Endemol Shine sale called off

Endemol Shine Group’s Peaky Blinders

Endemol Shine Group (ESG) co-owners Apollo Global Management and 21st Century Fox have called off the sale of the production and distribution giant.

ESG hired two banks in June to explore a potential sale of the company, which was formed in 2014 through the merger of Endemol, Shine and Core Media.

Despite a protracted period in which companies including Liberty Global-backed All3Media, production outfit Banijay Group and UK broadcaster ITV were in the running, a deal could not be reached and the sale is now off, sources have confirmed to C21.

It means ESG, believed to have been valued at around US$2.5bn, will now become part owned by Disney, which is buying a slew of Fox assets. Apollo is set to hold on to the remaining 50% stake.

Last month C21 reported that US-based telco Liberty was out of the running for ESG, having explored a potential acquisition of the company earlier in the summer.

It is believed to have made a bid for ESG, but joined companies including ITV and Fremantle owner RTL to have backed away in recent weeks.

ESG is the producer behind dramas such as Peaky Blinders and formats including All Together Now and MasterChef.

Prodcos under its banner include UK outfits Fifty Fathoms, Kudos, Dragonfly and Shine TV, US-based Authentic Entertainment, Shine Iberia and Metronome in the Nordics.

It also operates sales arm Endemol Shine International and subsidiaries such as Endemol Shine Latino, Endemol Shine India, Endemol Shine Boomdog in Mexico and Endemol Shine Australia.