萬達擬斥資超10億歐元收購瑞士盈方
Chinese property developer Dalian Wanda has won an auction for Infront media, the Swiss group led by the nephew of Fifa president Sepp Blatter that distributes broadcasting rights for some of the biggest sporting events.
中國地產開發商大連萬達(Dalian Wanda)贏得了對瑞士盈方體育傳媒集團(Infront Sports & Media)的競購。盈方的經營者是國際足聯(Fifa)主席塞普•布拉特(Sepp Blatter)的侄子，該集團爲一些最大體育賽事分銷轉播權。
Wanda will pay more than 1bn for the company, owned by buyout group Bridgepoint since 2011, in a deal expected to be announced this week, people familiar with the matter said. It took pole position in the auction in December. Philippe Blatterwill remain as Infront president and chief executive.
萬達將爲此次收購出資逾10億歐元，據知情人士透露，這筆交易有望在本週宣佈。自2011年後，盈方爲收購集團Bridgepoint所有。12月進行的競購中，萬達處於有利位置。完成交易後，菲利普•布拉特(Philippe Blatter)將繼續擔任盈方的總裁和首席執行官。The deal marks the latest stage of Shanghai-based Wanda’s expansion beyond commercial real estate into leisure and entertainment, including sport and comes just weeks after it acquired a 20 per cent stake in Spain’s Atletico Madrid. The company already owns US cinema chain AMC Theatres and British luxury yachtmaker Sunseeker.
這筆交易標誌着萬達從商業地產行業拓展到休閒娛樂業的最新進展。萬達進軍的領域也包括體育，數週前，萬達剛剛收購了西班牙足球俱樂部馬德里競技(Atletico Madrid) 20%的股份。萬達還擁有美國院線AMC Theatres和英國豪華遊艇製造商聖汐(Sunseeker)。
The bedrock of Wanda’s business is one of the biggest commercial property portfolios in China, with Rmb160bn ($25.6bn) in sales last year placing it third after Vanke and Greenland as a developer. But it is augmenting its holdings to reflect the evolution of Chinese consumer taste beyond physical purchases towards online retail and rising spending on films and entertainment.
萬達擁有的商業地產規模處於全國最大之列，這是其業務的基石，去年萬達的地產銷售額達到了1600億元人民幣（合256億美元），使其成爲僅次於萬科集團(Vanke)和綠地集團(Greenland)的第三大地產開發商。但萬達增持了一些資產，試圖反映中國消費者從實體購物轉至在線零售、提高對電影和娛樂產品的支出的愛好變遷。Infront distributed media rights in Asia for the last two Fifa World Cup tournaments, and has the rights to sell broadcast packages in 26 territories in Asia for 2015-22.
盈方負責分銷過去兩屆世界盃足球賽在亞洲的媒體權利，並有權銷售2015年至2022年期間亞洲26個國家及地區足球賽事的轉播權。Control of Infront, whose subsidiary HBS has been host broadcaster for the Fifa World Cup since 2002, will give Wanda access to media rights for events from football matches in Italy’s Serie A league to Ironman endurance races and the Berlin marathon.
2002年後，盈方旗下的HBS一直擔任世界盃的主轉播商。控股盈方將讓萬達獲得多項體育賽事的媒體權利，包括意甲(Serie A)、鐵人(Ironman)耐力賽和柏林馬拉松等。Mr Blatter has often had to confront scepticism over his relationship with Fifa, but he has always claimed accusations of nepotism are unfounded.
菲利普•布拉特常常面臨針對他和國際足聯關係的質疑，但他總是宣稱，關於裙帶關係的指責是毫無根據的。Wanda may also be drawn to Infront’s presence in the Chinese sports rights market. Last year Infront secured a six-year contract for the country’s professional basketball league. Last month Chinese internet group Tencent inked an exclusive five-year deal to digitally distribute all US National Basketball Association games in China. Infront has a long-term relationship with the Chinese Basketball Association, helping with the league’s branding and commercialism, and getting international companies to become sponsors.
盈方在中國體育權利市場中的地位或許也吸引了萬達。去年，盈方與中國職業籃球聯賽簽下了6年的合約。上月，中國互聯網集團騰訊(Tencent)簽下協議，獲得了美國全國籃球協會(US NBA)賽事5年內在中國的獨家數字轉播權。盈方與中國籃球協會(CBA)有長期合作關係，幫助CBA進行品牌和市場推廣，以及獲得跨國公司的贊助。
