UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has increased its stake in German pay-television broadcaster Sky Deutschland by more than five per cent to 95.8 per cent since the end of November.
Sky’s wholly owned subsidiary, Sky German Holdings GmbH, had a stake of 90.04 per cent on November 28. However, Sky has said this has now increased to 95.8 per cent of the total share capital and voting rights of the company.
In November, BSkyB said that it would be renamed Sky after the completion of acquisitions of Sky Italia in Italy and a majority stake in Sky Deutschland in Germany and Austria.
The deal brought together leading sports broadcasters in three of Europe’s four largest pay-television markets.
In July, BSkyB announced a deal to acquire media company 21st Century Fox’s 100-per-cent stake in Sky Italia and 57.4-per-cent interest in Sky Deutschland. It has since been acquiring shares from Sky Deutschland’s minority investors.
The latest announcement comes amid speculation that Sky will seek to delist Sky Deutschland. Under German law, acquiring companies can delist the acquired firm if they own over 95 per cent of its shares.
Sky Deutschland recently acquired rights in Germany and Austria for the 2015 men’s handball World Championships. Sky will show all 88 matches during the event, which is due to run from January 15 to February 1 in Qatar.