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James Packer

Pressure mounts against planned Packer casino

November 12, 2013

Sri Lanka’s main opposition party has called for police to take legal action against James Packer, saying his family business, Crown Limited, doesn’t have the proper license to go ahead with its plans to build a $400 million (€335 million) casino in Colombo.

Harsha de Silva, a lawmaker for the United National Party, said police had been cracking down on small time casinos and should be applying the same law to big players like Packer.

Australian media mogul James Packer announces divorce

September 6, 2013

Following in the footsteps of another Australian media mogul, Rupert Murdoch, Consolidated Press Holdings third-gen James Packer has announced his divorce from his wife, Erica Baxter.

The couple were married in the French Riviera in 2007, in a ceremony attended by members of the Murdoch family, as well as movie star Tom Cruise, among others.

In a statement released to media on Friday, Packer said the couple remained close friends and that their three children would be their priority moving forward.

Family business roundup: Winning some and losing some in media, cars and casinos

October 29, 2012

It’s been a case of winning some and losing some for family businesses across the globe, through a series of acquisitions, closures and deal-breakers.

Leading the way is media group Bertelsmann, controlled by the Mohn family, which is linking up with UK rival Pearson.

The agreement will see the merger of Random House and Penguin, respectively the publishing arms of Germany’s Bertelsmann and Pearson.

Packer family considering selling media business to News Corp

June 20, 2012

Australian billionaire James Packer, majority owner of Consolidated Media Holdings, is looking to cut his ties with the media business, founded by his great-grandfather, by selling his shares to fellow family-run News Corporation.

Following an offer of AUS$3.50 (€2.81) per share by News Corp, CMH said on 20 June that it will “engage constructively” with Murdoch family-controlled media conglomerate.

Packer sells non-core assets to shore up family business holding

September 8, 2009

James Packer, the Australian media and casino owner, has resigned from the board of Challenger Financial Services Group following the sale of his 20% stake in the company on Friday

James Packer, the Australian media and casino owner, has resigned from the board of Challenger Financial Services Group following the sale of his 20% stake in the company on Friday.

Packer (pictured) raised AUD$400 million in the sale that is his third asset sale in a month. The move fuelled speculation he is building up funds in order to ward off any potential takeover bids for his family business Consolidated Media Holdings (CMH).

Packer family moves to strengthen control of the family business

July 15, 2009

James Packer, son of the late Kerry Packer, has increased his stake in Consolidated Media Holdings, part of family’s business empire, in an attempt to thwart a rival media owner.

James Packer (pictured), son of the late Kerry Packer, has increased his stake in Consolidated Media Holdings, part of the family's business empire, in an attempt to thwart a rival media owner. Kerry Stokes, chairman of Seven Network Ltd, more than tripled his shareholding from 5% to 18% in CMH last week. In response, Packer upped his stake from 39% to 41%.

Asia Pacific: Heirs without graces

March 1, 2008

Known for their pragmatism and bluntness, Australians inhabit a vast island nation where family enterprise is deeply influenced by a harsh natural environment and social history. Dennis Jaffe investigates the succession issues facing the Aussie family businesses

Dennis Jaffe is a founding partner of Relative Solutions.