News Broadcasting
Fairfax Media receives revised TPG indicative offer
MUMBAI: Fairfax Media Limited has received a revised, indicative, preliminary and non-binding proposal from a consortium including TPG Group (TPG) and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (together with its affiliates, OTTP) (collectively, the TPG Consortium) to acquire 100% of the shares in Fairfax (on a fully diluted basis) at a price of $1.20 per share (less the value of any dividends or other distributions declared, proposed or paid after 14 May 2017), with all consideration being in cash (Revised Indicative Proposal).
Earlier, on 5 May, Fairfax had received an unsolicited indicative proposal from TPG Consortium. Macquarie Capital and Herbert Smith Freehills are advising Fairfax.
The Revised Indicative Proposal follows the Indicative Proposal of $1.20 – $1.25 per share, which was recently received from the TPG Consortium, as announced on 8 May 2017.
The Revised Indicative Proposal is subject to a number of conditions, including due diligence, shareholder approval at a Fairfax scheme meeting which would be required to implement the Revised Indicative Proposal, and obtaining requisite regulatory approvals, including approval from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and New Zealand Overseas Investment Office (OIO), and other conditions outlined below.
The Fairfax Board of Directors is reviewing the Revised Indicative Proposal. The Fairfax Board notes that there is no certainty that the Revised Indicative Proposal will result in an offer for Fairfax, what the terms of any offer would be, or whether there will be a recommendation by the Fairfax Board.
Fairfax shareholders do not need to take any action in response to the Revised Indicative Proposal and the Fairfax Board will update shareholders when it has been fully assessed.
Regardless of whether the Revised Indicative Proposal proceeds to an offer for Fairfax, the Fairfax Board believes that Fairfax has an announced strategy for the future that will deliver value for shareholders. Fairfax is continuing to progress the preparation for the announced potential separation of Domain Group.
Fairfax, on 5 May, received an unsolicited, preliminary, non-binding indication of interest from a consortium including TPG Group (TPG) and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board (together with its affiliates, OTTP) (collectively, the TPG Consortium) to acquire Fairfax for a combination of cash and scrip consideration in a newly listed vehicle (Indicative Proposal).
The effect of the Indicative Proposal, if implemented, would be for the TPG Consortium to acquire Domain, Australian Metro Media, Events and Digital Ventures (excluding Stan) for cash consideration of $0.95 per share; while existing Fairfax shareholders would retain 100% of Australian Community Media, New Zealand Publishing, and shareholdings in Macquarie Media Limited and Stan, through a distribution to them of scrip in a listed vehicle containing those businesses and the existing Fairfax net indebtedness.
The Indicative Proposal is subject to a number of conditions, including due diligence, shareholder approval at the Fairfax scheme meetings which would be required to implement the Indicative Proposal, and obtaining requisite regulatory approvals, including Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approval.
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
