EM.TV
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
EM.TV AG (formerly EM.TV & Merchandising AG) is a Munich-based media group. The company was founded by Thomas Haffa.
Note: EM.TV stands for "Entertainment, Merchandising, TV."
[edit] History
- EM.TV was founded by Thomas Haffa.
- 1997 - EM.TV went public and started to expand in various businesses.
- 1998 - The company acquired Junior.TV, a company that held licenses to most of the animated TV shows in the library of the KirchGruppe, the Media Group of Leo Kirch, where Thomas Haffa started his career.
- 1999 - EM.TV acquired TMG (Tele München Gruppe).
- 2000 - In February, EM.TV buys The Jim Henson Company for $680 million.
- 2000 - When EM.TV's market capitalization was about €10 billion, the company acquired the Jim Henson Company and 50% of SLEC Ltd., the holding company of the famous Formula One racing series. Because of an option to purchase another 25% of SLEC Ltd. from Bernie Ecclestone for 1 Billon EUR, EM.TV had problems funding the transaction via the capital markets.
- Between late 2000, when the company reported incorrect quarterly results, and 2002, EM.TV's stock fell from its price of €120 EUR to penny stock status.
- 2001 - In September, Werner Klatten, the former CEO of Sat.1, became the new CEO of EM.TV. He restructured the company: sold SLEC, Jim Henson Company, and TMG; and he directed the purchase of DSF, a German sports TV station. During the restructuring, the bondholders of a 1999-issued €400 million bond got nearly 60% in company stock in exchange for their bonds.
- 2003 - In July, The Jim Henson Company was purchased by the Henson family from EM.TV for $78 million.
