Monday’s announcement marks the conclusion of a two-year deal course of. The merger with Sony, in line with analysts, was anticipated to probably rescue Zee from its present crises and decline in market share.
“Given the cancellation of the deal, the near-term inventory might be below stress and return to its pre-merger PE a number of of 12-13 occasions or under ‘200,” stated Abneesh Roy, govt director – analysis at Nuvama Institutional Equities. “Given the uncertainties surrounding the identification of a brand new accomplice, an ongoing authorized case with Sony involving $90 million, and the potential deal between Viacom and Disney, backside fishing in Zee shares could possibly be deemed a dangerous proposition.”The Zee inventory has declined 15% prior to now one month, in distinction to a 1% acquire within the Nifty index, primarily resulting from uncertainties surrounding the merger. Following the deal announcement in December 2021, Zee shares had surged from about ‘170 to round ‘370.As of December 2023, overseas institutional buyers owned a 28.19% stake within the firm, whereas home institutional buyers held 43.42% and retail buyers had 24.24%. Among the many vital shareholders, mutual funds resembling ICICI Prudential, Nippon India and HDFC MF owned between 5.26% and seven.25%, respectively, whereas Life Insurance coverage Company of India held 5.12%.In response to a fund supervisor, the merger would have been supreme for Zee and Sony, particularly contemplating the evolving dynamics within the trade with the merger of Disney and Viacom. On the failure of the deal, he stated not solely would Zee shareholders be affected, however the firm itself may face a sequence of downgrades within the close to time period.
Company governance companies blamed the promoters and the board for the breakdown of the deal.
“The 96% non-promoter shareholders have a proper to carry the board accountable because the promoters and the board of Zee weren’t in a position to ship on the merger. Traders have been pissed off as a result of extended discussions and last-minute negotiations,” stated Shriram Subramanian, founder and managing director of InGovern Analysis Providers. “Public shareholders have been voting towards the administrators prior to now and can possible work in direction of a change in your entire board by calling an EGM (extraordinary common assembly).”
On Sunday, Moneycontrol, citing sources, reported {that a} clutch of institutional buyers, together with Life Insurance coverage Company, had written to the Securities and Trade Board of India that the stalemate within the firm’s merger talks with Sony group was hurting minority shareholders.
