Deals
Sky Bids Make U.K. Dealmaker Gilbert Broker to Billionaires
- Gilbert received a call from Comcast’s Roberts on Tuesday
- Sky at the center of global race for scale among media giants
Gabelli's Haverty Expects Bidding War Between Comcast and Disney for Sky
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On Tuesday morning just before the daily flurry of U.K. stock-market statements at 7 a.m., Martin Gilbert took a surprise phone call.
On the other end was Comcast Corp. Chief Executive Officer Brian Roberts, who informed Gilbert of his intention to make a 22.1 billion pound ($30 billion) bid for Sky Plc, the U.K. broadcaster where Gilbert leads independent directors. Minutes later, the offer was out, topping an existing bid by Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox Inc. for the 61 percent it didn’t already own of Sky.