Press Releases

Budapest, April 30, 2008 10:30

Magyar Telekom has signed a strategic co-operation agreement with IKO Production Kft. to split the activities of the jointly owned IKO-Telekom Media Holding and gain full control of the Holding’s two independent content service provider subsidiaries, IKO New Media and IKO Content&Rights.

The IKO-Telekom Media Holding Zrt. (Holding) is currently 50-50% owned by Magyar Telekom and IKO Production, and has 100% ownership of IKO New Media Kft. and IKO Content&Rights Kft. companies and a 31% stake in Magyar RTL Televízió Zrt. (M-RTL), the leading Hungarian commercial TV station, member of the RTL Group. IKO Production Kft. is part of the IKO Media Group, one of the fastest developing media groups in the CEE region.

According to the co-operation agreement, the properties of the Holding will be split between the owners by way of a demerger; as a result Magyar Telekom gains 100% ownership over IKO New Media and IKO Content&Rights, and is entitled to a HUF 2 bn compensation, while the Holding including the 31% stake in M-RTL will remain with IKO Production.

Since its establishment in 2003, IKO New Media Kft. has become one of the leading companies in the Hungarian interactive service market, and is the service provider of telecommunications applications for M-RTL. Through its own license, the company produces TV shows and is one of the largest aggregators of premium rate telecommunications services in Hungary with its own independent entertainment content selling division. IKO Content&Rights Kft. is an aggregator in the content outsourcing market. The two companies had revenues of more than HUF 2.8 bn and a 23% EBITDA margin in 2007 (unaudited figures).

The co-operation agreement enables Magyar Telekom to further increase its business focus on content-related and interactive service opportunities. At the same time, by strengthening its position in the content service market Magyar Telekom will become the leading interactive service provider in Hungary.

The transaction is still pending, subject to the approval of the M-RTL shareholders and the Competition Authority. The Court of Registry is expected to register the legal separation in the fourth quarter of 2008.