OREANDA-NEWS The American media company Skydance is considering the possibility of buying out all shares of a larger competitor Paramount Global with a view to their subsequent delisting. CNBC writes about this, citing informed sources.

According to sources, the companies have exchanged preliminary information, and the due diligence process has not yet begun.

In mid-January, the WSJ, citing sources, wrote that Skydance, together with financial partners, plans to buy a majority stake in National Amusements, the Paramount holding company. The partners include the funds RedBird Capital Partners and KKR & Co. National Amusements owns 77% of Paramount's voting shares.

The deal most likely has the ultimate goal of merging Skydance and Paramount, which will require a buyout of all Paramount shares, the sources said. Buying only securities owned by National Amusements does not suit Skydance, they added.

To complete the Skydance transaction, significant financial resources will be required, because Paramount's capitalization is $8.2 billion, and the company's debt reaches $15 billion. Billionaire Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle and father of Skydance CEO David Ellison, can provide some of the funds.

Earlier it was reported that Warner Bros. also claims to buy Paramount. Discovery.

Skydance is one of the leading independent studios in Hollywood. She owns such popular film franchises as "Mission: impossible" and "Transformers".