RIL subsidiary gets Competition Commission nod for Den, Hathway acquisition

RIL subsidiary gets Competition Commission nod for Den, Hathway acquisition

Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani

BENGALURU: The Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani led Reliance Industries Limited has informed the bourses that permission from the Competition Commission of India for acquisition of shares and control of Den Networks and Hathway Cable & Datacom  (Hathway) by six SPV 100 percent owned and controlled by Digital Media Distribution Trust of which Reliance Content Distribution Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, is the sole beneficiary, has been received on 21 January 2019.

The approval will enable subscription to the preferential issue of equity shares by Den and Hathway and purchase of equity shares of Den from the existing promoters, as specified in the disclosure dated October 18, 2018.

RIL is now waiting for Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) comments on the draft letter for mandatory open offer to shareholders of (a) Den; (b) GTPL Hathway Limited; and (c) Hathway Bhawani Cabletel and Datacom Limited,

Yesterday, Den Networks had informed the Stock Exchanges that (i) Jio Futuristic Digital Holdings Private Limited, (ii) Jio Digital Distribution Holdings Private Limited and (iii) Jio Television Distribution Holdings Private Limited (collectively referred as “investors“) have received the above referred approval.

Also, yesterday, Hathway had informed the Stock Exchanges – “Further to our intimations dated 17th October, 2018 and 14th November, 2018 with respect to Boards' and Shareholders' approval for raising of funds up to Rs. 2940,00,03,500 (Rupees Two Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty Crores Three Thousand and Five Hundred only) through preferential allotment to Jio Content Distribution Holdings Private Limited, Jio Internet Distribution Holdings Private Limited and Jio Cable and Broadband Holdings Private Limited (the "Proposed Investors"), please be informed that the Proposed Investors have received the approval from the Competition Commission of India on January 21, 2019.”

Hathway had also submitted a copy of the Letter of Offer dated 21 January 2019 to Stock exchanges.