Liberty Global, ITV and RTL Group’s FremantleMedia have emerged as potential bidders for the TV production company Endemol Shine.
According to Reuters, other companies in the frame to take over Netherlands-based Endemol include Lions Gate Entertainment and France’s Banijay Group.
Quoting Liberty’s CEO Mike Fries, Reuters adds that in its case it may make its move through All3Media, which it jointly owns with Discovery.
Although Endemol’s current owners Apollo Global and Twenty-First Century Fox are likely to want between €2.5-3 billion for the company, bids are expected to be in the range €2-2.5 billion, or 10 times Endemol’s EBITDA.
Apollo and Fox have hired Deutsche Bank and Liontree to advise on the deal and are prepared to sell Endemol outright.
However, another possibility could see Fox still retain a stake in the company.