Skydance bid for Paramount hinges on Shari Redstone as special committee ends exclusive talks
Skydance Media is prepared to walk away from its offer for Paramount Global unless it receives a firm commitment from controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, following the latest offer from Apollo Global Management and Sony Pictures, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Skydance Media is prepared to walk away from its offer for Paramount Global unless it receives a firm commitment from controlling shareholder Shari Redstone, following the latest offer from Apollo Global Management and Sony Pictures, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The exclusivity window for discussions between David Ellison’s Skydance, backed by private equity firms RedBird Capital and KKR, and Paramount ends Friday and won’t be extended, people familiar with the matter told CNBC’s David Faber. Paramount shares rose following the report.
The consortium has been waiting for word from Paramount’s special committee on whether the panel will recommend its bid to acquire the company to Redstone. Now, with Apollo and Sony formally expressing interest in acquiring the company for about $26 billion, the Skydance group is looking for Redstone to reaffirm her commitment to the deal.
The Skydance consortium is not keen to hang around to be a stalking horse offer for Apollo and Sony, one of the people said. Still, depending on what Redstone says, Ellison may be willing to work with her, a second person said.
Spokespeople for Skydance, Redstone’s National Amusements and Paramount’s special committee declined to comment on Friday.
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