Disney pays US$200m to up Vice stake

The Walt Disney Company has reportedly paid another US$200 million for a further 5% stake in youth entertainment company Vice Media.

Various news sites are quoting sources familiar with the deal, which would bring Disney’s total stake in the firm to 10% and value Vice at US$4 billion.

A+E Networks, which Disney jointly owns with Hearst Corporation, paid $250 million for a 10% stake in Vice in September last year, which effectively gave Disney 5% of the firm.

The news comes as Vice prepares to launch its US cable channel, Viceland, with A+E, and ahead of plans to launch in 12 European territories next year. Vice is also launching a daily newscast on premium cable net HBO.

Other investors in Vice include 21st Century Fox, which bought a 5% stake two years ago; technology venture capital fund Crossover Ventures, which invested US$250 million at the same time as A+E; and advertising company WPP.