WASHINGTON: Film producer David Ellison’s offer for Paramount Global includes an option for non-voting shareholders to cash out a portion of their stock for about US$15 a share, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The offer, a roughly 26% premium to last Friday’s closing price, is for only some of the shares, according to the person, who asked to not be identified because the discussions aren’t public.
Spokespeople for Paramount and Ellison’s Skydance Media declined to comment. The Wall Street Journal reported the offer on Sunday.
The cash payout is the latest attempt by Ellison to sweeten the terms of a deal that has faced opposition from some investors.
The son of Oracle Corp co-founder Larry Ellison is looking to take over the film and TV giant through a multi-step process that involves him buying out the Redstone family’s controlling stake and then merging his company into Paramount.
A third part of the transaction involves Ellison and his partners investing billions of dollars more in the business, either through a share offering or debt repayment.
His backers, including RedBird Capital Partners and KKR & Co Skydance, have agreed to put in a minimum of US$1.5bil to pay down debt on Paramount’s balance sheet as part of a sweetened offer, the New York Times reported, citing anonymous sources.
A special committee of Paramount board members recommended Ellison’s latest terms last week.
Now the decision is largely in the hands of Shari Redstone, Paramount’s chairperson and the matriarch of the family that owns about 77% of the voting stock.
Paramount’s annual meeting today. Ellison’s talks with Paramount began last year.
The 41-year-old producer of films such as Top Gun: Maverick has had to increase his offer as investors, including Mario Gabelli and Ariel Investment’s John Rogers, expressed concern that the Redstones were getting bought out a premium and other investors were facing dilution.
Apollo Global Management Inc has made a non-binding offer for Paramount in partnership Sony Group Corp. — Bloomberg