AT&T Slumps After MediaOne Bid
Shares of AT&T slumped Friday after it made a surprise $62 billion bid for cable operator MediaOne Group, topping Comcast's previous offer in a move that could turn Ma Bell into Mother Internet.
Much is at stake, depending on how much AT&T's stock falls because, under the terms of its blockbuster proposal, the long-distance titan would have to pay an additional $3.5 billion to complete the transaction, should its stock price get below $51 a share.
AT&T shares, a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, dropped 4 1/4, or 7 percent, to 52 1/2 in recent trading. That dragged down the blue-chip average as well. MediaOne's stock, meanwhile, surged 8 1/2, or 12 percent, to 78.
In Europe, shares of telecommunications companies soared as investors anticipated a wave of consolidation following the blockbuster AT&T offer.
AT&T offered $87.38 a share in cash and stock based on Thursday's closing U.S. prices, not including $4.5 billion in assumed debt and preferred equity. AT&T said it will pay $30.85 in cash plus 0.95 shares for each MediaOne share. Including debt, the deal is valued at about $62 billion.
AT&T said its bid exceeds Comcast's all-stock offer by $8.6 billion and represented a 26 percent premium over MediaOne's closing price of 69 1/2 Thursday.
MediaOne and Comcast said they were reviewing the terms and declined further comment.
Shares of Comcast, which agreed to buy MediaOne earlier this year, rose 1 1/4 to 68 7/8. Comcast would have to be paid $1.5 billion if MediaOne broke off the engagement, and its stock would avoid the dilution that would accompany a merger.
Even if the much-larger AT&T wins the bidding war, as most industry observers expect, the phone carrier still has to win regulatory approval. Observers said it's likely to do so.
The bid comes as AT&T angles to muscle back into local phone service -- from which it was barred 15 years ago -- and to gain a dominant role in high-speed Internet and data services.
To do that, however, AT&T has to find a way to bypass the Baby Bells, who control most local wires to homes and businesses. That's where cable comes in. Earlier this year, the long-distance giant completed a $59 billion acquisition of Tele-Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. cable operator.
"AT&T is looking for a bigger cable footprint. They are betting the farm on cable," said Scott Cleland, telecom expert at Legg Mason's Precursor Group.