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Acquisitions, Disposals and Other Transactions
12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Acquisitions, Disposals and Other Transactions
NOTE 4. ACQUISITIONS, DISPOSALS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
Fiscal 2021
Avail
In December 2020, the Company acquired Rentalutions, Inc. (“Avail”) for initial cash consideration of approximately $36 million, net of $4 million of cash acquired, and up to $8 million in future cash consideration based upon the achievement of certain performance objectives over the next three years. The Company recorded a $4 million liability related to the contingent consideration, representing the estimated fair value. Included in the initial cash consideration was approximately $6 million that is being held back to satisfy post-closing claims. Avail is a platform that improves the renting experience for do-it-yourself landlords and tenants with online tools, educational content and world-class support. The acquisition helps realtor.com® further expand into the rental space, extend its support for landlords, augment current rental listing content, grow its audience and build brand affinity and long-term relationships with renters. Avail is a subsidiary of Move, and its results are included within the Digital Real Estate Services segment.
As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded approximately $7 million related to the technology platform with a weighted average useful life of five years. In accordance with ASC 350, the excess of the total consideration over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets of approximately $32 million was recorded as goodwill on the transaction.
Elara
In December 2020, the Company acquired a controlling interest in Elara Technologies Pte. Ltd. (“Elara”) through a subscription for newly-issued preference shares and the buyout of certain minority shareholders. The total aggregate purchase price associated with the acquisition at the completion date is $138 million which primarily consists of $69 million of cash, the fair value of noncontrolling interests of $37 million and the fair value of the Company’s previously held equity interest in Elara of $22 million. The acquisition of Elara was accounted for in accordance with ASC 805 “Business Combinations,” which requires the Company to re-measure its previously held equity interest in Elara at its acquisition date fair value. The carrying amount of the Company’s previously held equity interest in Elara was $15 million and, accordingly, the Company recognized a gain on remeasurement of $7 million which was recorded in Other, net in the Statement of Operations.
As a result of the transactions, REA Group’s shareholding in Elara increased from 13.5% to 59.7%, while News Corporation’s shareholding increased from 22.1% to 39.0%. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, REA Group acquired an additional 0.8% interest in Elara. REA Group and News Corporation now hold all Elara board seats, and the Company began consolidating Elara in December 2020. The Company’s ownership in REA Group was diluted by 0.2% to 61.4% as a result of the transactions. Subsequent to June 30, 2021, REA Group provided additional funding to Elara in exchange for further equity which increased REA Group’s ownership interest to 65.5% and diluted News Corporation’s interest to 34.3%. The acquisition of Elara allows REA Group to be at the forefront of long-term growth opportunities within India and the digitization of the real estate sector. Elara is a subsidiary of REA Group, and its results are reported within the Digital Real Estate Services segment.
As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded net tangible liabilities of $5 million and approximately $31 million of identifiable intangible assets, of which $19 million primarily related to Elara technology platforms with a weighted average useful life of five years and $12 million related to trade names with indefinite lives. In accordance with ASC 350, the excess of the total consideration over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets of approximately $113 million was recorded as goodwill on the transaction.
Investor’s Business Daily
In May 2021, the Company acquired Investor’s Business Daily (“IBD”) for $275 million in cash. IBD is a digital-first financial news and research business with unique investing content, analytical products and educational resources, including the Investors.com website. The acquisition expands Dow Jones’s offerings with the addition of proprietary data and tools to help professional and retail investors identify top-performing stocks. IBD is operated by Dow Jones, and its results are included within the Dow Jones segment.
The purchase price allocation has been prepared on a preliminary basis and changes to the preliminary purchase price allocations may occur as additional information concerning asset and liability valuations is finalized. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded net tangible liabilities of approximately $16 million primarily related to deferred revenue and approximately $123 million of identifiable intangible assets, consisting primarily of approximately $51 million related to the IBD tradename with an indefinite life, approximately $43 million of subscriber relationships with a useful life of seven years and approximately $20 million related to technology with a useful life of seven years. In accordance with ASC 350, the excess of the total
consideration over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets of approximately $166 million was recorded as goodwill on the transaction.
HMH Books & Media
In May 2021, the Company acquired the Books & Media segment of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (“HMH Books & Media”) for $349 million in cash. HMH Books & Media publishes renowned and awarded children’s, young adult, fiction, non-fiction, culinary and reference titles. The acquisition adds an extensive and successful backlist, a strong frontlist in the lifestyle and children’s segments and a productions business that provides opportunities to expand HarperCollins’s intellectual property across different formats. HMH Books & Media is a subsidiary of HarperCollins and its results are included in the Book Publishing segment.
The purchase price allocation has been prepared on a preliminary basis and changes to the preliminary purchase price allocations may occur as additional information concerning asset and liability valuations is finalized. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded net tangible assets of approximately $89 million, primarily consisting of accounts receivable, accounts payable, author advances and royalty payables and inventory. In addition, the Company recorded approximately $141 million of intangible assets, consisting primarily of $104 million of publishing rights for backlist titles with a useful life of nine years and $32 million of publishing licenses with a useful life of nine years. In accordance with ASC 350, the excess of the total consideration over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets of approximately $119 million was recorded as goodwill on the transaction.
Mortgage Choice
In June 2021, REA Group acquired Mortgage Choice Limited (“Mortgage Choice”) for approximately A$244 million in cash (approximately $183 million based on exchange rates as of the closing date), funded by an increase in REA Group’s debt facilities. Control was transferred and the acquisition became effective and binding on Mortgage Choice shareholders on June 18, 2021 upon court approval. Mortgage Choice is a leading Australian mortgage broking business, and the acquisition complements REA Group’s existing Smartline broker footprint and accelerates REA Group’s financial services strategy to establish a leading mortgage broking business with national scale. Mortgage Choice is a subsidiary of REA Group and its results are included in the Digital Real Estate Services segment.
The purchase price allocation has been prepared on a preliminary basis and changes to the preliminary purchase price allocations may occur as additional information concerning asset and liability valuations is finalized. As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded net tangible assets of A$66 million (US$50 million) consisting primarily of commission contract receivables and payables and approximately A$74 million (US$56 million) of identifiable intangible assets, consisting of A$46 million (US$35 million) related to franchisee relationships with a useful life of 17 years, A$17 million (US$13 million) of software with useful lives ranging from one to five years and A$11 million (US$8 million) primarily related to the Mortgage Choice tradenames with indefinite lives. In accordance with ASC 350, the excess of the total consideration over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets of approximately A$104 million (US$79 million) was recorded as goodwill on the transaction.
Fiscal 2020
News America Marketing
On May 5, 2020, the Company sold its News America Marketing business, a reporting unit within its News Media segment (the “Disposition”). The aggregate purchase price for the Disposition consists of (a) up to approximately $235 million, comprised of (i) $50 million in cash at closing, subject to working capital and other adjustments, less cash reinvested to acquire a 5% equity interest in the business at closing, and (ii) additional deferred cash payments payable on or before the fifth anniversary of closing in an aggregate amount of between $125 million and approximately $185 million, depending on the timing of such payments, and (b) a warrant to purchase up to an additional 10% equity interest in the business, which the Company exercised in fiscal 2021. An immaterial gain related to the Disposition was recorded within Other, net. In the Disposition, the Company retained certain liabilities relating to News America Marketing, including those arising from its legal proceedings with Valassis Communications, Inc. (“Valassis”) and Insignia Systems, Inc. (“Insignia”). See Note 16—Commitments and Contingencies.
The major classes of assets and liabilities disposed of were as follows:
As of May 5, 2020
(in millions)
Receivables, net$214 
Other current assets26 
Intangible assets, net225 
Other non-current assets29 
Impairment charge on disposal group (a)
(175)
Total assets$319 
Accounts payable$33 
Accrued expenses65 
Deferred revenue51 
Other current liabilities46 
Other non-current liabilities
Total liabilities$202 
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(a)See Note 8—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
(Loss) income before income tax relating to News America Marketing included in the Statements of Operations was $(416) million and $22 million for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Unruly     
In January 2020, the Company sold Unruly to Tremor International Ltd (“Tremor”) for approximately 7% of Tremor’s outstanding shares. The Company agreed not to sell the Tremor shares for a period of 18 months after closing. At closing, the Company and Tremor entered into a three year commercial arrangement which granted Tremor the exclusive right to sell outstream video advertising on all of the Company’s digital properties in exchange for a total minimum revenue guarantee for News Corp of £30 million.
Fiscal 2019
Opcity
In October 2018, the Company acquired Opcity Inc. (“Opcity”), a market-leading real estate technology platform that matches qualified home buyers and sellers with real estate professionals in real time. The total transaction value was approximately $210 million, consisting of approximately $182 million in cash, net of $7 million of cash acquired, and approximately $28 million in deferred payments and restricted stock unit awards for Opcity’s founders and qualifying employees, which is being recognized as compensation expense over the three years following the closing. The acquisition broadens realtor.com®’s lead generation product portfolio, allowing real estate professionals to choose between traditional lead products or a referral-based model that provides highly vetted, transaction-ready leads. Opcity is a subsidiary of Move, and its results are included within the Digital Real Estate Services segment.
As a result of the acquisition, the Company recorded approximately $73 million of assets, of which $49 million primarily related to the Opcity technology and data platform with a weighted average useful life of 12 years and $24 million primarily related to intangible assets resulting from previously acquired leads and customer relationships with a weighted average useful life of 9 years. In accordance with ASC 350 the excess of the total consideration over the fair values of the net tangible and intangible assets of approximately $124 million was recorded as goodwill on the transaction.