"Paramount Global's Skydance Merger Talks Spurn Apollo's $27 Billion Bid"
Paramount Global's stock price surged by 15 percent as talks of a potential deal with Skydance Media progress, with an exclusive negotiating window agreed upon by Paramount and its controlling shareholder National Amusements. Skydance, known for collaborating on blockbuster film franchises with Paramount, has reportedly made a takeover offer for National Amusements, and private equity firm Apollo Global Management has also expressed interest in acquiring Paramount Pictures. The conglomerate, facing industry challenges and debt issues, is navigating potential acquisition offers and strategic investments while seeking to improve its streaming business.