Mumbai: Network18 Media & Investments Ltd (Network18) (NSE: NETWORK18) and  TV18 Broadcast Ltd (TV18) (NSE: TV18BRDCST) has announced a scheme of arrangement in terms of which TV18 and e-Eighteen.com Ltd (“E18”, which owns and operates moneycontrol website and app) will merge with Network18.

The proposed scheme will consolidate the TV and digital news businesses of the Network18 group in one company and will help create India’s largest platform-agnostic news media powerhouse with the widest footprint across languages, straddling both TV and Digital. It will enable Network18 to consolidate and further grow its business from a position of strength. This will present a unique opportunity to all shareholders to participate in the media business of the group through one listed entity.

The merged entity will comprise of the TV portfolio of TV18 (20 news channels in 16 languages and CNBCTV18.com), Digital assets of Network18 (News18.com platform across 13 languages and Firstpost) as also moneycontrol website and app. Viacom18 with its portfolio of JioCinema and 40 TV channels will be a direct subsidiary of Network18. Network18 will continue to hold its investment in BookMyShow.

As consumers and advertisers increasingly gravitate towards omnichannel experiences across different aspects of their lives, having a deep and integrated presence across both TV and digital media will enable the merged entity to serve them better. Further, as the Network18 group has been working towards convergence, an integrated entity for news gathering and dissemination is expected to result in cost and content synergies.

The Board of Directors of the respective companies have approved the scheme of arrangement at their meetings held today.

Brief details of the scheme of arrangement:

Appointed date for merger: 1 April, 2023

Share exchange ratio:

100 shares of Network18 for every 172 shares of TV18

19 shares of Network18 for every 1 share of E18

A joint valuation report for the fair share exchange ratio has been provided by PwC Business Consulting Services LLP (PWC BCS) and Ernst & Young Merchant Banking Services LLP (EY).  PWC BCS was appointed by Network18 and EY was appointed by TV18 and E18. BofA Securities India Limited (for Network18), Citigroup Global Markets India Pvt Ltd (for TV18) and HSBC Securities and Capital Markets India Pvt Ltd (for E18) provided Fairness Opinion as financial advisors while Khaitan & Co. is the legal advisor for the Scheme.

The scheme of arrangement is subject to all necessary approvals.