eOne shares buoyed by more takeover talk

On the heels of eOne's rejection of ITV's takeover bid last week, reports circle that private equity firm KKR & Co. is considering its own offer.

Shares in Toronto-headquartered Entertainment One were given a lift once again by speculation concerning a potential upcoming offer for the company – this time, reportedly, from private equity firm KKR & Co.

Bloomberg reported over the weekend that the New York-based firm, which sold off its shares in German’s Pro.SiebenSat. 1 in 2014, was looking to re-enter the media and entertainment sphere via such an acquisition, according to a source, and was looking at a potential proposal.

Playback reached out to both companies for comment, with a spokesperson for eOne saying, “As is always the case, we don’t comment on speculation of that sort.”

Last week, eOne rejected a £1 billion proposal from UK-based ITV, saying in a note to shareholders that the proposal “fundamentally undervalues the company and its prospects.”

However, press speculation since the rejection of the original bid has the UK broadcast and production giant still in the game, if another proposal that meets the satisfaction of both its board and that of eOne can be arrived at.

In reporting news of eOne’s stock climb this morning (August 15) to 255 pence, the Financial Times said the company is also in the sights of such other media giants as Vivendi and ProSieben.

eOne has also been active in acquiring unscripted prodcos over the past two years, with recent purchases including majority stakes in Naked and Afraid producer Renegade 83, and Canadian prodcos Paperny Entertainment and Force Four Entertainment.

From Realscreen