NOTE 3. ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSALS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS

Fiscal 2017

Wireless Group plc

In September 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of Wireless Group for a purchase price of 315 pence per share in cash, or approximately £220 million (approximately $285 million) in the aggregate, plus $23 million of assumed debt which was repaid subsequent to closing. Wireless Group operates talkSPORT, the leading sports radio network in the U.K., and a portfolio of radio stations in the U.K. and Ireland. The acquisition broadens the Company’s range of services in the U.K., Ireland and internationally, and the Company continues to closely align Wireless Group’s operations with those of The Sun and The Times. The Company utilized the restricted cash which was specifically set aside at June 30, 2016 for purposes of funding the acquisition and therefore the Company had no restricted cash as of June 30, 2017.

The total transaction value for the Wireless Group acquisition is set forth below (in millions):


Cash paid for Wireless Group equity	$	285

Plus: Assumed debt		23

Total transaction value	$	308

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total consideration is allocated to net tangible and intangible assets based upon the fair value as of the date of completion of the acquisition. The excess of the total consideration over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The allocation is as follows (in millions):


Assets Acquired:
Intangible assets	$	220
Goodwill		115
Net liabilities		(50	)

Total net assets acquired	$	285

The acquired intangible assets primarily relate to broadcast licenses, which have a fair value of approximately $185 million, tradenames, which have a fair value of approximately $27 million, and customer relationships with a fair value of approximately $8 million. The broadcast licenses and tradenames have indefinite lives and the customer relationships are being amortized over a weighted-average useful life of approximately 6 years. Wireless Group’s results are included within the News and Information Services segment, and it is considered a separate reporting unit for purposes of the Company’s annual goodwill impairment review.

Australian Regional Media

In December 2016, the Company acquired Australian Regional Media (“ARM”) from HT&E Limited (formerly APN News and Media Limited) (“HT&E”) for approximately $30 million. ARM operates a portfolio of regional print assets and websites and extends the reach of the Australian newspaper business to new customers in new geographic regions. ARM is a subsidiary of News Corp Australia, and its results are included within the News and Information Services segment.

REA Group European Business

In December 2016, REA Group, in which the Company holds a 61.6% interest, sold its European business for approximately $140 million (approximately €133 million) in cash, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $107 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. The sale allows REA Group to focus on its core businesses in Australia and Asia.

Fiscal 2016

Checkout 51 Mobile Apps ULC

In July 2015, the Company acquired Checkout 51 Mobile Apps ULC (“Checkout 51”) for approximately $13 million in cash at closing and approximately $10 million in deferred cash consideration which was paid during fiscal 2016. Checkout 51 is a data-driven digital incentives company that provides News America Marketing with a leading receipt recognition mobile app which enables packaged goods companies and brands to reach consumers with highly personalized marketing campaigns. Checkout 51’s results are included within the News and Information Services segment.

Unruly Holdings Limited

On September 30, 2015, the Company acquired Unruly for approximately £60 million (approximately $90 million) in cash and up to £56 million (approximately $86 million) in future cash consideration related to payments primarily contingent upon the achievement of certain performance objectives. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recognized a liability of approximately $40 million related to the contingent consideration. The fair value of the contingent consideration was estimated by applying a probability-weighted income approach. In accordance with ASC 350, $43 million of the purchase price was allocated to acquired technology with a weighted-average useful life of 7 years, $21 million was allocated to customer relationships and tradenames with a weighted-average useful life of 6 years and $68 million was allocated to goodwill. Unruly is a leading global video distribution platform that is focused on delivering branded video advertising across websites and mobile devices. Unruly’s results of operations are included within the News and Information Services segment, and it is considered a separate reporting unit for purposes of the Company’s annual goodwill impairment review.

DIAKRIT International Limited

In February 2016, the Company acquired a 92% interest in DIAKRIT for approximately $40 million in cash. The Company also has the option to purchase, and the minority shareholders have the option to sell to the Company, the remaining 8% in two tranches over the six years following the closing at fair value. DIAKRIT is a leader in 3D visualization products, digital sales applications and professional services for the real estate industry. DIAKRIT’s results are included within the Digital Real Estate Services segment, and it is considered a separate reporting unit for purposes of the Company’s annual goodwill impairment review.

iProperty Group Limited

In February 2016, REA Group increased its investment in iProperty Group Limited (“iProperty”) from 22.7% to approximately 86.9% for A$482 million in cash (approximately $340 million). The remaining 13.1% interest will become mandatorily redeemable during fiscal 2018. As a result, the Company recognized a liability of approximately $76 million, which reflected the present value of the amount expected to be paid for the remaining interest based on the formula specified in the acquisition agreement. The acquisition was funded primarily with the proceeds from borrowings under an unsecured syndicated revolving loan facility (the “REA Facility”). (See Note 9—Borrowings). The acquisition of iProperty extends REA Group’s market leading business in Australia to attractive markets throughout Southeast Asia. iProperty is a subsidiary of REA Group, and its results are included within the Digital Real Estate Services segment.

In accordance with ASC 805 “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”), REA Group recognized a gain of $29 million resulting from the revaluation of its previously held equity interest in iProperty in Other, net in the Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016. The total fair value of iProperty at the acquisition date is set forth below (in millions):


Cash paid for iProperty equity	$	340
Deferred consideration		76

Total consideration		416

Fair value of previously held iProperty investment		120

Total fair value	$	536

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total consideration was allocated to net tangible and intangible assets based upon the fair value as of the date of completion of the acquisition. The excess of the total consideration over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The allocation is as follows (in millions):


Assets Acquired:
Goodwill	$	498
Intangible assets		72
Net liabilities		(34	)

Net assets acquired	$	536

The acquired intangible assets primarily relate to tradenames which have an indefinite life.

Flatmates.com.au Pty Ltd

In May 2016, REA Group acquired Flatmates.com.au Pty Ltd (“Flatmates”) for $19 million in cash at closing and up to $15 million in future cash consideration related to payments contingent upon the achievement of certain performance objectives. Flatmates operates the Flatmates.com.au website, which is a market leading share accommodation site in Australia. The acquisition enhances REA Group’s Australian product offering by extending its reach into the quickly growing share accommodation business. Flatmates is a subsidiary of REA Group, and its results are included within the Digital Real Estate Services segment.

Fiscal 2015

Harlequin Enterprises Limited

In August 2014, the Company acquired Harlequin Enterprises Limited (“Harlequin”) from Torstar Corporation for $414 million in cash, net of $19 million of cash acquired. Harlequin is a leading publisher of women’s fiction and extends HarperCollins’ global platform, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific. Harlequin is a subsidiary of HarperCollins, and its results are included within the Book Publishing segment. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded net tangible assets of approximately $115 million, primarily consisting of accounts receivable, accounts payable, author advances, property, plant and equipment and inventory, at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. In addition, the Company recorded approximately $165 million of intangible assets, comprised of approximately $105 million of imprints which have an indefinite life and $60 million related to finite lived intangible assets with a weighted average life of approximately 5 years, and recorded an associated deferred tax liability of approximately $35 million. In accordance with ASC 350, the excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets of approximately $185 million was recorded as goodwill on the transaction.

Move, Inc.

In November 2014, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Move for $21.00 per share in cash. Move is a leading provider of online real estate services, and the acquisition expanded the Company’s digital real estate services business into the U.S., one of the largest real estate markets. Move primarily operates realtor.com^®, a premier real estate information and services marketplace. Move also offers a number of professional software and services products, including Top Producer^®, FiveStreet^® and ListHub^TM. Move’s results of operations are included within the Digital Real Estate Services segment, and it is considered a separate reporting unit for purposes of the Company’s annual goodwill impairment review.

The aggregate cash payment at closing to acquire the outstanding shares of Move was approximately $864 million, which was funded with cash on hand. The Company also assumed outstanding Move equity-based compensation awards with a fair value of $67 million, consisting of vested and unvested stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and restricted stock awards. Of the total fair value of the assumed equity-based compensation awards, $28 million was allocated to pre-combination services and included in total consideration transferred and $39 million was allocated to future services and was expensed over the weighted average remaining service period of 2.5 years. (See Note 12— Equity Based Compensation). In addition, following the acquisition, the Company utilized approximately $129 million of cash to settle all of Move’s outstanding indebtedness that was assumed as part of the transaction. The total transaction value for the Move acquisition is set forth below (in millions):


Cash paid for Move equity	$	864
Assumed equity-based compensation awards—pre-combination services		28

Total consideration transferred		892
Plus: Assumed debt		129
Plus: Assumed equity-based compensation awards—post-combination services		39
Less: Cash acquired		(108	)

Total transaction value	$	952

REA Group acquired a 20% interest in Move upon closing of the transaction. In connection with the acquisition, the Company granted REA Group a put option to require the Company to purchase REA Group’s interest in Move, which can be exercised at any time beginning two years from the date of acquisition at fair value.

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total consideration transferred was allocated to net tangible and intangible assets based upon the fair value as of the date of completion of the acquisition. The excess of the total consideration transferred over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. The allocation is as follows (in millions):


Assets acquired:
Cash	$	108
Other current assets		28
Intangible assets		216
Deferred income taxes		153
Goodwill		552
Other non-current assets		69

Total assets acquired	$	1,126

Liabilities assumed:
Current liabilities	$	50
Deferred income taxes		52
Borrowings		129
Other non-current liabilities		3

Total liabilities assumed		234

Net assets acquired	$	892

The acquired intangible assets relate to the license of the realtor.com^® trademark, which has a fair value of approximately $116 million and an indefinite life, and customer relationships, other tradenames and certain multiple listing service agreements with an aggregate fair value of approximately $100 million, which are being amortized over a weighted-average useful life of approximately 15 years. The Company also acquired technology, primarily associated with the realtor.com^® website, that has a fair value of approximately $39 million, which is being amortized over 4 years. The acquired technology has been recorded in Property, Plant and Equipment, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of the date of acquisition.

Move had U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) of $947 million ($332 million tax-effected) at the date of acquisition. The NOLs are subject to limitations as promulgated under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Section 382 of the Code limits the amount of acquired NOLs that we can use on an annual basis to offset future U.S. consolidated taxable income. Valuation allowances and unrecognized tax benefits were recorded against these NOLs in the amount of $484 million ($170 million tax-effected) as part of the purchase price allocation. Accordingly, the Company expected approximately $463 million of NOLs could be utilized, and recorded a net deferred tax asset of $162 million as part of the purchase price allocation. As a result of management’s plan to dispose of its digital education business, the Company increased its estimated utilization of Move’s NOLs by $167 million ($58 million tax-effected) and released valuation allowances equal to that amount. Upon filing its fiscal 2015 federal income tax return, the Company reduced Move’s NOLs by $298 million which represents the amount expected to expire unutilized due to the Section 382 limitation discussed above. As of June 30, 2016, the remaining Move NOLs expected to be utilized are $573 million ($201 million tax-effected). The utilization of these NOLs is dependent on generating sufficient U.S. taxable income prior to expiration which begins in varying amounts starting in 2021. The deferred tax assets established for Move’s NOLs, net of valuation allowance and unrecognized tax benefits, are included in Non-current deferred tax assets on the Balance Sheets.