Viaplay Buys Rest of Allente for SEK1.1 Billion; Shares Rally 20%

Swedish streaming and TV provider Viaplay Group agreed to acquire the remaining 50 % of broadband- and satellite-TV operator Allente from Norway’s Telenor for about SEK1.1 billion ($113 million). The company said it will finance the purchase with existing cash and a new SEK1.73 billion loan facility, becoming Allente’s sole owner across Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Viaplay also revised its long-term outlook, citing opportunities to broaden its customer base and deliver synergies across platforms. The announcement sent Viaplay’s Stockholm-listed shares up roughly 20 % in early trading. In the same sector, telecom operator Tele2 reported a 20 % year-on-year increase in second-quarter operating profit to SEK1.71 billion, supported by cost control and higher end-customer service revenue. Adjusted EBITDA rose nearly 13 % to SEK3.34 billion, beating analyst expectations, and the company lifted its full-year underlying EBITDAal growth target to just above 10 %, from high single digits previously.