The proprietor of the tv producer behind Squid Recreation: The Problem and Name The Midwife is among the many suitors circling Whisper Group, the agency based by broadcaster Jake Humphrey and former racing driver David Coulthard.
Sources stated the public sale course of was at a vital stage with a purchaser doubtlessly being chosen inside days.
Cash newest: FTSE 100 hits file closing excessive
RedBird IMI, which had hoped to take full management of The Every day Telegraph earlier than a change of media possession legislation meant that its Abu Dhabi state involvement needed to be curtailed, already owns All3Media, the TV manufacturing big behind a string of hit exhibits.
Nonetheless, its curiosity in Whisper is alleged to have been expressed by RedBird IMI somewhat than being carried out utilizing All3Media because the acquirer.
The identities of the opposite bidders for Whisper have been unclear on Thursday night.
Whisper Group was established in 2010 and received a BAFTA for its protection of the Ladies’s Euros in 2022.
It’s working with advisers at KPMG on a deal.
Whisper is already 30%-owned by Sony Photos Tv, which acquired the stake in 2020.
Sony changed Channel 4’s Indie Development Fund as an investor within the enterprise.
A majority of the shares in Whisper are owned by its founders and administration workforce.
The corporate is best-known for its sports activities productions, and is answerable for Channel 4’s Components One protection in addition to worldwide cricket, boxing and the Paralympics.
Whisper employs about 300 folks, and has operations in London, Cardiff, Manchester and Riyadh.
Its chief government, Sunil Patel, co-founded the producer alongside Mr Coulthard and Mr Humphrey.
It’s stated to be plotting additional growth in sport within the type of larger occasions and rightsholders, in addition to in occasions, the place its purchasers embrace Crimson Bull.
Whisper can also be centered on rising its presence within the US, the place it at present works with Tom Brady’s Faith of Sport, and the Center East, the place it’s partnered with Neom and Saudi Professional League groups.
Exterior of sports activities rights, it has produced documentaries about Ben Stokes, the England Check cricket captain, and Sven-Goran Ericsson, the late England soccer supervisor.
It has additionally diversified into leisure programming, producing the Wheel of Fortune gameshow hosted by Graham Norton.
Its most up-to-date accounts disclosed a £4.3m pre-tax revenue for the 12 months to March 31, 2024.
Each RedBird IMI and Whisper declined to remark.
