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☆ What you need to know about Skydance's bid for Paramount, from financing a deal worth $32 billion to its plans for the media empire
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Skydance Media and its largest private-equity backer RedBird Capital Partners have been wooing Paramount for the better part of a year. The Skydance consortium, including fellow Skydance investor KKR, submitted a revised offer on Sunday. The deal would be worth roughly $32 billion, according to the source, with the value of Paramount and its $15 billion in debt making up the lion's share. Here's what we know about the deal, how much Redstone would get, and what a new Paramount would look like. Keeping Paramount public sets the Skydance bid apart from Apollo's potential offer, according to one of the sources.

Persons: Bob Bakish, Shari Redstone's, Tom Cruise, Mario Gabelli, Bakish, Getty, Redstone's, David Ellison, Larry Ellison, Ellison, RedBird, Gerry Cardinale, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, Skydance, Jeff Shell, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon's, Axel Springer Organizations: Skydance Media, RedBird Capital Partners, Paramount, KKR, Business, Ex, CNBC, Apple, New York Yankees, NFL, Bakish, CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, ' Equity, Amazon Studios, Sony, Apollo, Wall Street Locations: Santa Monica , California, New York City, Skydance, RedBird

☆ Meet the ex-Goldman Sachs partner behind the scenes of the Skydance-Paramount deal negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewParamount's CEO Bob Bakish was ousted on Monday night, putting the entertainment giant one step closer to accepting a merger deal. The would-be buyer, film studio Skydance Media, is owned by David Ellison, son of billionaire Oracle founder Larry. An investor in Skydance since 2020, RedBird is the media company's largest shareholder other than the Ellison family. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. "I think it's my biggest competitive advantage that I don't get emotionally attached," Cardinale told Business Insider in 2022.

Persons: —, Bob Bakish, David Ellison, Larry, RedBird, Ellison, Gerry Cardinale, Goldman Sachs, Jeff Shell, Skydance, " Cardinale, Goldman, Jon Winkelried, Gerry, Axel Springer Organizations: Service, Skydance Media, RedBird Capital Partners, Business, New York Yankees, Dallas Cowboys, NFL, AC Milan, Paramount, KKR, Sony, TPG Locations: Skydance, RedBird

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Since then, private-equity firms have poured $54.6 billion into sports, according to PitchBook data. And the field of potential investors is growing with Goldman Sachs helping rich clients invest in teams, which can drive up prices. AdvertisementLeagues also restrict PE investments, with some caps on the number of teams a firm can own stakes in or the ownership share a fund can hold. Scroll down to read about the private equity firms, listed alphabetically, that have been making the biggest moves in sports in recent years.

Persons: —, Josh Harris, Rob Walton, Carlyle, Ben, Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, Harris, Blackstone Group's David Blitzer, Lauren Leichtman, Arthur Levine, Sportico, RedBird, Gerry Cardinale, There's Organizations: Service, MLB, NBA, Business, Washington, Denver Broncos, Amazon, Sports, Ben Fund, Bluestone Equity Partners, GMF, Apollo Global Management, Blackstone Group's, Levine, Capital Partners, San Diego Wave, NFL Locations: downturns

☆ Sports investing has taken off, but the biggest prize in the industry remains almost untouchable
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. 3 things in marketsJim Esposito, Goldman Sachs' head of global markets and banking, is set to retire from the bank, the firm said Monday. Jim Esposito is leaving Goldman Sachs after nearly 30 years. While he didn't share his next move, he told peers he'd "bleed Goldman Sachs forever." Goldman Sachs says rate cuts need to be on the menu in March.

Persons: —, Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Keyur Khamar, Marc Lasry, Steve Cohen, Aaron Mok, LeBron James, — Arthur Blank, Gerry Cardinale, Goldman Sachs, who's, Lasry, Cohen, Point72, it's, Patrick Smith, Peacock, David Tepper, Jim Esposito, We've, he'd, Jean Boivin, David Mericle, NurPhoto, Getty, Javier Zayas, Kevin Winter, Tyler Le, Critics, Dan DeFrancesco, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb Organizations: Service, Costco, Getty, PGA Tour, Fenway Sports Group, NFL's Atlanta Falcons, Capital Group, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Mets, NFL, Denver Broncos, Washington, Washington Post, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, BlackRock, Spotify, Apple, Google, Entertainment, Netflix, Studios, HBO, Disney, Walmart, Microsoft, Business Locations: Vegas, BlackRock, New York, London

Warner Bros. Discovery and rival Paramount Global are in early merger talks, sources familiar with the matter told CNBC. Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Warner Bros.

Persons: David Zaslav, Bob Bakish, Shari Redstone, David Ellison's Skydance, Gerry Cardinale's, Liberty Media's John Malone, Joe Biden's, There's, Axios, — CNBC's Drew Richardson Organizations: Warner Bros . Discovery, Paramount Global, CNBC, Warner Bros, Discovery, Paramount, Redstone, Amusements, CBS, Warner Media, Netflix, Liberty, Media, Morris Trust, Comcast, CNBC PRO

☆ Big M&A and Bob Iger's future: 13 media executives make their anonymous 2024 predictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-20 | by ( Alex Sherman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +14 min

Executive 2: Bob Iger will, again, extend his contract as Disney CEO Earlier this year, Disney CEO Bob Iger renewed his contract through 2026. This executive predicted "fool me five times, shame on me." This executive predicted Peltz and Rasulo will win their campaign and both join the board. This person predicted Disney would purchase privately held Candle Media to acquire Moonbug Entertainment, the owner of CoComelon. This executive predicted Yaccarino would either lose patience or find her job increasingly pointless and leave the company in 2024.

Persons: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Walt Disney Company Bob Iger, Michael M, David Zaslav, Slaven Vlasic, NBCUniversal, Brian Roberts, Roberts, Donna Langley, Bob Iger, Iger, Nelson Peltz, Jay Rasulo, Marco Bello, Peltz, Rasulo, Disney's, Dana Walden, Dana Walden Jason Laveris, Disney Entertainment Dana Walden, Walden, Bob Chapek, Andrew Wilson, Wilson, Chris Licht wouldn't, McCarthy, Andrew Wilson Michael Newberg, Kevin Mayer, Mayer, Bryan van der Beek, Tom Staggs, Staggs, Jayson Tatum, Kyle Terada, NBCUniversal's Peacock, Alec Martinez, Gray, Discovery's Max, Jeff Zucker, Lady Michelle Obama's, Michelle Obamas, Cheriss, Gerry Cardinale, Jeff Shell, RedBird, Shari Redstone's, David Ellison, Byron Trott, Zucker, Mark Thompson, Linda Yaccarino, X Linda Yaccarino, Vox, Jerod Harris, Yaccarino, CNBC's Julia Boorstin, Boorstin, Elon Musk's, Jason LaVeris, Barbie, Mario, Oppenheimer, LightShed's Greenfield Organizations: Walt Disney Company, New York Times, Santiago, Getty, Jazz, Lincoln Center, Warner Bros ., Comcast, Warner Bros, Discovery, Disney, Trian Fund Management, Future Investment Initiative, Summit, Bloomberg, Filmmagic, Disney Entertainment, Electronic Arts, CNBC, Candle Media, Iger, Media, Moonbug Entertainment, Apple Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, USA, National Basketball Association, NBA, Apple, The College, ESPN, College, NHL, MLB, Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, Mobile, National Hockey League, Diamond Sports Group, Scripps, Gray Television, Las Vegas Golden Knights, Arizona Coyotes, Phoenix Suns, Street Journal, Netflix, Hulu, Max, Paramount, RedBird, Paramount Global, CNN Worldwide, CNN, NurPhoto, BDT, The Ritz, Carlton, FilmMagic, Mario Bros Locations: New York City, Disney, Miami , Florida, Las Vegas , Nevada, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point , California

☆ Paramount shares jump after reports of takeover interest
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-08 | by ( Drew Richardson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Paramount logo is seen on a building in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 2023. Paramount Global shares surged Friday following reports from Deadline and Puck News that Skydance and RedBird Capital were exploring potentially taking over the media giant. Paramount shares closed up more than 12% Friday. Meanwhile, the company is reportedly considering bundling its Paramount+ streaming service with Apple TV+. Paramount, RedBird Capital and Skydance did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment.

Persons: Shari Redstone, weathers, Goldman Sachs, Gerry Cardinale, David Ellison's Skydance, Skydance Organizations: Paramount, Paramount Global, Puck, RedBird, Apple Locations: Los Angeles

☆ The rich are competing with private equity to buy sports teams. Here is how they are getting creative in a crowded field.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Valuations show no signs of cooling off with billionaires and private equity firms in bidding wars. Bankers to the rich told Insider which sports are drawing moneyed clients. Now rich individuals have to compete with institutional investors like private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds for a limited number of teams. As a result, aspiring team owners have gotten more creative to seal the deal. "It's never going to be a private equity type of model where these assets will be exited every five years," he told Insider.

Persons: Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, LeBron James, Milwaukee Bucks Marc Lasry, Brian Kantarian, Josh Harris, Kantarian, Ivo Voynov, It's, Gerry Cardinale, Voynov Organizations: Bankers, Sports, NBA, Wrexham AFC, Milwaukee Bucks, NFL, Citi Private Bank, Europe's Big Five, XFL, JPMorgan Locations: Washington, Europe, Plenty, Wall

☆ Rossi sees Reynolds' winning touch boosting Alpine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ENSTONE, England, June 27 (Reuters) - Renault-owned Alpine believe Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds has the Midas Touch to help get the team back to the top in Formula One. "Most of you were probably expecting Ryan Reynolds," Otro Capital founder and partner Alec Scheiner jokingly told analysts at Alpine's Enstone factory for a strategy presentation. Alpine chief executive Laurent Rossi pointed to Reynolds' track record in business. Rossi said the investors, who have paid 200 million euros ($218.88 million), would develop revenues through merchandising, licensing and hospitality. The deal values Alpine Racing at around $900 million and Rossi said the numbers were only going up.

Persons: Ryan Reynolds, Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, Alec Scheiner, Laurent Rossi, Rossi, Otro, Goldman Sachs, Gerry Cardinale, RedBird, Scheiner, Luca de Meo, Alan Baldwin, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Renault, Formula, Wrexham soccer, Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners, Aviation, Mobile US, Ka'ena Corp, Mint Mobile, Diageo, Gin, Wrexham, English Football League, RedBird, Fenway Sports Group, Premier League, Liverpool, Boston Red Sox baseball, Toulouse, Milan, Liberty Media, Thomson Locations: ENSTONE, England, Wrexham, RedBird, Americas, Las Vegas, U.S

☆ Wrexham's Hollywood owners join group buying into Alpine F1
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Alan Baldwin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, June 26 (Reuters) - Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are joining Otro Capital and RedBird Capital Partners in an investor group taking a 24% equity stake in Alpine Racing, the Formula One team's parent company Renault announced on Monday. The 200 million euro ($218.10 million) deal values British-based Alpine Racing at around $900 million following the investment. Alec Scheiner, the co-founder and partner of Otro Capital, will join Alpine Racing's board of directors. Renault said Alpine Racing SAS, the French entity that makes the team's power units in Viry-Châtillon, will remain entirely owned by the carmaker. "Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners and Maximum Effort Investments, as international players with strong track record in the sports industry, will bring their recognised expertise to boost our media and marketing strategy, essential to support our sporting performance over the long term.

Persons: Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney, Alec Scheiner, Reynolds, Michael B, Jordan, McElhenney, Renault, Huntsman, Goldman Sachs, Gerry Cardinale, RedBird, Laurent Rossi, Alan Baldwin, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Otro Capital, RedBird Capital Partners, Alpine Racing, Renault, Otro, Alpine, McElhenney, Wrexham, Welsh soccer, English Football League, Main Street Advisors, Fenway Sports Group, Premier League, Liverpool, Boston Red Sox baseball, Toulouse, AC Milan, New York Yankees, Formula, Benetton, Alpine Racing SAS, Thomson Locations: Alpine, Philadelphia, Wrexham, North America, Enstone, England, Viry

☆ Former CNN Chief Jeff Zucker Has a New Job at RedBird IMI. What Is It?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Benjamin Mullin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Since leaving CNN a year ago, Jeff Zucker, the network’s former president, has been on the hunt for deals, flush with $1 billion in backing from big investors in the worlds of media and finance. In addition to Mr. Zucker, the key players in the new venture, known as RedBird IMI, are Gerry Cardinale, the chief executive and founder of RedBird, and Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, an Emirati government minister who has spearheaded many of IMI’s investment conversations in the United States. Mr. Cardinale is the chief investment officer of RedBird IMI, and Mr. Al Jaber is chairman. RedBird is committing $250 million to the venture, and IMI has agreed to commit the remaining $750 million. The men gathered to discuss business last fall in a suite overlooking a Formula 1 racetrack in Abu Dhabi.

Persons: Jeff Zucker, Zucker, Gerry Cardinale, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Cardinale, Al Jaber, RedBird Organizations: CNN, RedBird Capital Partners, International Media Investments, United Arab, IMI Locations: United Arab Emirates, United States, Abu Dhabi

☆ 3 big questions about the state of Goldman Sachs heading into its second-ever investor day
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

All eyes are on 200 West Street in lower Manhattan today, the global headquarters of Goldman Sachs and site of the bank's second-ever investor day. Goldman's first investor day, in 2020, included plenty of discussion about the importance of building out its consumer bank. Will new details emerge regarding the asset and wealth management division that show the business is heading in the right direction? Goldman's asset and wealth management division will likely get plenty of attention today. Speaking of David Solomon... Goldman's CEO appeared on a recent episode of the bank's podcast, "Exchanges at Goldman Sachs."

☆ Meet the ex-Goldman banker who relaunched the XFL with The Rock
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Dealmaker Gerry Cardinale is betting on it, along with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and the star's business partner Dany Garcia. The XFL, previously owned by Vince McMahon, had been forced to cancel its season – its first in 19 years – due to the pandemic. In order to deliver NFL-quality football, the XFL inked an exclusive partnership with the NFL Alumni Academy to find top players. "Dwayne, Dany, and I think we can do that in five." READ THE FULL PROFILE: How Gerry Cardinale became the go-to dealmaker for the Yankees, AC Milan, and Ben Affleck

☆ RedBird Capital Takes More Than 5% Stake in Blade Air Mobility
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Laura Cooper | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Blade Air Mobility provides short-distance passenger flights throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and India. The private-equity firm RedBird Capital Partners has amassed a more than 5% stake in the air-transportation provider Blade Air Mobility Inc., according to the investment firm’s founder. RedBird, best known for its investments in media companies and pro sports teams including the Boston Red Sox and AC Milan, has built the stake since originally taking a 1% position in Blade in 2021, according to the firm’s founder and managing partner, Gerry Cardinale .

☆ The private-equity firm behind Italian soccer champs AC Milan is quietly building a financial services powerhouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

RedBird Capital is best known as the private-equity owner of soccer club AC Milan. But the sports dealmaker is quietly building a financial services arm to rival its flashier bets. RedBird Capital is one of the buzziest names in dealmaking when it comes to sports and Hollywood. In August, the New York City-based private equity firm bought soccer club AC Milan for $1.2 billion. The firm's philosophies for financial services and sports are one and the same: taking advantage of fragmented environments with firms that have long-term recurring cash flow.

☆ A PE firm that's built its brand on high-profile sports deals is broadening its scope
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

But one firm that's already well established in the space is looking to quietly diversify itself beyond the pitch. With seemingly everyone interested in sports these days, Cardinale is smart to want to hedge his firm. The crypto exchange also agreed to pay $50 million to improve how it vets customers and transactions. Mala Gaonkar's hedge fund just made its long-awaited debut. SurgoCap Partners entered the fray this week with $1.8 billion in capital, making it the biggest launch of a women-led hedge fund, Bloomberg reports.

☆ Our predictions for big themes in 2023, from China tensions to the abundance agenda and tech discipline
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( Matt Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

On the agenda today:But first: Now that it's 2023, I want to share some of the things I'm personally fascinated with that I think will be big themes for the year ahead. 3 big themes for 2023China tensions: The fate of the world economy may depend on what happens to a company in Taiwan most Americans have never heard of. These are all huge storylines for 2023 driven by increasing tensions between China and the US. Big tech companies are making their performance reviews tougher. What do you think are the big themes that will shape 2023?

☆ Our best stories on financial tech in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Today, we're going to recap all the great stories we've done this year on financial tech, whether it's up-and-coming startups or the projects at the biggest banks and investment firms. Wall Street and sports have a long history together. How top Wall Street firms are testing out cutting-edge tech. Shaw, here are 10 of the most innovative tech projects at top Wall Street firms. And we also identified the top Big Tech executives who could get poached by Wall Street firms looking to do more in the cloud.

☆ How Gerry Cardinale became the go-to dealmaker for the likes of the Yankees, AC Milan, and Ben Affleck
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | Dakin Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

He bought the soccer club AC Milan in August, earning the attention of the Italian press. This past spring, AC Milan won its first national title in 11 years. Claudio Villa/AC Milan via Getty Images Show less Cardinale at a training session for AC Milan. For instance, the teams sell each other's merchandise in their stadiums, and the YES Network airs AC Milan games. "Now we have a new phase of expansion and internationalization of AC Milan with Gerry."

☆ Ben Affleck and Matt Damon just scored $100 million from RedBird Capital. Check out 15 more private equity players making big bets on Hollywood.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Elaine Low | Claire Atkinson | Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Private equity firms are investing heavily in film and TV companies, even amid a possible recession. Private equity accounted for 42% of deals over the last year vs. 24% in 2018, according to PwC. RedBird Capital just invested $100 million in Ben Affeck and Matt Damon's new production company, Artists Equity. And earlier that month, Swedish firm EQT invested in UTA, which makes the private equity player the largest outside shareholder of the talent agency. Insider's second annual list of the top private equity players in Hollywood highlights 16 firms, based on our reporting and conversations with investors and insiders.

☆ How Gregg Lemkau went from Goldman CEO contender to building a hybrid investment bank catering to billionaires
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Gregg Lemkau was in the running for CEO before he left Goldman Sachs in 2020. Now he runs Michael Dell's investment firm, which is merging with billionaire advisory BDT. When Gregg Lemkau left Goldman Sachs in late 2020 to run Michael Dell's investment firm, many within and outside the bank were surprised. Cardinale, who had left Goldman a decade ago to start his own investment firm, knew it had to be a massive opportunity to pull away Lemkau. Oldest sibling Kristin runs JPMorgan's US wealth management business and Lemkau's younger brother Chip is a managing director at Goldman Sachs in private wealth management.

☆ Meet 9 top media bankers transforming the M&A landscape and driving deals for Warner Bros. Discovery, Legendary, Amazon, and more
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

2022 kicked off with some huge transactions, from AT&T's WarnerMedia spin-off to private equity scooping up content players. Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B, and Diamond Sports Group both recently tapped big banks to explore their options. Not surprisingly, WarnerMedia was at the heart of the richest transaction fee waterfall for big banks in 2022. Moelis and LionTree were just tapped to help figure out what's next for Sinclair's Regional Sports Networks, Diamond Sports Group, while Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B, also hired Moelis to shop the production company, according to Variety. There's lots of dry powder still in private equity, Navid Mahmoodzadegan, co-founder and co-president at investment bank Moelis, told Insider.

☆ Meet 9 top media bankers transforming the M&A landscape as streaming video reshapes entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

2022 kicked off with some huge transactions, from AT&T's WarnerMedia spin-off to private equity scooping up content players. Company valuations are set to fall back to earth in 2023, and private equity and strategics are lying in wait. Not surprisingly, WarnerMedia was at the heart of the richest transaction fee waterfall for big banks in 2022. Joshua Grode's Legendary Entertainment, backed by Dalian Wanda and now Apollo Group, which took a stake in the studio in January. There's lots of dry powder still in private equity, Navid Mahmoodzadegan, co-founder and co-president at investment bank Moelis, told Insider.

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