21st Century Fox, Apollo Confirm Shine-Endemol-CORE Merger

NEW YORK: 21st Century Fox and Apollo have confirmed their plans to bring together Shine Group, Endemol and CORE Media as a global multiplatform content provider that will be led by Sophie Turner Laing.

As previously announced, Turner Laing, former MD of content at Sky, will lead the new venture as CEO. Endemol, Shine and CORE will continue to operate as separate companies until the transaction is complete, expected for the end of this year. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“This partnership advances our strategy of accelerating 21st Century Fox’s growth in worldwide television production,” said Chase Carey, 21st Century Fox's president and COO. “The combination of these assets will create a leading global format business with a deep and diverse portfolio of products, enhanced distribution capabilities, and world-class creative talent. We are extremely grateful to Alex Mahon for her leadership of Shine and are delighted to partner with Apollo in supporting Sophie Turner Laing, and the talent at Shine, Endemol and CORE, in our shared mission to form an unrivaled team to lead this truly global content creation business.”

“It is a particularly opportune time to bring together three extraordinary companies, establishing one of the most innovative and diverse content creators in the world,” said Aaron Stone, senior partner at Apollo. “The group will have impressive capabilities to offer the creative community and to invest in all aspects of media’s future.  At the heart of this partnership are the businesses’ thousands of employees around the world. We are thrilled to collaborate with them and with 21st Century Fox and we are especially thankful to Just Spee for his extraordinary leadership of Endemol on its journey to success.”

“I am delighted to join the extraordinary collection of talent at Endemol, Shine and CORE,” said Turner Laing. “Content has never been more creatively vibrant and exciting and our exceptional production and distribution capabilities will be a magnet for talent to realize their creative ambitions across all platforms on a regional and global scale."

Spee, the CEO of Endemol, and Mahon, CEO of Shine, will remain at their companies for an "extended period" following the close of the transaction, working with Turner Laing on the integration of the businesses operations. Both will step down in 2015. Elisabeth Murdoch will step down as non-executive chairman of Shine Group once the transaction is complete.

“It’s been a genuine privilege to lead Endemol and its exceptional team of talent during my time as CEO," Spee said. "Throughout this period the business has continued to thrive; delivering new global hits, expanding into new markets and adding new dimensions in areas such as scripted programming, distribution, digital video and more. All this has occurred against the backdrop of a major restructuring of inherited debt and some of the strongest economic headwinds the global market has ever witnessed. With Endemol about to embark on a new chapter, it’s time to transition the business and accelerate its investment into the future. The company couldn’t be in better hands with Sophie Turner Laing at the helm; and I’m incredibly proud to be transitioning a business so strongly positioned, with what looks to be one of the most exciting periods in its history ahead.”

“Shine has grown consistently over the last decade ​to be a dynamic, creative and commercially successful group of 27 companies across 11 countries,” said Mahon. “This deal enables the next phase of that growth in which I'm convinced our creative talent can prosper and will produce even more brilliant shows. For me, after two major transactions it is the right time to leave to take on a new challenge. I would like to thank every one of my colleagues for the opportunity to help create such an inspiring business. I look forward to working with Sophie to transfer Shine into its next era before leaving.”​

"As Shine enters this new chapter with new partners, it is the right time for me to take the final step back from the company I love,” said Elisabeth Murdoch. “It has been an immense pleasure and privilege to work with such extraordinary talent in a shared endeavor to create a unique and outstanding television company. I will be eternally grateful to everyone at Shine Group for their dedication to the pursuit of excellence. I leave with lifetime friendships and admiration for a company I am proud to have been a part of.​"