Thursday | 16 October, 2008
Computerworld
CBS to buy CNET Networks for $1.8 billion
CBS announced Thursday it will buy CNET Networks for US$1.8 billion in cash
Peter Sayer (IDG News Service) 16/05/2008 08:22:04

Additional Resources
Executive Guides
Whitepapers
Zones
Zone logoZones provide focussed content from Computerworld and leading technology partners.

Newsletter Subscription

Sign up for our Computerworld newsletters!
Computerworld's twice-daily news service keeps you in touch with the latest, most important headlines from Australia and around the world.
Keep up with the latest virtualisation technologies, products, news and features.
RSS Feeds

CBS has agreed to pay US$1.8 billion in cash for online media company CNET Networks in a deal that has the backing of both companies' boards.

The acquisition will increase the total of unique monthly visitors to CBS Web sites to around 200 million worldwide, CBS said. CNET online brands include CNET, GameSpot, TV.com, BNET, CHOW, ZDNet and TechRepublic.

CNET was the target of a hostile bid from investment fund Jana Partners in January. The investment fund, CNET's largest shareholder, sought to nominate two members to the company's board.

The CBS statement announcing the deal described CNET as profitable, but the company had a net loss of US$6.1 million on revenue of $91.4 million in the first quarter. That was less than the US$9.1 million the company lost in the year-earlier quarter, but the company's operating loss widened from $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2007 to $18 million this year, including restructuring charges of $5.1 million.

For the full year 2007, CNET's net income totaled US$176.8 million -- including a $184.2 million income tax benefit.

CBS expects to close the deal in the third quarter. Its offer price of US$11.50 per CNET share represents a premium of 45 percent over Wednesday night's closing price of $7.95. CNET shares were trading at $11.33 a half hour before markets opened Thursday morning.

Market Place

Computerworld Member Login


 

Smart SOA World Tour

Discover how SOA can create smarter outcomes for your business.

Attend and learn:

  • How SOA is helping leading companies to become more agile
  • Where you should be applying SOA processes in your company
  • The top SOA implementation mistakes to avoid

Click here for more information.
Whitepaper

How to Beef Up Your Sales Pipeline

Our economy may be heading towards a recession. Sales rates are dropping. Promotional campaigns are proving less effective than you would like. So how do you continue to grow your business and bring home the sales in such an environment? Download this white paper now to find the answers.

Enterprise IT Buyer's Guide
Find Technology Vendors Fast
 
Find vendors by name | Find by category
Sponsored Links