HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. ("CME" or the "Company") announced today the closing of the sale of approximately 9.9 million shares of the Company's Class A common stock to Time Warner Media Holdings B.V. ("TW"), an affiliate of Time Warner Inc., and 2 million shares of Class A common stock to RSL Capital LLC, an affiliate of CME's Non-Executive Chairman, Mr. Ronald S. Lauder, all at a purchase price per share of US$7.51. The aggregate purchase price from the sales was approximately US$89 million, which has been applied to repay an equivalent amount of principal and accrued interest of the loans drawn under the Term Loan Facilities Credit Agreement between CME, as borrower, and Time Warner Inc., as administrative agent and lender, dated April 30, 2012. In connection with the closing of these transactions, TW and Mr. Lauder have converted all their shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis for no additional consideration. As a result of the transaction, TW increased its ownership in CME to 40% on a diluted basis.
Adrian Sarbu, President and CEO of CME, commented: "The continued support from our major shareholders during volatile market conditions allows us to proceed with achieving our targets of reducing our leverage and interest costs."
About CME
CME is a media and entertainment company operating leading businesses in six Central and Eastern European markets with an aggregate population of approximately 50 million people. CME's broadcast operations are located in Bulgaria (bTV, bTV Cinema, bTV Comedy, bTV Action, bTV Lady and Ring.bg), Croatia (Nova TV, Doma and Nova World), the Czech Republic (TV Nova, Nova Cinema, Nova Sport and MTV Czech), Romania (PRO TV, PRO TV International, Acasa, Acasa Gold, PRO Cinema, Sport.ro, MTV Romania and PRO TV Chisinau Moldova), the Slovak Republic (TV Markíza and Doma) and Slovenia (POP TV, Kanal A and the POP NON STOP subscription package). CME's broadcast operations are supported by its content and distribution division, Media Pro Entertainment, as well as its New Media division, which operates Voyo, the pan-regional video-on-demand service. CME is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and the Prague Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CETV."
CONTACT: Romana Wyllie
Vice President of Corporate Communications
Central European Media Enterprises
Krizeneckeho nam. 1078/5
152 00 Praha 5
Czech Republic
+420 242 465 525
romana.wyllie@cme.net
