India's Zee tumbles on report Sony plans to call off US$10 billion merger
FILE PHOTO: Zee Entertainment and SONY logos are displayed in this illustration taken, September 1, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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BENGALURU: Shares of India's Zee Entertainment fell nearly 14 per cent on Tuesday (Jan 9), a day after Bloomberg News reported that Japan's Sony was planning to scrap the US$10 billion merger of its India unit with the broadcaster.
Sony plans to file a termination notice before the extended Jan 20 deadline to close the merger over an impasse regarding who will lead the merged company, Bloomberg reported on Monday.
Zee declined to comment, while Sony did not reply to Reuters' request for comment.
Shares of Zee were last down 10 per cent and are on track for their worst day since April 2021, while Sony's stock is up 1.2 per cent.
The deal to merge Zee and Sony's TV channels, streaming platforms and film assets was delayed after India's markets regulator in August barred Punit Goenka, Zee CEO and a candidate to lead the merged entity, from directorships of any listed company.
While an Indian tribunal lifted the ban on Goenka in October, Sony pushed for NP Singh, the managing director of its Indian operations, to head the merged company, instead of Goenka, local business daily Mint had reported.
"Any potential risk of the merger getting called off by Sony will have a significant negative impact on valuations," said Karan Taurani, an analyst at Elara Capital.
"We do not foresee Sony agreeing on Goenka becoming CEO, due to the ongoing investigation against him. However, there is a very small chance of Goenka putting the deal at risk due to him wanting to become CEO, even if term sheet and deal conditions mention that," Taurani added.