Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) today announced agreements to sell its businesses in Italy and Spain to subsidiaries of JCDecaux SE. Gross proceeds from the two separate all-cash transactions total approximately €75.1 million ($ 80.5 million).
The sale of the Company’s business in Italy is expected to close imminently, and the sale of its business in Spain is expected to close in 2024, upon satisfaction of regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions.
Both transactions follow the previous sale of the Company’s business in Switzerland to Goldbach (TX Group). The operation has been approved by the Competition Autority in March this same year.
“The sale of our businesses in Italy and Spain is another important step forward toward our goal of optimizing our portfolio in the best interests of our shareholders,” said Scott Wells, Chief Executive Officer of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc. “Together with the previous sale of our Swiss business, we will have generated approximately $175 million5 in total gross proceeds while exiting three lower-margin and / or lower-priority European markets. The Board continues its review of strategic alternatives for our other European businesses, and we remain focused on executing our strategic priorities in our America and Airports segments.”
European business revision keeps on going
There can be no assurance that the strategic reviews of our other European businesses will result in any additional transactions or particular outcomes. The Company has not set a timetable for completion of these processes and may suspend these processes at any time.
Net proceeds to improve Clear Channel’s liquidity
The Company intends to use the anticipated net proceeds from the sales, after payment of transaction-related fees and expenses, to improve its liquidity and increase the financial flexibility of the business, subject to any limitations set forth in its debt agreements.
The Company has hedged the anticipated proceeds from the sale of its business in Spain to mitigate the risks related to foreign currency fluctuations.
