Eutelsat sells its KabelKiosk platform to M7-Group assisted by Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek
"KabelKiosk" and "meinFernsehn" are product names for TV cable and Internet distribution platforms, which have previously been marketed in Germany by French satellite operator Eutelsat. Eutelsat S.A., one of Heuking's standing clients, with its subsidiary "Eutelsat Services & Beteiligungen GmbH" is now selling its platform business with the above-mentioned service products, bundled in "Eutelsat visAvision GmbH," to a subsidiary of M7-Group.
Luxemburg-based M7-Group S.A. already operates TV platforms in the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary. Right in time for ANGA COM, the leading trade fair and congress for broadband, cable and satellite in Cologne, the deal parties now announced this transaction, which will be closed by July 2014.
"After setting up a strong TV distribution platform in Germany, it was now time for a new partner to advance KabelKiosk's further development," Michel de Rosen, Chairman and CEO Eutelsat, commented on the transaction. The German company managed by general managers Martina Rutenbeck and Alessandro Lanfranconi and the French parent company will be represented by Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek in Düsseldorf. Lawyers Michael Schmittmann, Dr. Philip Kempermann, LL.M. (from the IP, Media & Technology Practice Group), Dr. Martin Imhof and Dr. Deniz Günal LL.M. (Corporate) as well as Beatrice Stange LL.M. (Merger Control) are forming the team, which accompanied the negotiations and which will advise on the closing. Media and telecommunications convergence is ever more progressing at present: "If there is a poster mandate for the currently rapidly moving media and telecommunications convergence is, then this is it," said Michael Schmittmann, Partner at Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek in Düsseldorf.
