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Acquisitions, Disposals and Other Transactions
9 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Acquisitions, Disposals and Other Transactions

NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSALS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS

Fiscal 2014

In September 2013, the Company sold the Dow Jones Local Media Group (“LMG”), which operated eight daily and 15 weekly newspapers in seven states. The gain recognized on the sale of LMG was not significant as the carrying value of the assets held for sale on the date of sale approximated the proceeds received. The net income, assets, liabilities and cash flows attributable to the LMG operations were not material to the Company in any of the periods presented and, accordingly have not been presented separately.

In December 2013, the Company acquired Storyful Limited (“Storyful”), a social news agency, for approximately $25 million, of which $19 million was in cash, with the remainder primarily related to an earn-out that is contingent upon the achievement of certain performance objectives. The Storyful acquisition complements the Company’s existing video capabilities, including the creation and distribution of original and on-demand programming such as WSJ Live and BallBall.

Fiscal 2013

In July 2012, the Company acquired Australian Independent Business Media Pty Limited (“AIBM”) for approximately $30 million in cash. AIBM publishes a subscription-based online newsletter for investors and a business news and commentary website.

In July 2012, the Company acquired Thomas Nelson, Inc. (“Thomas Nelson”), one of the leading Christian book publishers in the U.S., for approximately $200 million in cash. The acquisition of Thomas Nelson increased the Company’s presence and reach in the Christian publishing market. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” (“ASC 350”), the excess purchase price of approximately $160 million has been allocated as follows: $65 million to publishing rights with a useful life of 20 years, $25 million to imprints which have an indefinite life and approximately $70 million representing the goodwill on the transaction.

In November 2012, the Company acquired Consolidated Media Holdings Ltd. (“CMH”), a media investment company that operates in Australia, for approximately $2 billion in cash and assumed debt of approximately $235 million. This acquisition supports the Company’s strategic priority of acquiring greater control of investments that complement its portfolio of businesses. CMH owned a 25% interest in Foxtel through its 50% interest in FOX SPORTS Australia. The acquisition doubled the Company’s stakes in FOX SPORTS Australia and Foxtel to 100% and 50%, respectively. Prior to November 2012, the Company accounted for its investments in FOX SPORTS Australia and Foxtel under the equity method of accounting. The Company’s investment in Foxtel continues to be accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

The results of FOX SPORTS Australia have been included within the Cable Network Programming segment in the Company’s consolidated results of operations since November 2012.

At the time of acquisition, the carrying amount of the Company’s previously held equity interest in FOX SPORTS Australia, through which the Company held its indirect 25% interest in Foxtel, was revalued to fair value as of the acquisition date, resulting in a non-taxable gain of approximately $1.3 billion which was included in Other, net in the Statements of Operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2013. The fair value of the Company’s previously held equity interest of $1.6 billion was determined using an income approach (discounted cash flow analysis) adjusted to remove an assumed control premium. Significant unobservable inputs utilized in the income approach valuation method were discount rates ranging from 9.5% to 10.5%, based on the weighted average cost of capital for FOX SPORTS Australia and Foxtel using the capital asset pricing model, and long-term growth rates of approximately 2.5%, reflecting the Company’s assessment of the long-term inflation rate for Australia.

In accordance with ASC 350 the excess purchase price, including the revalued previously held investment, of approximately $3.2 billion has been allocated as follows: $1.9 billion to equity method investments, approximately $684 million to amortizable intangible assets, primarily customer relationships, with useful lives ranging from 15 to 25 years and approximately $657 million representing the goodwill on the transaction.

Summarized financial information for FOX SPORTS Australia for the period July 1, 2012 through the date of acquisition was as follows:

 

     For the period July 1
through November 19, 2012
 
     (in millions)  

Revenues

   $ 192   

Operating income(a)

     63   

Net income

     46   

 

(a) 

Includes Depreciation and amortization of $4 million. Operating income before depreciation and amortization was $67 million for the period July 2012 through the date of acquisition.