'More bids' for Virgin Radio firm

On Friday it said it had received a 50:50 merger proposal from TalkSport owner Ulster Television (UTV).

However former Channel Four executive Rob Woodward is putting together a cash offer for SMG, The Business said.

Meanwhile UTV would be keen on a counter bid from SMG, the Sunday Telegraph suggested.

And investment group 3i and the private equity arm of UBS had a sounded out a £300m bid for STV, The Observer said.

Speculation

Under Friday's UTV approach, both firms would own 50% of the merged company.

However the lack of cash in the UTV proposal may put off SMG shareholders, analysts say, given UTV is worth around £40m less than the Glasgow-based group.

If SMG was keen on a counter-bid it could end up with 55% of the enlarged company, the Sunday Telegraph report suggests.

Both firms have major radio interests. Last year UTV bought the Wireless Group which included TalkSport and 16 independent radio stations including Juice FM in Liverpool and Swansea Sound.

SMG's other assets include cinema advertising business Pearl & Dean and TV production firm Ginger Productions.

There had been speculation for some time that UTV is interested in a move for SMG - uniting the two main parts of Britain's main commercial TV network which aren't owned by ITV.

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