After seven months, the dream of an ARN-Southern Cross combination fell apart. But if history is any guide, M&A has been a source of unease for ARN investors.
In the week after ARN Media’s tortured bid for Southern Cross looks to have died, the last whispers of deal hopefuls have landed on ARN’s own M&A track record. Its media rival and target, Southern Cross, arguably has a worse one.
It might be because ARN, run by Ciaran Davis and chaired by Hamish McLennan, has made it clear that it still wants the deal, and many investors support the company’s argument that radio needs scale to survive. But paying too much is a risk.
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Jemima Whyte writes on business, specialising in companies, capital markets and innovation. Jemima has reported on business for The Australian Financial Review for more than 13 years. Email Jemima at jemima.whyte@afr.com
