Paramount Buying DreamWorks
Source: Variety
December 10, 2005
Paramount Pictures has struck a deal to acquire DreamWorks SKG in a pact worth $1.5-$1.6 billion beating out rival suitor NBC Universal, reports Variety. Paramount is putting up about half the purchase price with several financial partners shouldering the rest.
Parent Viacom's board approved the transaction yesterday. A meeting today between studio head Brad Grey, 'new' Viacom CEO Tom Freston and DreamWorks SKG partner Steven Spielberg sealed the deal, says the trade.
Paramount had explored a possible bid recently but then pulled out. The idea was tabled due to the price, plus the pending, and complex, split of parent Viacom into two separate companies. Now, the split of 'new' Viacom - which houses Paramount and MTV Networks - from CBS Corporation, is all but done. The two companies will start trading separately on January 3.
Paramount will now have new product to pump through its newly independent foreign distribution network. A DreamWorks SKG purchase would include distribution of films from sister company DreamWorks Animation, plus DreamWorks SKG's 60-title library.
Source: Variety
December 10, 2005
Paramount Pictures has struck a deal to acquire DreamWorks SKG in a pact worth $1.5-$1.6 billion beating out rival suitor NBC Universal, reports Variety. Paramount is putting up about half the purchase price with several financial partners shouldering the rest.
Parent Viacom's board approved the transaction yesterday. A meeting today between studio head Brad Grey, 'new' Viacom CEO Tom Freston and DreamWorks SKG partner Steven Spielberg sealed the deal, says the trade.
Paramount had explored a possible bid recently but then pulled out. The idea was tabled due to the price, plus the pending, and complex, split of parent Viacom into two separate companies. Now, the split of 'new' Viacom - which houses Paramount and MTV Networks - from CBS Corporation, is all but done. The two companies will start trading separately on January 3.
Paramount will now have new product to pump through its newly independent foreign distribution network. A DreamWorks SKG purchase would include distribution of films from sister company DreamWorks Animation, plus DreamWorks SKG's 60-title library.
