The volume and value of deals announced in the European media and telecom industry declined year over year in October, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence.
There were 48 media and telecom deals in October, a 52% drop from 100 transactions announced in October 2022. Meanwhile, the aggregate transaction value was down to $1.65 billion compared to $3.55 billion the previous year.
The biggest transaction of the month was private equity firm Apax Partners LLP's agreement to acquire UK-based trend forecasting company WGSN Ltd. from Ascential Financing Ltd. for $850.5 million. It was the only deal in October that found a place in the sector's top 10 deals year-to-date.
The acquisition is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2024, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.
Local Pensions Partnership Investments Ltd. and GLIL Infrastructure LLP's planned $437.1 million purchase of a 16.67% stake in Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Ltd. from VMED O2 UK Ltd. was the second-biggest deal during the month.
An undisclosed buyer's acquisition of TalkTalk Telecom Group PLC's TalkTalk Business Direct unit for $115.4 million was the third-largest deal, completed Oct. 3.
The sale was the first phase of the UK telecom group's demerger strategy announced in September, which aims to divide the company into three separate businesses and refinance those businesses separately.
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Emirates Telecommunications Group Co. PJSC's $2.76 billion bid to buy a 50% stake in PPF Telecom Group BV's assets in Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia and Slovakia, remains the sector's largest deal so far year to date, closely followed by Saudi Telecom Co.'s acquisition of a 9.9% stake in Spanish operator Telefónica SA for $2.27 billion.
Interactive media and services, wireless telecom services and advertising were among the subsectors that contributed to dealmaking in October.