Could Walt Disney duck India taxes in Fox deal?

The $71 billion acquisition, announced June 20, will trigger taxes in US, but it also involves a stake in two of India's largest media companies: Tata Sky and STAR India

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Since Fox’s Indian assets likely make up less than 50% of its overall value, the sale of those assets may not trigger any tax provision in India. Photo: Reuters

Siri Bulusu | Bloomberg

Last Updated : Jun 23 2018 | 1:42 AM IST

Walt Disney has successfully outbid Comcast for control of 21st Century Fox and its prized Indian assets—and now the next hurdle could be structuring the deal in order to eliminate its tax bill in the country.

The $71 billion acquisition, announced June 20, will trigger taxes in the US, since both entities are based there, but it also involves a stake in two of India’s largest media companies: Tata Sky and STAR India. While that means the deal will almost certainly draw scrutiny from the Indian tax authority, tax practitioners have said it’s also possible for Disney to avoid

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