Lionsgate Studios, the entertainment company behind the ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘John Wick’ franchises, is exploring a sale and has attracted takeover interest from France’s Bollore Group and Banijay Group, according to sources.
Consolidation in the Media Industry
The company, which has a market value of about $3.8 billion, has been working with an investment bank to evaluate inbound approaches. Sources warn a deal is not certain, and Lionsgate could still remain independent.
Banijay Group, the television production company behind hits such as ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Survivor’, is among other suitors that have considered a bid for Lionsgate Studios. A bid from Banijay may take time as the company remains focused on integrating All3Media, another source added.
Bollore wants to bolster the production capabilities of Canal+, the pay-TV company in which it holds a controlling interest. Lionsgate and Banijay declined to comment. Bollore did not respond to a request for comment.
The interest reflects a broader push by European media companies to build scale and secure sought-after intellectual property as they compete with global streaming giants. Lionsgate Studios owns a catalogue of films and television series that includes ‘The Twilight Saga’ franchises and the recent Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael’, which grossed more than $1 billion at the box office.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
