Fox Corp. Moves Toward Acquiring 18.6% Stake in FanDuel at Discounted Valuation
Fox Corp. is preparing to exercise its option to acquire an 18.6% stake in FanDuel, a move that could position the media giant to benefit from the growing value of the sports betting operator.
Lachlan Murdoch Confirms Intentions at Industry Conference
Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia and Technology Conference, Fox CEO Lachlan Murdoch confirmed the company’s plans to move forward with the acquisition, which dates back to 2020 when Fox secured rights as part of Flutter Entertainment’s $12.2 billion acquisition of The Stars Group (TSG).
Murdoch emphasized that Fox values FanDuel at approximately $35 billion, meaning an 18.6% stake would be worth around $6.5 billion. This valuation places FanDuel significantly higher than its direct competitor, DraftKings, which had a market capitalization of $17.78 billion as of mid-September 2024.
Discounted Acquisition Rights
The price Fox will pay for its stake in FanDuel is notably lower than the current valuation. In 2022, Fox and Flutter settled a legal dispute, agreeing that Fox could acquire 18.6% of FanDuel for $3.72 billion, with a 5% annual escalator. That escalator has increased the cost, but even with the adjustments, Fox’s estimated $4.3 billion price tag is significantly below the $6.5 billion valuation Murdoch highlighted at the conference.
“We’re not going to leave $2 billion on the table,” Murdoch said, signaling the company’s intent to take advantage of the discounted acquisition price.
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