Breakingviews - CBS-Viacom merger is more whimper than Big Bang

The CBS Television Studios campus is seen in Los Angeles, California, U.S. August 3, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Putting the U.S. broadcaster and the MTV operator back together after 13 years has not been easy, despite their common controlling shareholder. But on Tuesday the two companies, to be called ViacomCBS, agreed to a stock swap. Existing CBS shareholders will own 61%, with Viacom investors owning the rest. Shari Redstone, the daughter of nonagenarian Sumner, will assume the chair of the board and Bob Bakish, Viacom’s current leader, will run the new media firm.

Take the S&P 500 Media and Entertainment benchmark. It’s up roughly 20% since mid-August 2016. Three years ago, the combined market capitalizations of CBS and Viacom added up to over $40 billion. Had their values increased in line with the sector, the two companies would together now be worth well over $45 billion. They’re actually valued at only two-thirds of that.

Meh. This is about the 20th time they've merged with each other.

Singapore Singapore Latest News, Singapore Singapore Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

CBS and Viacom merge to form $30 billion media companyWith streaming video now the leading story, the two companies are fusing their war chests to better compete for viewers. Yay!! Bigger Better B-S!! God I hope I don’t have to see BBT on Comedy Central, I’ll die. It's basically a 2nd marriage.
Source: NBCNews - 🏆 10. / 86 Read more »

CBS And Viacom Stocks Both Sink As Merger Deal Nears Close – UpdateUPDATED with closing stock prices. Shares of CBS slipped 2% after early gains and Viacom’s dropped 5% Monday as investors reacted to word that the companies were near the finish line in their…
Source: DEADLINE - 🏆 109. / 63 Read more »