French media firm Banijay close to buying Endemol: report

French media company Banijay is close to sealing a deal to acquire Endemol Shine, the production house behind such global television hits as “The Voice” and “Black Mirror,” Reuters reports, citing a source familiar with the matter.
The deal would end a months-long, bumpy race for Endemol Shine to find a buyer.
The combined group with Banijay would generate close to 3 billion euros in annual revenue, beating British rival ITV, the report noted.
Netherlands-based Endemol, co-owned by Walt Disney Co and private-equity group Apollo Global Management, was put up for sale in July 2018 with a price tag of 2.5-3.0 billion euros (US$2.78-3.34 billion).
The business drew interest from several bidders at the time though the pool of suitors eventually shrank, with European broadcaster RTL Group walking away in August of last year.
Banijay, founded by French businessman Stephane Courbit, is controlled by his holding company Lov Group and DeA Communications, a company owned by Italy’s De Agostini Group.
French media conglomerate Vivendi also owns a minority stake.
-- Contact us at [email protected]
RC
-
One day, two mountains in Hong Kong Ben Kwok
Heavy rain poured again this morning in Guangdong and I was stuck at a building near the East station to catch the first high-speed train back to Hong Kong. A security guard approached this puzzled
-
Not a Happy Valley! Ben Kwok
Bad news does not come singly in Happy Valley! Days after Hong Kong Jockey Club suspended the two jockeys Vagner Borges and Silvestre de Sousa for their betting offences, more shocking news came from
-
Crowdsourced maps can enhance city’s efficiency and flexibility Dr. Winnie Tang
Although Britain's global influence has dwindled, its soft power should not be underestimated. The coronation of King Charles III is the latest showcase of its great marketing which, as The Economist
-
Reflections on the HKU President’s Forum: Science and Society Dr. Winnie Tang
In recent years, Hong Kong has emphasised the importance of learning STEM, and there is nothing more valuable than listening to top scientists from around the world and Professor Xiang Zhang, the
-
Will Hong Kong government get more tax revenue next year? Ben Kwok
Bad news is tax season is coming. Worse, the Hong Kong SAR government expects a five per cent drop in tax revenue in the financial year ended 31 March 2023, raising fear that we might need to pay