London: Sky has received a takeover approach from 21st Century Fox, it said yesterday, as media mogul Rupert Murdoch made a second tilt at the European pay-TV broadcaster.
The London-listed firm said in a statement it had agreed on an informal offer of £10.75 per share from the Murdoch-controlled US media-entertainment giant, which is seeking to take full control.
The deal values it at £18.5 billion ($23.4bn), but Sky stressed there was no certainty that a firm offer would be made.
Nasdaq-listed 21st Century Fox already owns a 39.1 per cent stake in Sky, whose main five markets are Austria, Britain, Germany, Ireland and Italy.
“The independent directors of Sky note today’s share price increase, and announce that Sky has received an approach from 21st Century Fox,” Sky said.
“Discussions are continuing and an announcement will be made in due course.”
The price represents a premium of 40pc from Sky’s closing share price level on Tuesday, which was the day before the initial proposal was made.