万达拟斥资超10亿欧元收购瑞士盈方

Chinese property developer Dalian Wanda has wonan auction for Infront Media, the Swiss group led bythe nephew of Fifa president Sepp Blatter thatdistributes broadcasting rights for some of thebiggest sporting events.

中国地产开发商大连万达(Dalian Wanda)赢得了对瑞士盈方体育传媒集团(Infront Sports & Media)的竞购。盈方的经营者是国际足联(Fifa)主席塞普•布拉特(Sepp Blatter)的侄子，该集团为一些最大体育赛事分销转播权。

 

 

Wanda will pay more than 1bn for the company, owned by buyout group Bridgepoint since2011, in a deal expected to be announced this week, people familiar with the matter said. Ittook pole position in the auction in December. Philippe Blatterwill remain as Infront presidentand chief executive.

万达将为此次收购出资逾10亿欧元，据知情人士透露，这笔交易有望在本周宣布。自2011年后，盈方为收购集团Bridgepoint所有。12月进行的竞购中，万达处于有利位置。完成交易后，菲利普•布拉特(PhilippeBlatter)将继续担任盈方的总裁和首席执行官。

The deal marks the latest stage of Shanghai-based Wanda’s expansion beyond commercialreal estate into leisure and entertainment, including sport and comes just weeks after itacquired a 20 per cent stake in Spain’s Atletico Madrid. The company already owns US cinemachain AMC Theatres and British luxury yachtmaker Sunseeker.

这笔交易标志着万达从商业地产行业拓展到休闲娱乐业的最新进展。万达进军的领域也包括体育，数周前，万达刚刚收购了西班牙足球俱乐部马德里竞技(Atletico Madrid) 20%的股份。万达还拥有美国院线AMCTheatres和英国豪华游艇制造商圣汐(Sunseeker)。

The bedrock of Wanda’s business is one of the biggest commercial property portfolios inChina, with Rmb160bn ($25.6bn) in sales last year placing it third after Vanke and Greenland asa developer. But it is augmenting its holdings to reflect the evolution of Chinese consumertaste beyond physical purchases towards online retail and rising spending on films andentertainment.

万达拥有的商业地产规模处于全国最大之列，这是其业务的基石，去年万达的地产销售额达到了1600亿元人民币(合256亿美元)，使其成为仅次于万科集团(Vanke)和绿地集团(Greenland)的第三大地产开发商。但万达增持了一些资产，试图反映中国消费者从实体购物转至在线零售、提高对电影和娱乐产品的支出的爱好变迁。

Infront distributed media rights in Asia for the last two Fifa World Cup tournaments, and hasthe rights to sell broadcast packages in 26 territories in Asia for 2015-22.

盈方负责分销过去两届世界杯足球赛在亚洲的媒体权利，并有权销售2015年至2022年期间亚洲26个国家及地区足球赛事的转播权。

Control of Infront, whose subsidiary HBS has been host broadcaster for the Fifa World Cupsince 2002, will give Wanda access to media rights for events from football matches in Italy’sSerie A league to Ironman endurance races and the Berlin marathon.

2002年后，盈方旗下的HBS一直担任世界杯的主转播商。控股盈方将让万达获得多项体育赛事的媒体权利，包括意甲(Serie A)、铁人(Ironman)耐力赛和柏林马拉松等。

Mr Blatter has often had to confront scepticism over his relationship with Fifa, but he hasalways claimed accusations of nepotism are unfounded.

菲利普•布拉特常常面临针对他和国际足联关系的质疑，但他总是宣称，关于裙带关系的指责是毫无根据的。

Wanda may also be drawn to Infront’s presence in the Chinese sports rights market. Last yearInfront secured a six-year contract for the country’s professional basketball league. Lastmonth Chinese internet group Tencent inked an exclusive five-year deal to digitally distributeall US National Basketball Association games in China. Infront has a long-term relationship withthe Chinese Basketball Association, helping with the league’s branding and commercialism, andgetting international companies to become sponsors.

盈方在中国体育权利市场中的地位或许也吸引了万达。去年，盈方与中国职业篮球联赛签下了6年的合约。上月，中国互联网集团腾讯(Tencent)签下协议，获得了美国全国篮球协会(US NBA)赛事5年内在中国的独家数字转播权。盈方与中国篮球协会(CBA)有长期合作关系，帮助CBA进行品牌和市场推广，以及获得跨国公司的赞助。