Will Murdoch move to disrupt the Fairfax/Nine merger

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is being tipped to disrupt the planned merger of Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment

And Murdoch wouldn’t be the only critic of the merger with Fairfax shareholder, Melbourne Billionaire, Alex Waislitsz, telling those at an event hosted by the Financial Review on Tuesday, that Nine’s bid was too low.

Waislitsz could be among a number of others now examining their response to Nine’s bid. According to The Australians Business Colomnist,  Robert Gottliebsen, others examining their strategies are John Singleton plus his long-time adviser Mark Carnegie, Gina Rinehart, and former Domain boss Antony Catalano.

This news comes with the speculation that Nine’s biggest shareholder has lifted his interest in the broadcaster. Billionaire, Bruce Gordon, is apparently trying to ensure he maintains influence if the merger succeeds.

A rival bid for Fairfax would be difficult as it is a complex structure that wouldn’t be easy to break up.

Nine’s Chairman, Peter Costello, isn’t likely to be caught unawares of any rival bid for Fairfax.

According to Gottliebsen, Costello “….will have studied all the angles and will have his strategies worked out to block the disrupters.”

Meanwhile Murdoch has concerns of his own with his UK based Wireless Group posting a $ 15.2 million loss in its most recent set of accounts.  The group has radio stations throughout the UK. The loss is for the 18 months to the end of June 2017 after being acquired by Murdoch in September 2016.

The loss comes on the back of a revaluation of some of the groups intangible assets.

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