Dow Jones & Co Inc said on Thursday it has agreed to end its international partnership with CNBC but will keep its existing US agreement with the CNBC business television channel. Dow Jones said it had entered into a definitive agreement with NBC Universal to transfer its 50 percent equity interests in both CNBC Europe and CNBC Asia, as well as its 25 percent interest in CNBC World, to NBC Universal as of December 31, for nominal consideration.
Dow Jones, publisher of the Wall Street Journal, said that it expected to record a one-time, after-tax special charge of approximately $36.7 million, or 44 cents per diluted share, in the second quarter in connection with the severing of the international ties with CNBC.
About $32.1 million, or 39 cents per share, will be a noncash write-off of its carrying value in the transferred assets.