BSkyB confirms placing of ITV stake for 196 mln stg

LONDON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - British pay-TV company BSkyB confirmed on Monday it had placed a 10.4 percent stake of commercial broadcaster ITV for 196 million pounds ($305.4 million) and intends to retain its remaining 7.5 percent holding.

Morgan Stanleysaid on Monday it was acting as sole bookrunner in the placing, which was aimed to cut BSkyB's stake in its fellow British broadcaster to one vote below 7.5 percent, as required by competition authorities.

BSkyB said the shares were placed at 48.5 pence per share.

(Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by Carol Bishopric) ($1=.6418 Pound) Keywords: BSKYB ITV/ ([e-mail]; [phone]; Reuters Messaging:[e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.