd

TELEMACH d.o.o. Ljubljana

KKR

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EBRD

Central European Media Enterprises

CME

Nova TV

Doma TV

POP TV

Kanal A