NOTE 2. ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSALS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS

Fiscal 2017

Wireless Group plc

In September 2016, the Company completed its acquisition of Wireless Group plc (“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 expects 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 has no restricted cash as of December 31, 2016.

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	$	213
Goodwill		121
Net liabilities		(49	)

Total net assets acquired	$	285

The acquired intangible assets primarily relate to broadcast licenses, which have a fair value of approximately $178 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 relationship will be amortized over a weighted-average useful life of approximately 6 years. The values assigned to the acquired assets and liabilities are based on preliminary estimates of fair value available as of the date of this filing and may be adjusted upon completion of final valuations of certain assets and liabilities. Any changes in these fair values could potentially result in an adjustment to the goodwill recorded for this transaction. 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 APN News and Media Limited (“APN”) 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 Limited (“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 $120 million. The gain was recorded in Other, net for the three months ended December 31, 2016. The sale allows REA Group to focus on its core businesses in Australia and Asia. The cash from the sale was received in February 2017.

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 Company’s News and Information Services segment.

Unruly Holdings Limited

On September 30, 2015, the Company acquired Unruly Holdings Limited (“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 Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other” (“ASC 350”), $43 million of the purchase price has been allocated to acquired technology with a weighted-average useful life of 7 years, $21 million has been allocated to customer relationships and tradenames with a weighted-average useful life of 6 years and $68 million has been 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 International Limited (“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 next six years at fair value. DIAKRIT is a digital visualization solutions company that helps homeowners see the potential in their future living environment with digital visualization solutions that enable them to plan, furnish and decorate their dream home, while also helping agents and developers generate more buyer inquiries and accelerate their property sale processes. 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% not currently owned 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”). (Refer to Note 6—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,” 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


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

Total 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.