Australian outdoor advertising company oOh!media said on Monday it had agreed to be bought by infrastructure investor I Squared Capital in an A$1.04 billion ($734.55 million) deal including debt.I Squared emerged as the winning bidder after a months-long contest for oOh!media that drew interest from several global investment firms, including Pacific Equity Partners, Bain Capital and Oaktree Capital.The deal with I Squared Capital values oOh!media's equity at about A$898 million and will be implemented through a scheme of arrangement under a binding agreement.Under the terms of the deal, oOh! shareholders will receive A$1.70 per share in cash, comprising A$1.68 per share in scheme consideration and 2 Australian cents in fully franked interim dividend.The offer represents a 6.9% premium to oOh!media's closing share price of A$1.59 on August 7 and a 21.4% increase over the initial A$1.40-per-share non-binding proposal tabled by rival suitor Pacific Equity Partners in April.It also represents a 100% premium to the closing price of A$0.85 on April 28, when the company received the Pacific Equity Partners offer.Interest in the firm intensified after Pacific Equity Partners launched its takeover offer in April, prompting rival bids from I Squared Capital and Bain Capital.oOh! Chair Philippa Kelly said the board unanimously recommended the I Squared Capital offer following a comprehensive and competitive process.The oOh! board is expected to pay a fully franked special dividend of about 10 Australian cents per share before the scheme is implemented.
I Squared wins bidding war for Australia's oOh!media with $735 million deal
Australian outdoor advertising company oOh!media has agreed to be acquired by infrastructure investor I Squared Capital for A$1.04 billion, including debt. The deal values its equity at about A$898 million, with shareholders receiving A$1.70 per share.













