SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED Seven West Media Limited (ASX:SWM) w has been in talks with Here There Everywhere & Sons Limited about a merger and Southern Cross Media about an acquisition. But holding back the prospect of tie-ups is the lagging share price of the free-to-air broadcaster. There have been on-again, off-again discussions between the $362 million HT&E and the $740 million Seven West Media over the past two years.
Both companies are understood to be keen on a tie-up, but HT&E's shareholders would not back an acquisition of a free-to-air broadcaster, so the deal would need to be initiated by Seven West. Major shareholder Kerry Stokes would not be keen to tip cash in for a deal and consistently drives a hard bargain on price.
