National Amusements won’t be finalizing a Paramount Global merger deal with Skydance Media after discussions between the two companies formerly came to an end.
There has been plenty of speculation over recent months about what the future holds for Paramount. While a number of potential suitors had been mentioned, Skydance appeared to be firmly in the driving seat, with many expecting a deal to be agreed.
That, however, is not going to happen. In a statement released today, National Amusements confirmed that the two companies have been unable “to reach mutually acceptable terms” and that the possibility of a deal between them is now over.
According to reports, National Amusements and Skydance were in the final stages of negotiations over a deal said to be worth around $8 billion, and a special committee were due to vote on the deal today. The statement from National Amusements confirming a deal had not been agreed is understood to have arrived before that vote could take place.
With no possibility of a deal, the speculation is set to continue over who, if anyone, will strike a deal for Paramount. According to the Wall Street Journal, a sale of National Amusements is the most likely outcome, suggesting the possibility of a merger of Paramount with another business is now out of the question.
In the past, suitors that had been mentioned in passing included Apollo Global Management, Byron Allen, Warner Bros. Discovery and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Whether any of these will now rejoin the fray remains to be seen.
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