CMCSA Comcast Corporation

   By Adria Calatayud 
 

The U.K. Takeover Panel said Wednesday that appeals have been lodged over its ruling that Walt Disney Co. (DIS) would have to make an offer of 14 pounds ($18.1) a share for Sky PLC (SKY.LN) if it buys 21st Century Fox Inc.'s (FOX) entertainment assets.

The panel said a meeting of its appeal board will now be convened to consider the appeals lodged by several interested parties.

Last week, the regulatory body confirmed that Disney would have to make an offer for Sky if Disney's acquisition of the Fox assets, including Fox's current 39% stake in Sky, goes ahead before a potential buyer takes control of the U.K. pay-TV group.

Shareholders of Disney and Fox approved the $71 billion deal between the two companies on July 27.

Comcast last month posted to Sky shareholders a takeover offer that values the company at GBP25.9 billion, or GBP14.75 a share. On Aug. 7, Fox posted to Sky shareholders the documents related to its GBP14-a-share offer to buy the 61% stake in the company it doesn't already own.

Fox shares common ownership with News Corp (NWS), the parent company of Dow Jones.

Read more about the Sky takeover at https://on.wsj.com/2JhQx1C (WSJ paywall) or https://bit.ly/2vwgFB7 (NewsPlus).

Write to Adria Calatayud at adria.calatayudvaello@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

August 08, 2018 06:25 ET (10:25 GMT)

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