Tough Pigs News Extra December 23, 2001
Mouse pricks up ears over deal for Muppets Reuters article by Ed Meza Reprinted absolutely without permission
BERLIN (Variety) -- Mickey Mouse may yet walk down the aisle with Miss Piggy.
Walt Disney Co. chairman Michael Eisner has signaled an interest in buying the Jim Henson Company, the home of the Muppets, from ailing German media firm EM.TV.
In an interview with German weekly Focus, Eisner praised Henson content but described the Hollywood company's going price as too steep. Asked if he would be willing to negotiate, Eisner suggested that EM.TV should call him.
Disney had been in talks with founder Jim Henson to acquire his company over a decade ago, but talks fell through after his death in 1990.
EM.TV confirmed that US investment bank Allen & Co. has approached the Mouse House and a number of other media groups as it reviews potential deals for the Munich-based firm.
A one-time stock market wonder, EM.TV plunged to its near doom earlier this year and has since been working back up by restructuring and streamlining under new management. While still gorged on its stock market capitalization, EM.TV bought the Hollywood-based Henson shop last year for $680 million, drawing scoffs from media observers who said even then that the price was too high.
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