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UK: 21st Century Fox rejects Sky takeover bid concerns

By  |  March 9, 2017

21st Century Fox has defended its $12bn takeover bid for broadcaster Sky after Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said she was “minded” to intervene in the deal.

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    In a letter, the firm rejected the minister’s concerns about media plurality and broadcasting standards.

    It also said she had based her view on “seriously flawed” evidence.

    But it welcomed “a thorough” review and said it would work with regulators.

    “21st Century Fox is confident that the transaction will be approved based on an objective assessment of the facts,” said Jeffrey Palker, executive vice president at the firm.

    Ms Bradley has been weighing up whether to refer the deal to Ofcom after warning it could pose “public interest considerations” that warranted further investigation.

    One concern is that the merger would give businessman Rupert Murdoch too much control over the British media landscape.

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