Paramount logo is seen on the building in Los Angeles, United States on November 13, 2023.

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Paramount Global shares surged Friday following reports from Deadline and Puck News that Skydance and Redbird Capital were exploring potentially taking over the media giant.

Paramount shares were up more than 14%. The company has a market cap of about $10.5 billion and is up more than 1% for the year, lagging the S&P 500’s 19% gains.

Paramount’s controlling shareholder, Shari Redstone, has been open to making big deals, especially as the company weathers the storms of declining revenue and streaming losses.

RedBird, controlled by longtime former Goldman Sachs partner Gerry Cardinale, is invested in a variety of media and sports assets, including David Ellison’s Skydance – which helped produce Paramount’s 2022 blockbuster “Top Gun: Maverick,” among other hits.

Paramount has a long-term debt load of $15.6 billion, and investors have speculated about how the company will be able to forge a path in 2024. TV ad revenue was also a weak spot for the company in its most recent quarterly report.

Meanwhile, the company is reportedly considering bundling its Paramount+ streaming service with Apple TV+.

Paramount, RedBird Capital and Skydance did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Paramount Global’s year-to-date stock performance

Original: Business News: Paramount PARA shares jump after reports of takeover interest