Theme_Park_Insider
10-13-2009, 03:10 PM
By Robert Niles: My former co-worker Staci Kramer offers the best explanation to date (http://paidcontent.org/article/419-vivendi-board-meets-this-week-but-decision-on-ge-stake-could-stretch-in/) of where GE and Vivendi stand on a possible sale of NBC Universal to Comcast (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200910/1442/). As Staci describes it, GE would buy out Vivendi's 20% stake, then merge NBC Universal with Comcast. GE would retain a stake in NBC/Universal/Comcast, though it could eventually sell that stake to Comcast, which would give the cable giant complete control over NBC/Uni.
NBC Universal, in any case, would retain its ownership of Universal Studios Hollywood and 50% stake in Universal Orlando. (The other 50%, of course, being owned by Blackstone Group, which last week bought (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200910/1455/) the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks in a separate deal.)
The Vivendi board meets tomorrow to discuss the proposed sale of its share to GE, though it could delay a decision on that sale until later this year.
"Sources say both Comcast and GE are prepared for Vivendi to go into November and possibly into December before it makes its decision known," Staci wrote.
More... (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200910/1469/)
NBC Universal, in any case, would retain its ownership of Universal Studios Hollywood and 50% stake in Universal Orlando. (The other 50%, of course, being owned by Blackstone Group, which last week bought (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200910/1455/) the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks in a separate deal.)
The Vivendi board meets tomorrow to discuss the proposed sale of its share to GE, though it could delay a decision on that sale until later this year.
"Sources say both Comcast and GE are prepared for Vivendi to go into November and possibly into December before it makes its decision known," Staci wrote.
More... (http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200910/1469/)