Bloomberg may opt for $22bn sale

NEW YORK - There is growing speculation on Wall Street that Michael Bloomberg might use his likely re-election as Mayor of New York in two weeks as the catalyst to sell the financial information service he controls for up to US$16bn (NZ$22.6bn).

Mr Bloomberg, 63, is the favourite to win the 8 November poll, which would return him to office for four years.

Many spectators believe the self-made billionaire would not then want to return to running Bloomberg.

Mr Bloomberg has stoked speculation he is considering a sale of his 72 per cent stake in the company by indicating his interest in philanthropy.

He is thought to be considering using his multibillion-dollar fortune to set up a charitable trust similar to the one created by Microsoft's founder Bill Gates.

There were reports at the end of last year that Mr Bloomberg said during an event in New York he intended to sell the company, which he founded in 1981 and made a successful financial data company.

Bloomberg terminals, which transmit information about the equities and debt markets, and a news service, are used by 200,000 customers around the world.

Analysts find it difficult to value Bloomberg be cause it is a private company, with Merrill Lynch holding most of the stake not owned by Mr Bloomberg.

A price tag of between US$10bn - the value of Reuters, Bloomberg's closest rival - and US$16bn hasbeen mentioned.

The higher figure is calculating from Bloomberg's revenues of about US$4.2bn based on the number of its terminals and factoring in a similar multiple to others in its industry, plus a takeover premium.

As an alternative to a sale to a trade buyer, Bloomberg could be floated.

Mr Bloomberg may choose not to take action until his second mayoral term ends.

But he may wish to act promptly because some potential buyers are technology companies which are searching for acquisitions to spend their piles of cash on.

Recent reports have named Microsoft and Yahoo! as possible buyers, which could package Bloomberg data with their software.

More conventional buyers include media companies.

A sale or a float could prompt a crunch on costs at Bloomberg, most probably at its news division.

Its news service has expanded from coverage of financial markets to wide-ranging subjects such as book reviews.

Bloomberg would not comment.

- INDEPENDENT