visit our successor
success-story
SMARTSKIN™ Innovations - Home

News

Austar is the second largest pay TV provider in Australia, with almost a 100% market share in rural and regional eastern Australia. As of 2003, Austar had over 425,000 subscribers, mostly via satellite, in a region of over 2.0 million homes, and annual revenues in excess of A$300 million. A small portion of revenue is generated by reselling mobile phone and internet service to its pay TV customer base. Austar also holds a strategic investment in the largest Australian producer of pay TV channels, accounting for 20% of all pay-TV viewing in Australia, as well as a small investment in a 24-hour home shopping channel business. 

This is a co-investment between Castle Harlan Partners IV, L.P. and the CHAMP I funds, which hold a controlling interest in an entity that owns more than 80% of Austar. The other investor in that entity is United Global Communication Inc. (UGC), which is ultimately controlled by Liberty Media Corp. Austar has been publicly listed on the Australian Stock Exchange since 1999 and trades under the symbol AUN.

February 02, 2004
Castle Harlan Wins Awards For Acquisition Of Austar

NEW YORK, February 2, 2004 - Castle Harlan Inc., the New York private-equity investment firm, reported today it had received two awards for its role in the acquisition of Austar United Communications, Inc., the leading provider of satellite pay television…

April 22, 2003
Castle Harlan Affiliate Acquires Majority Stake In Australian Satellite TV Company; Offer for Balance of Public Shares to Begin Soon

SYDNEY, April 22, 2003 -- Australian private-equity investment firm Castle Harlan Australian Mezzanine Partners Pty. Ltd. (CHAMP) announced today that the CHAMP I funds have completed the acquisition of a majority interest in Austar United Communications Limited (Austar) (ASX:AUN.AX), in…

December 22, 2002
Castle Harlan Affiliate To Acquire Stake In Australian Satellite TV Company

SYDNEY, December 22, 2002 -- Australian private-equity investment firm Castle Harlan Australian Mezzanine Partners Pty. Ltd. (CHAMP) announced that it is sponsoring, on behalf of the CHAMP I funds, a plan of reorganization for United Australia Pacific, Inc. (UAP), which…

In The Media