Setanta Sports has confirmed it is prepared to consider offers for the pay-TV company that has sought to break Sky’s hold over TV sport.
City investors have indicated groups including BT, ITV and ESPN have made bids. The Disney-owned sports company must surely present the best fit for Setanta, given the partnership enjoyed over NASN, expected to be rebranded later this year.
Staff have been told by founders Leonard Ryan and Michael O’Rourke that the company has regularly seen speculation on a possible buyout, but has not been formally put up for sale. They said investment bank Goldman Sachs, which is also a shareholder, would advise on the matter.
Setanta’s other investors include a consortium of private equity houses led by Doughty Hanson and Balderton Capital.
