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Apollo offers $11 bln for Paramount's Hollywood studio, source states

Private equity company Apollo Global Management has provided $11 billion for Paramount Global's Paramount Pictures film studio, a person with understanding of the offer said on Wednesday, adding to takeover interest in the media corporation.

The film studio is thought about the gem of the Paramount media conglomerate, with an expansive motion picture library that includes classics such as The Godfather and Breakfast at Tiffany's, in addition to blockbuster franchises like Objective: Impossible, Star Trek and Transformers. It has actually attracted interest from numerous suitors for many years, including recently.

Shari Redstone, the media corporation's controlling shareholder through her stake in moms and dad company National Amusements, has actually hesitated to part with the studio that her daddy, the late Sumner Redstone, obtained in 1994.

The Financial Times paper reported that Redstone was unsure by Apollo's deal for the studio and is instead negotiating a rival handle billionaire David Ellison, citing people briefed on the matter.

Skydance Media CEO Ellison has actually remained in talk with get National Amusements, the holding business of the Redstone family, as a method to take control of Paramount Global. National Amusements directly or indirectly owns 77% of the voting shares of Paramount, giving it control of the firm's 100-year-old movie studio and television networks, consisting of CBS, Nickelodeon, MTV and Funny Central.

Paramount Global decreased to comment on Apollo's deal, and Apollo did not react to requests for comment. Paramount did not react to a request for comment outside regular organization hours on the feet report, while Redstone might not be immediately reached.

The deterioration of the international home entertainment company has wiped out billion of dollars of worth from the media business, formed through the reunion of CBS and Viacom in 2019. Given that Paramount's stock market value has actually toppled by about $17. billion to $7.7 billion.

The Redstone family thinks about the media property underestimated. and is exploring alternatives. Paramount's shares closed up almost. 12% on Wednesday after the Wall Street Journal initially reported. the news of Apollo's bid.

Should Apollo be successful in its bid for Paramount Pictures, it. might potentially combine the studio with another of its. Hollywood investments, Legendary Home entertainment, the studio. behind such films as Dune and Godzilla vs. Kong.

Apollo invested $760 million to obtain a minority stake in. Legendary in 2022.

Apollo and Ellison are not the only ones making a play. for Paramount.

Media entrepreneur Byron Allen submitted a $30 billion deal. for Paramount Global, consisting of financial obligation and equity, Allen Media. Group stated in an emailed declaration to late in January. Allen is focused on acquiring the television networks and. stations, and selling other properties, such as the movie studio,. according to someone knowledgeable about his thinking.

The various offer situations suggest the potential for a. separation of the assets that Sumner Redstone assembled into a. media empire, according to a single person near the conversations.

(source: Reuters)