Sky TV, Vodafone plan merger to create NZ's largest telco and media group

Sky TV, Vodafone plan merger to create NZ's largest telco and media group
Tina Morrison
By Tina Morrison June 9 (BusinessDesk) - Sky Network Television plans to merge with the New Zealand unit of Vodafone Group to create the country's largest telecommunications and media group. Auckland-based Sky wants to acquire all the shares in Vodafone NZ for $3.44 billion through the issue of new shares, giving Vodafone Europe a 51 percent share in the combined group, and cash of $1.25 billion, to be funded through new debt, the companies said in a statement. Sky plans to borrow $1.8 billion from Vodafone to fund the purchase, repay its...