Headquarters of the PRISA group in Gran Vía, Madrid.Andrea Comas
The French group Vivendi announced this Friday the acquisition of 7.6% of PRISA, the leading information and education group in the Spanish-speaking world, owner of EL PAÍS, Santillana, Cadena SER, Radio Caracol, AS and Los 40 Principales .
Vivendi is a group with a presence in the telecommunications and entertainment markets.
The seller has been the British bank HSBC, which has left the capital.
The investment is estimated at about 50 million euros.
According to Vivendi, the strategic investment in PRISA is part of its policy of strengthening itself as a large content, entertainment and media group, strengthening its presence in the Spanish market in Europe, Latin America and the United States.
"Vivendi's strategy has very clear synergies with PRISA, to strengthen its digital content, both educational and information and entertainment in Spanish," PRISA said in a statement.
The vice-president of PRISA, Joseph Oughourlian, as Chairman of the Board, has welcomed Vivendi on behalf of the Board of Directors and has indicated through a company statement that “PRISA appreciates the investment of an industrial shareholder such as Vivendi , which recognizes the value and potential of PRISA's assets and brands ”.
Oughourlian added that "Vivendi's investment provides the strength and security necessary for PRISA's future project and endows it with an important new ally to carry out those plans successfully."
Manuel Mirat, CEO of PRISA, highlighted “the illusion of working closely with Vivendi and its teams, identifying synergies and business opportunities, promoting the creation of quality content to generate value for PRISA shareholders and opportunities for Vivendi and PRISA in Spanish-speaking countries ”.
HSBC exit
The British bank HSBC had previously communicated this Friday to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) the sale of 7.89% of the capital of PRISA that it controlled after launching, on behalf of its parent HSBC Bank, a private placement, through the accelerated placement modality, aimed exclusively at qualified investors.
"After completion of the placement, HSBC Bank plc does not own any shares in the company," said HSBC.
Vivendi has bought 7.6% and the rest has been acquired by institutional investors.
"The amount of the placement has amounted to a total of approximately 52 million euros, with the sale price of 0.93 euros per share," says the relevant event communicated by HSBC to the CNMV.
The shares of the PRISA Group closed this Thursday with a rise of 0.86%, to 0.938 euros, so that the placement price has been in line with the market price.
PRISA shares rose sharply this Friday on the stock market after knowing about Vivendi's investment.
The main shareholder of PRISA is the British fund Amber Capital, with 29.8%, followed by Telefónica, with 9% and Rucandio, with 7.6%, a stake now also held by Vivendi.
Amber Capital and Vivendi are already partners in the French communication group Lagardère.
