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Dallo..."what struck me was the sudden realisation that ITV HAD SUCH A HIDDEN JEWEL IN THE SDN BUSINESS which no analyst had commented upon until yesterday A value of up to £1 billion for SDN is a pleasant shock allied to the sale of the Southbank."

Agreed Dallo,

I wonder if ITV have other £1bln gems?
We were expecting the sale of Sothbank for around £200mln, but not expecting an extra lump-sum for an asset that I didn't even know about. Wow.

So ITV could have potentially £1.2bln in cash??

What I would like ITV to do with this cash is pay down half of their £1.082bln of debt, and a share buy back with the rest. This will increase EPS going forward.

This cash lump sum could also tempt a predator, with ITV sat on a nice amount of cash. Any potential takeover offer would have to be at least 200p per share now IMHO.

A strong close over the pond last night with ITV ADR's closing up 4.75% at the high of the day, and up on the close in the UK. Although, it has to be said on low volume of shares traded. This bodes well for Monday's open in the UK. With speculation regarding a large share buy back and potential takeover I can only see the share price recovery continuing. 135p-140p next week. I hope to be proved wrong Dallo, and we start at 150p.

So ITV could potentially have £1.2 BLN cash to play with?

Is ITV liquidating assets for a potential takeover?

Interesting week ahead guys. I would rather be invested in ITV than not.

ITV up as Liberum suggests divesting SDN, buying STV

UK broadcaster ITV (ITVPY +4.1%) is on the rise today following a note from Liberum suggesting the company could raise £750M-£1B from divesting its SDN business.

The company already announced the sale of its South Bank site.

Now cash from an SDN investment could go to debt reduction or strategic acquisition, and Liberum points to buying STV as an option there. (h/t Bloomberg)

The rest could go to shareholders, and (for example) a £500M buyback would be 4% accretive in fiscal 2019, the firm says.

Shares rose 5.1% to close out the week in London.

Yesterday, the company launched a tender for up to €500M in debt.

Dallo....."Without being dramatic I would not be surprised to see ITV OPEN AT 150P + on Monday but I might be a little optimistic"

WOW Dallo,

Have you taken leave of your senses pal? I hope that you're right with your target?
I must say that your're not usually one to get too carried away, and I always respect your well informed comments.
Yes we both have large positions in ITV and have been very patient and deserve some good luck along with Solley.

"ITV COULD RAISE £750-£ 1BILLION from sale of its SDN business and the Southbank site has been sold for over £200m"

Not a bad figure Dallo considering that ITV purchased SDN for £134 million in 2005.

Dallo, Is ITV liquidating assets for a potential takeover?

Interesting week ahead.

BLACK FRIDAY.... "13th Sept"

Good day at the office up 6.15p..... Move on week up 5.75p.

We just need a takeover bid next week, and that would do me fine. Have a good weekend guys.

Courtesy of 2bluelynn over on the ADVFN discussion board.

See Naked trader tipped itv today as his next big share to get taken out after eto got snapped up . Really bullish on it . He’s no fool . Dyor

Full article. Link below.

https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2019/09/11/the-itv-share-price-is-up-20-is-it-time-to-buy/

https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/902396/bt-shares--unlikely-to-re-rate-amid-uncertainty--says-ubs-902396.html

ITV looks to add BritBox to Freeview Play

https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/itv/itv-looks-to-add-britbox-to-freeview-play/5142810.article

"MW position on the same basis is "underwater" by (£2,590,000) and rising."

It's a very risky game Alan, this shorting game. Shorter's run the risk of getting their fingers burnt, badly. Especially in a sector that is in consolidating, and a company that could receive a takeover approach at any time?

"iTV could be priceless to Apple"

I hope so Dallo.
I also think that it's just a matter of time before someone gets the ball rolling with a bid for ITV. The longer that they leave it ITV becomes more expensive. ITV have content that the big boys need.
I honestly think without 3 years of Brexit uncertainties, ITV would be owned by one of the big boys by now. JMO.

Good strong finish today, closing up 2.75p @125.10p on good volume of shares traded. Volume being 24.4 million. Average is 11.2 million.

This bodes well for tomorrow guys.

BT Group: Credit Suisse reiterates outperform with a target price of 280p.

Thanks for clearing that up Alan.

Happy to be wrong. Cheers.

5eights,

I think that LSE volume figures may be wrong. Investing.com has a far lower ITV volume of shares traded @11 million.

BT volume of shares traded today was very good 50,930 million. The average is 22,293 million. Interesting.

Dallo,
Yes knew that you meant £200 million. Lol

"The sale of the Southbank site for c £200 is expected soon and shouldreduce debt to EBIDTA ratio to1-1 which is nothing"

Good post Dallo,

yes the long awaited news regarding the sale of the southbank site for c£200mln will be well received by the market, I think.

The widow of opportunity for any US predator may be closing with the end game in sight regarding Brexit, and subsequently the future strength in the UK Pound after Brexit.

I feel if a predator doesn't strike soon, with the recent strength in the ITV share price. (Although from very over-sold position) the ITV bargain may be missed, or become more expensive. I must admit that I was expecting an offer from Liberty before now, with it Liberty sat on a 9.9% holding and a cash mountain (£17bln) from asset sales to Vodafone.

Invest, invest, invest.

Increase you income. It's a no-brainer.

Agreed Alan,

Content is king and ITV have it.

One of the big companies with deep pockets will swallow up ITV for it's content. IMHO.